APG85 wrote:
In my opinion, the single greatest flying achievement in the history of aviation by an individual. Say what you will about about Lindbergh as a person, he was an unbelievable pilot...
It's certainly the most
overrated single achievement in aviation history; nothing to detract from Lindbergh's own efforts, but the surprising over-reaction at the time and subsequent belief that he was 'the first' (as opposed to the reality of the first, solo, non-stop - them adjectives again) has meant the flight has been and remains over-rated as an event.
It was certainly a major flight, and he was certainly gutsy and skilled to fly solo; but without Wright and (less so) Ryan and the people involved he'd have been just another missing wannabe from the golden age. The engine's sustained performance was the main - only, arguably - significant technical element in the flight.
As to Lindbergh the pilot, he was very good - but not in the league of Doolittle either in skill, knowledge, analytic ability or lifetime achievement. Several of Doolittle personal achievements were as - or more - challenging than Lindbergh's Atlantic flight and most had more technical application to the development of aviation than Lindbergh's. That said, Lindbergh's persona and the focus on him after the flight advanced civil aviation significantly.
I'm no fan of Lindbergh's views; but from what I understand, he was a man of principle and 'called it as he saw it'; his isolationism, belief in Nazi Germany's military capability and lack of belief in Britain's capability were all reasonable views to arrive at from what he knew at the time, based on what he saw and was shown. Like us all, he was a flawed man, but also a man of principle (though not in marital relations!) and certainly not a Nazi, as is sometimes claimed.
He was always a patriotic American.
The public and media shape real people into what they need as heroes and villains. In reality few fit those moulds, and I personally find Lindbergh more admirable for failing to conform to ridiculous expectations than for his flying.
Regards,
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Ahhh, well. Gotta get to work. 
I thought a little levity in the morning would be nice.
