BREAKING NEWS- Lindbergh lands in Paris after 33 Hour Flight

[Chappie]

Yes sir. He became the first pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic. Ya'll hear about this?

Ahhh, well. Gotta get to work.

Chappie

[JDK]

91.

[APG85]

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...

[StangStung]

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...

Perhaps. Except that little jaunt accomplished by Orville a scant 20 years before.

[The Inspector]

Yes sir. He became the first pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic. Ya'll hear about this?

Ahhh, well. Gotta get to work.

Chappie

Dude, time to switch from DSL to linked high speed

[Chappie]

Yes sir. He became the first pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic. Ya'll hear about this?

Ahhh, well. Gotta get to work.

Chappie

Dude, time to switch from DSL to linked high speed

I thought a little levity in the morning would be nice.

Chappie

[andyman64]

and a proud nazi as well!!!!

[raconnel]

Lindbergh was far from being a Nazi. He did try to keep the US out of the war, but once the war started he did everything he could to assist the war effort. Read The Wartime Journals of Charles Lindbergh for his perspective.

Richard

[JDK]

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,

[Chappie]

Oh good grief. My original post was to simply make a harmless joke about some recent re-posts of old warbird news. It just a quick little funny-ha-ha joke and NOT meant to start a global bleepin debate about who did or did not cross the Atlantic first, last or whatever. It was certainly not meant to start a senseless, meaningless, and put us right back where we started debate about whether or not Lindbergh was a Nazi or a patriotic American.

When the first mod comes across this thread just wipe the blessed thing off the site. Don't lock it just delete it.

Chappie

[JDK]

Ah, well, that's forums for you. Sorry!

[Dave Homewood]

Chappie, whilst I see both your joke and your frustration, i want to say thanks for starting this thread, because although I knew that Lindbergh was not the first to fly across the Atlantic as many seem to think, I never knew that 91 people had preceded him in that fete. Quite fascinating, and a bit of history learned here. Thanks James!

[Warbird Kid]

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...

Perhaps. Except that little jaunt accomplished by Orville a scant 20 years before.

Maybe by Gustave 22 years before!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustave_Whitehead