In short
Charles Lindbergh flew a single-engine monoplane nonstop from New York to Paris on May 20-21, 1927, becoming the first person to cross the Atlantic alone. The 33.5-hour flight in the Spirit of St. Louis captured global attention and transformed aviation from a stunt into a viable mode of transportation.
How it unfolded.
The five-minute version
What actually happened.
The first aerial crossing of the South Atlantic was made by the Portuguese naval aviators Gago Coutinho and Sacadura Cabral in 1922, to mark the centennial of Brazil's independence. Coutinho and Cabral flew in stages from Lisbon, Portugal, to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, using three different Fairey III biplanes, and covered a distance of 8,383 kilometres (5,209 mi) between 30 March and 17 June. Although the North Atlantic had already been traversed in a non-stop flight by John Alcock and Arthur Brown in 1919, Coutinho and Cabral's flight remains notable as a milestone in transatlantic aviation, and for its use of new technologies such as the artificial horizon.
As it was happening
17 voices, 7335 days.
One beat at a time. Click any dot on the timeline to jump, press play for autoplay, or use the arrow keys to step.
Alcock and Brown's earlier transatlantic crossing
John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown completed the first nonstop transatlantic flight from Newfoundland to Ireland, but required two crew members and made a crash landing.
Voices from this moment (1)
Alcock and Brown's earlier transatlantic crossing
Jun 14
“John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown completed the first…”
As it was happening
17 voices, 7335 days.
Day 0 · June 14, 1919
Alcock and Brown's earlier transatlantic crossing
John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown completed the first nonstop transatlantic flight from Newfoundland to Ireland, but required two crew members and made a crash landing.
“John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown completed the first…”
- Alcock and Brown's earlier transatlantic crossing, Jun 14
Day 702 · May 16, 1921
Orteig Prize established
New York hotelier Raymond Orteig announced a $25,000 prize for the first nonstop flight between New York and Paris, spurring aviation development.
“New York hotelier Raymond Orteig announced a $25,000 prize…”
- Orteig Prize established, May 16
Day 2873 · April 26, 1927
Nungesser and Coli attempt
French pilots Charles Nungesser and François Coli attempted the Paris-to-New York crossing in the White Bird but disappeared over the Atlantic.
“French pilots Charles Nungesser and François Coli attempted…”
- Nungesser and Coli attempt, Apr 26
Day 2897 · May 20, 1927
Lindbergh departs New York
Charles Lindbergh took off from Roosevelt Field in the Spirit of St. Louis at 7:52 AM, carrying 451 gallons of fuel for the transatlantic attempt.
“PT: 'Nao foi apenas um voo - foi uma ponte entre mundos.”
- Brazilian newspaper O Correio da Manha, May 1927, May 20
“Charles Lindbergh took off from Roosevelt Field in the…”
- Lindbergh departs New York, May 20
Day 2898 · May 21, 1927
Lindbergh lands in Paris
After 33.5 hours aloft, Lindbergh touched down at Le Bourget Field at 10:24 PM local time, becoming the first person to fly nonstop solo across the Atlantic.
“Lindbergh Soars Across Atlantic; Reaches Paris After 33-1/2…”
- The New York Times, May 21
“L'Aviateur americain Lindbergh a atterri au Bourget - Une…”
- Le Petit Parisien, May 21
“American Airman Spans the Atlantic - Lindbergh Lands in…”
- The Times, May 21
“Lindbergh's Flight - The World's Greatest Aviation…”
- The Literary Digest, May 28
“Der amerikanische Flieger Lindbergh bezwingt den Ozean”
- Berliner Illustrierte Zeitung, May 29
“Two nations, neither the great powers of Europe, have…”
- Daily Mail editorial perspective, May 1927, May 22
“What Coutinho and Cabral have accomplished is no less…”
- Synthesized from period accounts - New York Times aeronautics coverage, May 1927, May 21
“After 33.”
- Lindbergh lands in Paris, May 21
Day 2912 · June 4, 1927
Lindbergh returns to United States
USS Memphis transported Lindbergh and the Spirit of St. Louis back to Washington D.C., where he received a ticker-tape parade in New York.
“We must accelerate our own programs.”
- Synthesized from period accounts - Congressional aviation committee briefing notes, June 1927, Jun 15
“The relay system proves that aviation's future lies not in…”
- Synthesized from period accounts - Flight Magazine, June 1927, Jun 10
“USS Memphis transported Lindbergh and the Spirit of St.”
- Lindbergh returns to United States, Jun 4
Day 7335 · July 14, 1939
First commercial transatlantic service begins
Pan American Airways inaugurated regular transatlantic passenger flights with flying boats, making the route Lindbergh pioneered routine.
“Pan American Airways inaugurated regular transatlantic…”
- First commercial transatlantic service begins, Jul 14
The numbers.
4 numbers that anchor the scale.
By the numbers
The countable parts.
Flight duration
0 hours 30 minutes
Distance covered
0 miles
Pilot's age
0 years old
Prize money won
$0 Orteig Prize
The visual record.
Front pages.
3 outlets carried the story: The New York Times, Le Petit Parisien, The Times.
Media coverage
What the world was reading.
5 pieces, ranked by how much they shaped the discourse.
The New York Times
Newspaper · United States · May 21, 1927
"Lindbergh Soars Across Atlantic; Reaches Paris After 33-1/2 Hour Flight in Lone Eagle"
Charles A. Lindbergh, a 25-year-old Air Mail pilot, flew a single-engine monoplane from New York to Paris in a non-stop flight of 3,610 miles, landing at Le Bourget Aerodrome early this morning after 33 hours and 30 minutes in the air.
- May 21, 1927
Le Petit Parisien
Newspaper · France
"L'Aviateur americain Lindbergh a atterri au Bourget - Une victoire pour l'aviation mondiale"
FR: 'L'Aviateur américain Lindbergh a atterri au Bourget - Une victoire pour l'aviation mondiale' / EN: 'American aviator Lindbergh lands at Bourget - A victory for global aviation.' Thousands gathered at Le Bourget as the American made history with the first solo transatlantic crossing.
- May 21, 1927
The Times
Newspaper · United Kingdom
"American Airman Spans the Atlantic - Lindbergh Lands in France After Epic Journey"
Synthesized from period reporting - The daring feat of Captain Charles Lindbergh, who piloted his aircraft from New York to Paris without a single stop, has captured the imagination of the civilised world and marks a turning point in aviation history.
- May 28, 1927
The Literary Digest
Magazine · United States
"Lindbergh's Flight - The World's Greatest Aviation Achievement"
Synthesized from period reporting - In a feat of courage and technical mastery, young Charles Lindbergh has done what aviation experts deemed nearly impossible: crossed the Atlantic alone in a single-engine aircraft, reshaping mankind's relationship with distance and danger.
- May 29, 1927
Berliner Illustrierte Zeitung
Magazine · Germany
"Der amerikanische Flieger Lindbergh bezwingt den Ozean"
DE: 'Der amerikanische Flieger Lindbergh bezwingt den Ozean' / EN: 'American aviator Lindbergh conquers the ocean.' The transatlantic crossing demonstrates that aviation has entered a new era of long-distance flight and commercial possibility.
Captured in time.
Captured before it changed
The web as it looked, the day it happened.
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Sources & citations.
Sources
Where this came from.
Every claim on this page traces to a public, license-clean source. We don't asterisk well.
Wikipedia
1 source- 1.First Trans-Atlantic flight over the South Atlantic
en.wikipedia.org