Charles Lindbergh: The Lone Eagle Page #2

With the Arctic defeated, Byrd now

sets his sights on the Atlantic,

and the seven-year-old challenge

to reach Paris.

Byrd plans a mission for a crew of

four in one of the largest,

most expensive planes ever built.

But another pilot beats him

to the airfield.

On September 15, 1926,

French war ace Renee Fonck sets off

from New York for Paris.

But Fonck's huge, overloaded plane

does not even lift off the ground.

Two crewmen are killed in the wreck.

Fonck survives, his dream in ruins.

But Charles Lindbergh takes inspiration

from the tragic headlines.

It is the first time he has heard of

the New York-Paris prize.

Lindbergh decides to enter the race.

But his plan is different.

He will fly with just one engine.

And, he will do it alone.

It would be a thirty-six hour,

sleepless ordeal.

But first, he needs a decent plane.

Lindbergh approaches eight of

the wealthiest men in St. Louis.

Inspired by the young man's boldness,

they stake Lindbergh

with 15,000 dollars,

gambling that the publicity

will make St. Louis

the aviation hub of the Midwest.

Lindbergh offers his own life savings,

In February, 1927,

he makes his way toward

the only manufacturer that will build

a plane on his meager budget.

His destination is

San Diego, California,

and a company he has never heard of

Ryan Aircraft.

But no one has ever heard of

Charles Lindbergh, either.

On February 25th, 1927, Lindbergh

arrives at Ryan Aircraft in San Diego.

First impressions are discouraging:

a dilapidated hangar, with no runway,

and a staff of just a dozen.

Ryan's owner is barely a year

older than Lindbergh...

Benjamin Franklin Mahoney,

a former bond salesman

who bought the company

after taking a few flying lessons.

He shares Lindbergh's passion

for aviation

and his desire to win

the Transatlantic race.

Donald Hall is Ryan's only engineer.

He's also young, just twenty-seven.

Hall is astounded by Lindbergh's

vision of a solitary,

sleepless flight to Paris.

But a crew of one would mean

more room for gasoline.

He begins sketches at once for

a small aircraft, a flying fuel tank.

Lindbergh wires his sponsors

in St. Louis.

"Believe Ryan capable of building plane

with sufficient performance.

Delivery within sixty days.

Recommend closing deal.

Lindbergh."

Lindbergh has his team.

Now, it's time to get to work.

The aircraft will be an extension of

Charles Lindbergh himself.

"Every part of it can be designed

for a single purpose

every line fashioned to

the Paris flight.

I can inspect each detail before

it's covered with fabric and fairings.

I can build my own experience

into the plane's structure."

The young men who plan a leap

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