Chapter 6 Golden Age (1927-1939) A. Charles Lindbergh B. Adventure, Exploration, and Sport C....

Chapter 6Chapter 6Golden Age (1927-1939)Golden Age (1927-1939)

A.A. Charles LindberghCharles LindberghB.B. Adventure, Exploration, and SportAdventure, Exploration, and SportC.C. Commercial Airlines and AirlinersCommercial Airlines and AirlinersD.D. Aviation Radio and Military AviationAviation Radio and Military Aviation

Section ASection ACharles LindberghCharles Lindbergh

In 1927 the young American pilot Charles In 1927 the young American pilot Charles Lindbergh flew alone across the Atlantic Ocean Lindbergh flew alone across the Atlantic Ocean to France and fame. More that 90 people had to France and fame. More that 90 people had flown across the Atlantic before Lindbergh’s flown across the Atlantic before Lindbergh’s historic flight, so his flight both closed the historic flight, so his flight both closed the postwar period of long distance flying and postwar period of long distance flying and

opened the Golden Age of Aviation.opened the Golden Age of Aviation.

Charles LindberghCharles Lindbergh

Lindbergh took his first flight lesson in Lindbergh took his first flight lesson in 1922.1922.

– Received 8 hours of dual instructionReceived 8 hours of dual instruction Joined friends barnstorming, wing walking, Joined friends barnstorming, wing walking,

and parachuting.and parachuting.

He bought his own airplane in 1923He bought his own airplane in 1923- Curtiss JN-4D JennyCurtiss JN-4D Jenny- First soloFirst solo


Educated at Brooks Field, Army Air Educated at Brooks Field, Army Air Service, San Antonio, Texas in 1924.Service, San Antonio, Texas in 1924.

- Graduated in 1925 in a class of - Graduated in 1925 in a class of 18 that started with 104 cadets.18 that started with 104 cadets.

Lindbergh joined the Robertson Lindbergh joined the Robertson Aircraft Corporation of St. Louis as an Aircraft Corporation of St. Louis as an airmail pilotairmail pilot


Orteig PrizeOrteig Prize• Raymond Orteig, a New York Raymond Orteig, a New York

businessman, offered a $25,000 businessman, offered a $25,000 prize for the first nonstop airplane prize for the first nonstop airplane flight between New York and Paris in flight between New York and Paris in either direction.either direction.

• This lured Lindbergh from flying the This lured Lindbergh from flying the mail to planning the flight.mail to planning the flight.


Lindbergh raised money from the St. Lindbergh raised money from the St. Louis business community.Louis business community.

He selected a single-engine He selected a single-engine monoplane ~ less drag, less fuel monoplane ~ less drag, less fuel consumption. consumption.

More than 90 people made the trip, More than 90 people made the trip, but never nonstop in an airplane.but never nonstop in an airplane.


In 1927, there were more than 20 In 1927, there were more than 20 attempts.attempts.

On 21 Sept. 1926, French ace Rene On 21 Sept. 1926, French ace Rene Fonck and his crew crashed their Fonck and his crew crashed their Sirkorsky S-35 on takeoff, killing 2.Sirkorsky S-35 on takeoff, killing 2.

Despite, the prize attracted many!!Despite, the prize attracted many!!


20-21 May 192720-21 May 1927

– Lindbergh flew the Lindbergh flew the Spirit of St. LouisSpirit of St. Louis, a , a Ryan monoplane, non stop from New Ryan monoplane, non stop from New York to St. Louis.York to St. Louis.

– 3600 miles crossed in 33 hours and 29 3600 miles crossed in 33 hours and 29 minutes.minutes.

– He won the $25,000 Orteig Prize.He won the $25,000 Orteig Prize.


The flight also won Lindbergh the The flight also won Lindbergh the reserve officer promotion to colonel reserve officer promotion to colonel and the Congressional Medal of and the Congressional Medal of Honor.Honor.

Wrote a book Wrote a book “We”, “We”, referring to man referring to man and machine, about the flight.and machine, about the flight.– His book His book The Spirit of St. Louis The Spirit of St. Louis won a won a

Pulitzer prize in 1953.Pulitzer prize in 1953.


The flight proved the reliability of The flight proved the reliability of aircraft and engines designed and aircraft and engines designed and built after the war.built after the war.

Lindbergh flew the Lindbergh flew the Spirit of St. Louis Spirit of St. Louis on on tour of the US, visiting all 48 states, tour of the US, visiting all 48 states, covering 22,000 miles, logging 260.7 covering 22,000 miles, logging 260.7 flight hoursflight hours


Lindbergh got jobs with two airlinesLindbergh got jobs with two airlines– Pam Am and Pam Am and – Transcontinental Air Transport (TAT) Transcontinental Air Transport (TAT)

which later became known as “The which later became known as “The Lindbergh Line.”Lindbergh Line.”

End of Section AEnd of Section A

Section BSection BAdventure, Exploration, and SportAdventure, Exploration, and Sport

Aviation was sport and spectacle. It was an Aviation was sport and spectacle. It was an adventure in the exploration of the planet, the adventure in the exploration of the planet, the

plane, and the pilot. Pilots promoted plane, and the pilot. Pilots promoted themselves, their aircraft, and their flights. themselves, their aircraft, and their flights. Geographical and scientific expeditions used Geographical and scientific expeditions used airplanes not only as service vehicles, but to airplanes not only as service vehicles, but to

attract supporters of aviation. Filmmakers used attract supporters of aviation. Filmmakers used airplanes for aerial photography an as subject airplanes for aerial photography an as subject matter. Light airplanes, homebuilt, and glider matter. Light airplanes, homebuilt, and glider brought aviation to ordinary people. This was brought aviation to ordinary people. This was

the Golden Age of Aviation.the Golden Age of Aviation.

Adventure, Exploration, and SportAdventure, Exploration, and Sport

James D. Dole organized a Pacific Air James D. Dole organized a Pacific Air Race with a $35,000 prize for Race with a $35,000 prize for nonstop flight from Oakland, nonstop flight from Oakland, California to Honolulu, Hawaii.California to Honolulu, Hawaii.

Who Wants to be a Millionaire?...Who Wants to be a Millionaire?...How about the next American Idol?...How about the next American Idol?...Any Bachelors looking for date?...Any Bachelors looking for date?...Prizes, Prizes, Prizes…Prizes, Prizes, Prizes…


Many tried…many died.Many tried…many died. Two planes did complete the race, Two planes did complete the race,

both with the Wright J-5 engine.both with the Wright J-5 engine.– The Winning plane, the The Winning plane, the Woolaroc,Woolaroc, flown flown

by Art Goebel and William V. Davis.by Art Goebel and William V. Davis.– Second was the Second was the AlohaAloha


Although the Pacific was the new challenge, Although the Pacific was the new challenge, some did not lose interest in the Atlanic.some did not lose interest in the Atlanic.– Amelia Earhart – the Lady Lindy – in 1932 Amelia Earhart – the Lady Lindy – in 1932

became the first female pilot to make a solo, became the first female pilot to make a solo, nonstop transatlantic flight.nonstop transatlantic flight.

– James Allan Mollison made the first east-to-James Allan Mollison made the first east-to-west solo flightwest solo flight

– Graf Zeppelin made 18 crossings of the South Graf Zeppelin made 18 crossings of the South Atlantic.Atlantic.

– In 1932, 5 planes carried 22 passengers across In 1932, 5 planes carried 22 passengers across the Atlantic.the Atlantic.


Douglas CorriganDouglas Corrigan– Decided to fly across the Atlantic, but Decided to fly across the Atlantic, but

lacked the necessary authorizations.lacked the necessary authorizations.– On 17-18 July 1938, Corrigan made the On 17-18 July 1938, Corrigan made the

flight claiming that he intended to fly to flight claiming that he intended to fly to California, but flew the wrong way.California, but flew the wrong way.

– Earned the nick-name “Wrong-Way Earned the nick-name “Wrong-Way Corrigan.Corrigan.


Round the WorldRound the World– 1929 Graf Zeppelin made a 1929 Graf Zeppelin made a

circumnavigation flight.circumnavigation flight.– Pilot Wiley Post and navigator Harold Pilot Wiley Post and navigator Harold

Gatty flew around the around in 1932.Gatty flew around the around in 1932.– Von Gronau flying boat trip in in 1932.Von Gronau flying boat trip in in 1932.– Post made a second round the world Post made a second round the world

flight in 1933, this time solo.flight in 1933, this time solo.– Howard Hughes made it in 1938.Howard Hughes made it in 1938.


Polar FlightsPolar Flights– Remember Richard Byrd??Remember Richard Byrd??– Well… he does it again. This time to the Well… he does it again. This time to the

South Pole, Nov. 1929.South Pole, Nov. 1929.


Italian Distance FlightsItalian Distance Flights– Nation Pride at stakeNation Pride at stake– Benito Mussolini sent his Minister of Air Benito Mussolini sent his Minister of Air

Italo Balbo to the Chicago World’s Fair in Italo Balbo to the Chicago World’s Fair in 1933.1933.

– They flew 25 plane from Rome, Italy to They flew 25 plane from Rome, Italy to ChicagoChicagoLost one plane on the wayLost one plane on the wayLost one more on the return trip.Lost one more on the return trip.


1934 MacRobertson Air Race1934 MacRobertson Air Race 12,300 miles from England to 12,300 miles from England to

Australia.Australia.– C.W.A Scott and T. Campbell Black won C.W.A Scott and T. Campbell Black won

the race in a de Havilland 88 Comet.the race in a de Havilland 88 Comet.– Second and Third place were won by Second and Third place were won by

Americans.Americans.


Altitude FlightsAltitude Flights 1934, William Kepner, Orvil 1934, William Kepner, Orvil

Anderson, and observer A.W. Steven Anderson, and observer A.W. Steven manned a balloon (Explorer 1) and manned a balloon (Explorer 1) and rose to more that 11 milesrose to more that 11 miles

The next year Kepner and Anderson The next year Kepner and Anderson did it again in the Explorer II, this did it again in the Explorer II, this time to 72,395 ft or 13.7 milestime to 72,395 ft or 13.7 miles


Speed FlightsSpeed Flights Absolute speed record at the time Absolute speed record at the time

Lindbergh crossed the AtlanticLindbergh crossed the Atlantic– 278.481 mph278.481 mph

Speed records were set and broken Speed records were set and broken constantly…almost on a yearly basis.constantly…almost on a yearly basis.– 9 times in 12 years9 times in 12 years


French RaidsFrench Raids The French started exploratory The French started exploratory

flights, known as raids.flights, known as raids.– French gov’t. air ministry offered prizes French gov’t. air ministry offered prizes

for first flights to far destinationsfor first flights to far destinations– Additional prizes for the fastest flights to Additional prizes for the fastest flights to

those destinations already reached.those destinations already reached. Raids were classed as a sport in the Raids were classed as a sport in the

1930s1930s

Light AirplanesLight Airplanes

EuropeEurope– de Havilland DH 60 Moth biplane de Havilland DH 60 Moth biplane

became so popular that the word ‘Moth’ became so popular that the word ‘Moth’ came to denote every small airplane. came to denote every small airplane. ~Much like how the word ‘Cessna’ is ~Much like how the word ‘Cessna’ is used todayused today

United StatesUnited States– C.G. Taylor and William Piper finds the C.G. Taylor and William Piper finds the

Taylor Aircraft CompanyTaylor Aircraft Company and starts and starts production of the Model A Cub in 1930.production of the Model A Cub in 1930.

Homebuilt AircraftHomebuilt Aircraft

Starting with the Montgolfier Bros., aircraft Starting with the Montgolfier Bros., aircraft have been built at home.have been built at home.

Even the Wright Bros. sold airplanes with the Even the Wright Bros. sold airplanes with the intention of the customer building it at intention of the customer building it at home.home.

The Heath Parasol was one of the first The Heath Parasol was one of the first aircraft to be marketed solely as a aircraft to be marketed solely as a homebuilt.homebuilt.

Homebuilt gliders and the Germans are Homebuilt gliders and the Germans are what began in our investigating and what began in our investigating and understanding of thermals.understanding of thermals.

End of SectionBEnd of SectionB

Chapter 6 Golden Age (1927-1939) A. Charles Lindbergh B. Adventure, Exploration, and Sport C....

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