Jellystone Air Park: Spirit of St. Louis

Back in December 2011 I was in Washington, DC on the 108th anniversary of the Wright Brothers first powered flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. To honor the occasion I decided to visit the National Air and Space Museum, and spend a little quality time with the 1903 Flyer. I have probably visited the museum fifteen times over the years, and have never been disappointed. Within it's walls are the artifacts of adventures that fueled my dreams when I was young. On a more practical note, my good friend John Mullis says he likes the museum because it has airplanes and instruments that he can understand and recognize! The museum layout has changed over the years, as has some of the content, but the major players have always been there---the 1903 Flyer, the Bell X-1, and my favorite, the Spirit of St. Louis.

I was there to see the Wright Flyer, but (as is usually the case) most of my time was spent with the Spirit of St. Louis. The best vantage point for viewing the Ryan NYP is from the second floor balcony, in the southwest corner of the Milestones of Flight gallery. It is as close as one can get. For me it is hallowed ground. . . What must it have been like; to sit in that wicker chair for thirty-three and a half hours? Would I have had the skill and the stamina? At this point in the game, four hours is about as long as I can withstand---and I have a comfortable chair. And an autopilot! You can read about Lindbergh's flight from New York to Paris all you want (the best account is his Pulitzer prize-winning The Spirit of St. Louis, published in 1953) and you can view all the movies, but the magnitude of his accomplishment doesn't hit home---not until you stand next to the airplane. Every pilot should make the pilgrimage.

Speaking of pilgrimages. . .

The EG, and his son, Michael, were in Washington, DC just last week---representing Petaluma (California) Boy Scout Troop 9, at a FEMA ceremony (at the White House) honoring Troop 9's participation in the National Strategy supporting Youth Preparedness in America. After the ceremony they had an opportunity to visit the National Air and Space Museum. On Thursday I received the following message:

"Here's something you don't see every day."

Photo by Duncan Flett

Timing is everything! The Milestones of Flight gallery is undergoing restoration. Recently, the Spirit was lowered for inspection. Michael and Duncan were on hand to watch as technicians removed the cowlings. Duncan is right; you don't see that every day. . .

Fun Facts:

The Spirit of St. Louis has a fuel capacity of 425 US gallons. The oil tank holds 25 gallons. The Wright J-5C Whirlwind engine is rated at 220 hp. The official flight time from Roosevelt Field, Long Island, New York, to Le Bourget Aerodrome, Paris, France, was 33 hours, 30 minutes, 29.8 seconds. Total flying time when the Spirit of St. Louis was retired to the Smithsonian Institution: 489 hours, 28 minutes.