How Two Firsts in Aviation Shaped Our World Today
There aren’t many today who don’t recognize the names Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart. Even if you don’t know much about them, you know they are two of aviation’s most prominent historical figures, falling closely behind Orville and Wilbur Wright. Here are four ways that their solo flights changed not only aviation’s trajectory, but helped create the world we know today.
Commercial Airlines
At 7:52 a.m. on May 20th, 1927, Charles Augustus Lindbergh set off from Roosevelt Field, Long Island in The Spirit of Saint Louis in an attempt to fly solo across the Atlantic and win a $25,000 prize offered by $ Raymond Orteig$ , a New York hotel owner. The prize had been on the table since 1919, and no one had yet to earn the prize. After 33 ½ hours in the air, Lindbergh landed at Le Bourget Aerodrome, an airfield 7 miles outside of Paris.
After his successful flight, Lindberg rose quickly to fame. His flight ushered in what is now known as the “Lindbergh Boom” and era of public interest and increased trust in commercial air flight. In 1926, one year prior to the transatlantic flight, the U.S. had 5,782 commercial airline passengers by 1929, two years after the flight, $ that number grew$ to 173,405 an increase of 3,000%. With the exception of the years during the Great Depression and the COVID-19 pandemic, those numbers have continued to increase year after year. With each increase in passengers, more airlines and flights are needed to fill the need, providing jobs and boosting economies around the world.
Today approximately 520 $ commercial flights$ pass between the U.S.A. and Western Europe daily, thanks in part to Charles Lindbergh.
Time Magazine’s Person of the Year Issue
Before $ Lindbergh$ even landed in France, the New York Times reported on the last sighting over the U.S. Next a report came from Plymouth on the English Coast that his plane was seen heading over the English Channel, the news quickly spread from there and on his arrival at the airfield outside of Paris he was greeted by a crowd estimated at 150,000 people. Soon newspapers, radio channels, and periodicals were covering the story of Lucky Lindy, who faced storms, fog, sleep deprivation, and navigation with only maps on his long solo journey. It seemed like every news outlet picked up the story and made it front page news. Except one.
Time Magazine did not make Charles Lindbergh a cover story after his transatlantic solo flight success. Although we may not know why that decision was (or wasn’t) made, what we do know is that the editors made up for it. In January 1928 Charles Lindbergh became the first ever $ Time Magazine’s Man of the Year$ (now called Person of the Year). This honor, they hoped, would make up for their oversight the previous year in not making his story a cover story.
Time Magazine chooses their “winner” by looking at the most influential figures of the year. These honorees have shaped the way we see the current events in our lives, and the yearly issue is anticipated by many to see who will be named the winner, and if they agree with that choice. It is fair to say that those chosen for the title have increased publicity from other outlets, and can use the honor to promote their ideas and beliefs. Charles Lindberg was the first to earn this title and paved the way for those behind him to take their place in magazine cover history.
Amelia’s 99’s
Although $ Amelia Earhart$ was not the first female aviator (that title goes to Raymonde de Leroche of France) she was one of the most famous, breaking or setting speed and distance records throughout her career. She is probably most famous for being the first female to fly solo across the Atlantic (5 years to the day of Lindbergh’s’ flight) and for her disappearance while attempting to fly around the world. Prior to her disappearance however, she used her fame to advance the causes that were dear to her heart.
Amelia Earhart was locally known as an aviation expert, but her national fame came after she became the first woman to participate in a transatlantic flight in April 1928. Although she was a passenger on that flight, she became an instant celebrity after the flight. After a women’s flying derby, she and a few other women pilots gathered together to discuss ways to help other women become aviators more easily in the male dominated field. They decided to start an internation organization for women pilots, and Amelia suggested the name be called the Ninety-Nines, based on the number of responses they got to the invitation to the $ first meeting$ . Amelia became the organization’s first president in 1931. The 99’s, since 1941, have awarded over $ 800 scholarships$ and 300 other financial awards to female pilots, totaling over $12 million in funds, thanks to the Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship program. This scholarship carries on Amelia’s hope for better resources for female pilots to pursue their flying careers.
Pop Culture
The fame of both Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart inspired many people across different tracks of life. That both made their way into popular culture is no surprise.
Charles Lindbergh is the supposed namesake of the $ Lindy Hop$ , a dance that graced the cover of Life Magazine, and helped the military gain recruits.
Amelia Earhart was the inspiration for $ Joni Mitchell’s$ 1976 song “Amelia”.
Both aviators were inspiration for movies, books, and even a musical (based on the kidnapping of Lindbergh’s oldest son).
Like anyone who reaches great heights, both Amelia Earhart and Charles Lindbergh changed and shaped the world around them, whether they tried to or not. Although Earhart’s fashion line never took off, she was an advocate of clothes that worked for every woman in every walk of life, she pushed for equal rights for everyone, and worked tirelessly to open doors for women all over the world. Though Lindbergh tried to be modest in his fame, he used it to help promote the air mail services and the creation of new and better air routes.
As Earhart once said, “adventure is worthwhile in itself.” So go out there and adventure, and see where it takes you, and the world.
