Lindy comes in to land: Paris, 1927

An estimated 150,000 people watch a single engine monoplane, The Spirit of St Louis, approach a small airfield outside of Paris. Its 25-year-old American pilot, Charles Lindbergh, has just become the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, taking 33 hours and 30 minutes to get from New York to Paris. Lindbergh, or ‘Lindy’ as he became known, braved storms and fatigue without a radio, navigational equipment or a parachute to complete the flight. In doing so, he won $25,000 and took his place in the aviation hall of fame.