Before World War I, there were no planes capable of flying from Newfoundland to Ireland. This was the shortest route across the Atlantic Ocean. It was a distance of 1,900 miles, or 3,057 kilometers, and no engine available at the time could reliably make the 20- to 30-hour-long journey. In 1913, Lord Northcliffe had put Read More…
In the early 20th century, the Daily Mail newspaper offered numerous prizes for achievements in aviation. One of them was a £10,000 prize for the first transatlantic flight. In 1919, several teams arrived in Newfoundland to prepare planes and crews for such a crossing. Admiral Mark Kerr was working on the Handley Page V/1500, the Read More…
Charles Lindbergh was born on February 2, 1902, in Detroit, Michigan. He dropped out of college to begin a career as barnstormer and mail delivery pilot. When the Orteig Prize was announced as a reward for the first nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean, Lindbergh set out to win it. He first approached Sicilian plane Read More…
In 1919, Raymond Orteig offered $25,000 to the first person who would fly from New York City to Paris in one flight, in either direction. The prize was valid for 5 years, and the Aero Club of America accepted the challenge. Orteig extended the challenge by another 5 years when no one had been able Read More…