Charles Lindbergh, a superb pilot later flew the P-38 Lightning on a number of combat missions in the Pacific Theater and shot down several Japanese airplanes while teaching American pilots long range techniques. (High manifold pressure and low RPMs) "We" and his "Wartime Journals" are fascinating reading. He was also an Atheist.
It's sad they didn't cover the Arthur Whitten Brown & John Alcock crossing. They were the first to cross the Atlantic nonstop, making them at least as brave as Lindbergh. And in the case of Brown, there's the added fact that he had to climb onto the wing in mid-flight at night in order to get ice off the engine.
rockyblacksmith I know it's not fair, but they only cover the history of aircraft which are owned by the Smithsonian -- and since Alcock and Brown's Vimy was donated to Kensington, it didn't qualify for this series.
If I counted correctly ( 25:26 ), at least, 36 people were on the work force that built the Spirit of St. Louis for Lindbergh. Did they say the plane's cost was $10,500? Considering a sizable portion of the cost had to be materials, people back then really worked for cheap!
trung nguyen hoang In today's market one would be lucky if 10500$, once all the real expenses in addition to wages; workman's comp, insurance, taxes, etc. are added would cover one semi-skilled worker for one or two average work weeks. Even considering ( according to one estimate ) that $1.00 in 1926 had the same buying power as $13.02 in 2014, Lindbergh got a very good bargain on his labor. It does, however, make reasonable sense when one considers the very small percentage that went to cover the government share and requirements during 1926. In today's U.S. labor market it's not uncommon for an employer to be required to spend two or more dollars covering those expenses to each dollar paid to the worker in wages.
And do not forget that NAZIsm and Fascism is counter reaction of World on Red World Communistic Revolution. Of course stupid reaction. But NAZIonalism and Fascism is creature of Red InterNAZIonalism (Communism).
