The Smithsonian Institution was chartered by the United States Congress after James Smithson donated $500,000 on August 10, 1846.    

N-X-211, Ryan NYP "Spirit of St Louis", NASM, Washington DC, August 1974 by Gordon Riley Via Flickr: This is the original “Spirit of St Louis” in which Charles Lindbergh carried out the first solo, non-stop crossing of the Atlantic on 20th-21st May 1927. The flight was from New York to Paris, a distance of 3,610 miles and took 33 ½ hours. The NYP (which stands for New York Paris) was based on a standard Ryan M-2 mailplane. It had a longer wingspan and a massively increased fuel capacity. The cockpit was moved rearwards and the engine moved forwards, allowing the large main fuel tank to be situated over the centre of gravity. This arrangement meant that the pilot could only see forward using a periscope. The engine is a Wright Whirlwind J-5C 9-cylinder radial engine, producing 223hp. After returning from France, Lindbergh and the NYP carried out a tour of the United States and then flew nonstop from Washington to Mexico City, visited Colombia, Venezuela and Puerto Rico (among others) before flying nonstop from Havana to St Louis. Flags of all the countries visited were painted on the cowling. The NYP's final flight was from St Louis to Washington on 30th April 1928, after which Lindbergh presented her to the Smithsonian Institution for preservation. She was hung in the Arts and Industries Building until 1976 when she moved to the then new Air and Space building. She is now displayed in the ‘Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall’ (Gallery 100/200).

Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis

Made progress on the Glencoe Models 1:48 Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis. Added instrument panel into right fuselage half to give some semblance of an interior before gluing the fuselage halves together. #scalemodeling #spiritofstlouis #glencoemodels (at Mehlville, Missouri) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-ImZSyjpce/?igshid=16wcq1gel3or1

Ryan NYP "Spirit of St. Louis"

Ryan NYP “Spirit of St. Louis”

Early in 1927 Charles A. Lindbergh obtained the backing of several St. Louis men to compete for the $25,000 prize offered by Raymond Orteig in 1919 for the first nonstop flight between New York City and Paris. In February of that year Lindbergh placed an order with Ryan Airlines in San Diego for an aircraft with specifications necessary to make the flight.

Development began based on a standard…

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11 May 1927: At 8:20 a.m., Central time, Charles A. Lindbergh and the Spirit of St. Louis touched down at Lambert Field, St. Louis, Missouri, and taxied to the National Guard hangars where he shut down the Wright J-5C Whirlwind engine. The overnight flight from Rockwell Field on North Island, San Diego, California, took 14 hours, 25 minutes, a new speed record. It is just eighty days since Lindbergh left St. Louis by train to meet with Ryan Airlines Company to discuss designing and building an airplane that would become the Ryan NYP, N-X-211, the Spirit of St. Louis. Though the members of the syndicate that is funding his New York-to-Paris flight have planned celebrations, Lindbergh is anxious to continue on to New York City. Source: www.thisdayinaviation.com #aviation #sky #freedom #adventure #pilot #dream #lookup #civilaviation #airforce #dontforgettohashtag #airplane #instaaviation #aviationlovers #airport #flying #jet #propeller #aviationhistory #crewlife #plane #avporn #aviator #givesourcecredit #avgeek #cockpit #instagramaviation #pilotlife #aviationphotography #instaplane #takeoff

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Ryan NYP Spirit of St Louis Corgi Airplane https://t.co/37CsMXsexU #Corgi #Airplane #SpiritOfStLouis #CharlesLindbergh #Diecast #Toys #Models #Planes #RyanNYP

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Charles Lindbergh touched down at Le Bourget Field in Paris on May 21, 1927, completing the world’s first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean.  

At 7:52 on May 20, 1927, Charles Lindbergh takes off from Roosevelt Field in Long Island, New York, on the world’s first solo non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean.

He touched down at Le Bourget Field in Paris at 22:22 the next day.

At 7:52 on May 20, 1927, Charles Lindbergh took off from Roosevelt Field in Long Island, New York, on the world’s first solo non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean.

He touched down at Le Bourget Field in Paris at 22:22 the next day.

Charles Lindbergh touched down at Le Bourget Field in Paris on May 21, 1927, completing the world’s first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean.  

At 7:52 on May 20, 1927, Charles Lindbergh took off from Roosevelt Field in Long Island, New York, on the world’s first solo non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean.

He touched down at Le Bourget Field in Paris at 22:22 the next day.

Charles Lindbergh touched down at Le Bourget Field in Paris on May 21, 1927, completing the world's first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean.  

Ryan NYP ‘N-X-211’, Bell X-1 ‘6062’ and SpaceShipOne ‘N328KF’ by Alan Wilson Via Flickr: These three exhibits certainly justify the use of “Milestones” for this Gallery! Seen here are Lindbergh’s 1927 Ryan NYP ‘N-X-211’ named “Spirit of St Louis”, Yeager’s 1947 Bell X-1 ‘6062’ named “Glamorous Glennis” and the 2003 SpaceShipOne ‘N328KF’. Usually displayed suspended, the trio are seen on the ground during refurbishment / maintenance of the Gallery. ‘Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall’ (Gallery 100/200). National Air and Space Museum, Washington DC. 11th May 2015

Ryan NYP ‘N-X-211’, Bell X-1 ‘6062’ and SpaceShipOne ‘N328KF’ by Alan Wilson Via Flickr: These three exhibits certainly justify the use of “Milestones” for this Gallery! Seen here are Lindbergh’s 1927 Ryan NYP ‘N-X-211’ named “Spirit of St Louis”, Yeager’s 1947 Bell X-1 ‘6062’ named “Glamorous Glennis” and the 2003 SpaceShipOne ‘N328KF’. Usually displayed suspended, the trio are seen on the ground during refurbishment / maintenance of the Gallery. ‘Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall’ (Gallery 100/200). National Air and Space Museum, Washington DC. 11th May 2015

Ryan NYP ‘N-X-211’ “Spirit of St Louis” by Alan Wilson Via Flickr: c/n 30 Built 1927 This is the original “Spirit of St Louis” in which Charles Lindbergh carried out the first solo, non-stop crossing of the Atlantic on 20th-21st May 1927. The flight was from New York to Paris, a distance of 3,610 miles and took 33 ½ hours. The NYP (which stands for New York Paris) was based on a standard Ryan M-2 mailplane. It had a longer wingspan and a massively increased fuel capacity. The cockpit was moved rearwards and the engine moved forwards, allowing the large main fuel tank to be situated over the centre of gravity. This arrangement meant that the pilot could only see forward using a periscope. The engine is a Wright Whirlwind J-5C 9-cylinder radial engine, producing 223hp. After returning from France, Lindbergh and the NYP carried out a tour of the United States and then flew nonstop from Washington to Mexico City, visited Colombia, Venezuela and Puerto Rico (among others) before flying nonstop from Havana to St Louis. Flags of all the countries visited were painted on the cowling. The NYPs final flight was from St Louis to Washington on 30th April 1928, after which Lindbergh presented her to the Smithsonian Institution for preservation. She was hung in the Arts and Industries Building until 1976 when she moved to the then new Air and Space building. She is usually on display suspended in the ‘Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall’ (Gallery 100/200), but is seen here when lowered to the ground for inspection and maintenance. She is fitted with temporary wheels (so as to not put the weight of the aircraft on the original tyres) and with the cowlings removed, showing some interesting detail. National Air and Space Museum, Washington DC. 11th May 2015