"George Patterson" wrote in message
...


Jose wrote:

Several flights were made across the Atlantic prior to Lindburg.

Lucky Lindy was first to fly solo and everyone remembers his name but
no one remembers the names of prior fliers.

I think the issue was that Lindberg flew it nonstop.

No, as far as the Atlantic is concerned, the issue is that Lindberg flew
it
solo. He became famous (and took the prize) for making the first non-stop
flight
between New York and Paris. The team of Alcock and Brown were the first to
cross
the Atlantic. They did it ten years before Lindberg's flight.

George Patterson
I prefer Heaven for climate but Hell for company.

I also tend to think that Lindberg's fame was due to his perception as the
ultimate underdog. The fact that an unknown ex-mail pilot from the Midwest
in a single engine airplane won the contest made it a much more interesting
story than if it was won by a well-funded team of aviation notables flying a
large, multi-engine aircraft.

America loves an underdog.

KB