Ryan NYP Spirit of St Louis – kit from LEGO® bricks

Description

On 20^th May 1927, American pilot Charles Lindbergh single-handedly crossed the Atlantic from New York to Paris in a tiny, single-engine aeroplane. Without a radio or sextant, and armed only with a wristwatch, maps and a compass, he accomplished a feat that today, almost 100 years later, seems unbelievable.

Lindbergh had to battle against a heavy blizzard in Newfoundland, though his biggest foe during the 33.5-hour journey was tiredness. However, he had a true companion in his little long-haul aeroplane, the Ryan NYP. In honour of his private donors from St Louis, he had baptised it the “Spirit of St Louis”.

Lindbergh had commissioned the machine from the relatively unknown manufacturer Ryan himself. It was a so-called shoulder wing aeroplane made of fabric-covered steel pipe and wood. Everything about its construction was designed to have low air resistance and be especially lightweight. Thus, the daring pilot not only had to do without instruments but also a second engine.

What is particularly pleasing is that the Ryan NYP Spirit of St Louis has been preserved. It hangs from the ceiling at the entrance to the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.

Colour of the model: grey

Number of original LEGO® bricks: 26

Measurements of the model: 8.1 x 12.8 x 3 cm

Scale of the model: 1:100

Difficulty level: beginner