unfortunately when landing in bad weather they set down on a bog... and nosed in
Why is the first always thought to be Lindberg, even though his flight was 8 years later... ?
Solo. It's all about how the question is asked, and Lindberg had the world's largest publicity outfit, so the question always refers to the first solo flight, and not the more historically significant "first nonstop aircraft"
Even the phrase non stop is needed, as there was a Navy plane that made the trip across the Atlantic earlier, though it had a 10 day layover in the Azores. So, in 2019, there may be a lot of publicity marking the 100th year of flight over the Atlantic. I bet it all depends on advertising and marketing budgets.
https://www.wired.com/2010/06/0615alcock-brown-fly-atlantic/
The Vickers Vimy hangs in the Science Museum, London.
ReplyDeletehttp://collection.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects/co30141/alcock-and-browns-vickers-vimy-biplane-1919-aeroplanes-aircraft-biplanes
The Cockpit:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=imgres&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiMzsn6_YveAhUZ24MKHSI6DIkQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.diomedia.com%2Fstock-photo-the-cockpit-of-alcock-and-browns-vickers-vimy-aircraft-1919-image5521064.html&psig=AOvVaw2QWuSnYueHgXkBQHkkAKEG&ust=1539814446085933
Thanks! WOW!
DeletePart of it is advertising and marketing, but timing and nationalism play a part too.
ReplyDeleteWhen Alcock & Brown did their flight, the world was still recovering from The Great War, while Lindbergh flew at a time when avaition made great strides forwards, the economy did well and there was an optimistic mood. lindbergh fit right into that narrative.
The fact that Lindbergh was an American and the Brits weren't probably mattered too. In popular culture - the films 'Master and Commander' and 'U-571' about capturing the enigma machine - historical events are often twisted to fit a contemporary nationalist narrative, and by extension Lindbergh flight can be seen as such too.
But I'll give Lindbergh that it was way more cool to fly between two famous cities, solo too, and not end the trip in a bog.
There is a replica that was built in the early '90s and flew several long flights. It is parked in the Brooklands Museum now I think. It was there in 2014 when I visited. I wonder if they will drag it out again and have it running the centenary.
ReplyDeleteThere was another Vimy that was used to win the race to Australia in 1919. Another centenary coming up. http://www.airwaysmuseum.com/Vickers%20Vimy%20G-EAOU.htm
ReplyDelete