Lot 2014
Lindbergh, Charles A. (1902-1974), American Aviator, made the first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean on May 20-21, 1927.
ALS on U.S. Grant Hotel stationery, letter from Lindbergh in San Diego to William Robertson dated Mar 4, 1927, it reads in full, "I was unable to meet the Bellanca terms so, as you know have placed the order with Ryan Airlines here. The Ryan has wonderful performance with Hisso or Whirlwind motors but is slightly heavy for an O.X. and does not come up to the Eaglenock or Waco. I understand that Western Air Express obtains their 100% in the same manner that U.A.F. takes 98%. They do not take off in bad weather. Pacific Air Transport has lost a number of ships, had, I believe, three fatalities, and is now attempting to use some O.X.5. Eaglerocks. From what I have been able to gather, it seems we are among the best of the contract routes and our weakest point in comparison is in our mechanical force. Our ground organization does not compare with that of Western Air Express. As Ever, Charles A. Lindberg" Very Fine and choice.
Estimate 25,000 - 30,000
THIS LETTER WAS WRITTEN BY LINDBERGH SHORTLY AFTER SIGNING THE DEAL WITH RYAN AIRWAYS, AND WHILE STAYING IN THE SAN DIEGO AREA TO SUPERVISE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS.
William Robertson was a war time pilot and owner of Robertson Aircraft Corp where Lindberg became the first pilot to fly the contract Airmail route running from Chicago, Ill. to St. Louis, Mo. As he grew bored with the contract route, he heard of a fine new airplane, the Wright Bellanca, whose engine promised to give it a range of 4,000 miles. He pondered what could be achieved in such a machine. In 1919, New York hotel businessman Raymond Orteig had offered a $25,000 prize for the first nonstop flight between New York and Paris. Lindbergh convinced a group of St. Louis businessmen to back him in an attempt to win the Orteig prize. They committed $10,000 for his plan. On a tight budget, he went looking for an airplane. At first, Charles Levine, the owner of the Wright Bellanca offered it to him for only $15,000, a great discount from its cost of $25,000. His backers okayed the extra funds. After excitedly traveling to New York to finalize the deal, Lindbergh was dismayed to learn that while Levine would sell him the Bellanca, he insisted on naming the pilot himself. Lindbergh looked for other aircraft but most other manufacturers were unhelpful.
A small manufacturer, the Ryan Aeronautical Company of San Diego, agreed to build a plane for Lindbergh, for $6,000 plus the cost of the engine. He went to their small plant in San Diego and supervised the design modifications and the construction his monoplane. Essentially, the Spirit of St. Louis was a custom-built airplane, designed expressly to fly Lindbergh across the Atlantic. Powered by a state-of-the-art 223hp Wright Whirlwind J-5C engine, the plane could cruise for 4,200 miles. This pushed the final aircraft cost to $10,580.
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| Realized $25,000 |
