My grandfather, Harlan A. Gurney, flew “Spirit” in this movie. He was technical director for the film on furlough from United Air Lines at the time. He and “Slim” (my grandfather gave him that nickname) barnstormed and flew airmail together. My 1927 DH Gypsy Moth was payment for work on the film (it was a prop). His son (my father) graduated from West Point in 1954 and was a USAF pilot until retiring as colonel. I was taught to fly by my grandfather (Dad was too impatient) and later commanded Marine Attack Squadron 513 (Flying Nightmares), a Harrier squadron. As in so many aviation families, the apple didn’t roll far from the tree. Semper Fi, Cow
The detail in this movie is incredible. For example: notice on the engine the various little white bags tied to it. They contain the special fasteners and other small items for attaching and installing the engine. And when they hand Lindbergh the newspaper, the headline is about the 1927 Mississippi flood. Which was happening right at this time.
When I was 19 years old in 1973, I was very lucky to get a summer job at the massive McDonnell Aircraft plant at the St Louis airport. This operating replica of the Spirit of St Louis was stored at the McDonnell plant at the time. It was always a bit of a surprise when I had to go out to the hangar area and see all of the advanced cutting edge military aircraft with the Spirit of St Louis replica tucked away among them.
Actor James Stewart served for 27 years as an officer pilot, officially retiring from the Air Force on May 31, 1968 with the rank of Brigadier-General !!!
I love this scene and this movie. I haven't seen it in years. I think Jimmy Stewart was over 50 at the time he was playing a 25 year old Lindbergh. But Stewart is just so believable he makes it work.
Stewart was way too old, and it's part of the reason the film failed at the box office. James Dean was originally cast, but he was killed in an auto accident before production began. James Stewart always hated his performance in this film.
Jimmy Stewart went on a special diet to get slimmed down for the role. People think that's a recent idea. But no, actors were willing to do what they had to do for the part. Even back then.
Sometimes I wonder if he wished he had come in 2nd. I don't think he realized the intensity of the fame that would consume his life. How could anybody.
Actually the original plane being built to Lindbergh’s specs for his trans-Atlantic attempt was not the one he flew to Europe. He was worried that his plane would not be finished before some rivals beat him to the punch. A same base model aircraft was further ahead in production. It was being manufactured for a bush airline in the Yukon. They approached the customer, and asked them to switch production spots, a selling point being that the Lindbergh aircraft was better suited for a northern bush operation with its extra fuel capacity, higher gross weight, and more rugged construction. The client agreed to the deal, and the aircraft operated in the Yukon for years before being written off in a crash. A replica of this aircraft (the one being built for Lindbergh) is in the museum in Whitehorse, Yukon. The customer’s aircraft was then quickly modified enough to serve for Lindbergh’s flight across the Atlantic.
Starkodder the quest of first solo crossing of the Atlantic by air found its very unique pilot in charles lindbergh. Legendary. The Lone Eagle of America.
@flip inheck No matter how many crossed the Atlantic before him, he still was the first to fly from New York to Paris, so why all that talking about crossing the Atlantic - believe he was #92 or 97 to do that.
@flip inheck AS I've said before, the contest wasn't about crossing the effing Atlantic, the contest was about flying non stop between Paris and New York in a heavier than air machine, and as far as i know, he was the first to do that! Many died trying, but he performed the flight!!
Building an aircraft from scratch was definitely the better option. The original idea of repurposing an aircraft might have just added engineering challenges that most people would not want not want to deal with.
@@RegBarlowFrom what I hear, that was a pretty dangerous flight Because of the aircraft. The plane was so heavily loaded it almost didn't take off, The electrical system failed, And a exhaust pipe burst while in route.
And, right in the center on the inside of the spinner with the signatures, a large swastika was painted, considered as a good luck symbol by many cultures, including native americans who worked on the project
One of the things I have always noticed in pictures of The Spirit, are the half-dollar sized swirls in the exterior metal. In this clip they show them being made with a rotary steel brush. What were they there for?
@@bowl1820 I've always known this as "machine turned finish" or "engine turned finish". Was used on smaller scale for decoration on dash panels, such as in the Stude Hawk, and built hot rods
Pretty ironic - the real Lindbergh never allowed anyone to film his speeches because he was convinced any Jewish producers or directors would make him look bad on purpose. And here's this movie produced by one of the most proudly Jewish directors of all time.
"If he did all that, how come ge never got famous?" (A 1957 'New Yorker' cartoon alluding to the central character of this picture which flopped at the box-office)
Someone dropped a wrench on the cooling fins and chipped one of them. The builders said they could shape it and it'd be ok. Lindbergh wanted it perfect so they procured another engine which WAS perfect.
It was a shame that they demolished Lindbergh's home in Detroit back in the 70s. In spite of Lindbergh's politics, it was still an historical landmark. Those cretins. Detroit back then had no sense of it's own history, sadly especially where race was involved.
"Those cretins"? The Lindbergh's?? Why??? Lindbergh's parents lived in Minnesota, and split up in 1909; finally divorcing about 1918. As I recall, Charles lived with his mother (in Los Angeles, Calif.) during his high school years. She taught school there. Lindbergh attended the University of Wisconsin for one year and withdrew due to poor academic performance. I don't think that the Lindbergh's had much of a connection to a house in Detroit.
I did like this movie, being 10 at the time.... I am not usually a fan of re-makes, but Jimmy Stewart was a bit old for this role and it is time for a re-evaluation of a great story of youthful determination and blind risk...
If I remember right Lindbergh approved Stewart's role and Stewart was also real combat pilot in WW2 so he had lots of personal experience on aviation which certainly gave him insight.
Naw.... That would have made the whole project seem fishy. Interesting that the engine on the Spirit was built by the Curtiss-Wright aircraft company, giving Lindbergh a connection to first flight.
I was in San Diego this week and discovered a few things: 1. The Spirit was manufactured in, what used to be, a cannery where Solar Turbines (building #11) now sits. Solar Turbines is located in the triangle formed by Laurel Street, Harbor Drive and Pacific Highway. 2. This makes sense as the Spirit had to be towed 2 1/2 miles to Ryan Field (Dutch Flats) to attach the wing and commence the test flights. 3 There were three commemorative plaques at the post office where Ryan field once sat but the post office is closed and the plaques have disappeared. It is sad that history of the Spirit of St. Louis is slowly disappearing in San Diego. None of the locals I spoke with knew anything about the construction of the Spirit. Sad.
Unfortunately, history is often lost when those who learn it are not engaged in passing it on to others. Did you know for example one of the engineers working on the Spirit was a fellow named Douglas Corrigan. A man who on the 10th anniversary of the Lindbergh flight flew his own plane, a Curtiss Robin, from New York to Ireland in violation of a restriction placed on his flight by the federal government. His response to having violated the law by flying to Ireland instead of California was, "My compass broke and I guess I flew the wrong way." From that day forward, he was known as Wrong Way Corrigan.
You are right about history. And yes, I knew that one of the engineers was the infamous "Wrong Way" Corrigan but you know more about his exploits than I. Next time I am down in San Diego I will visit the Air and Space Museum in Balboa Park. I would hope that there is something about the building of the Spirit of St. Louis there because information sure is lacking everywhere else.
The Spirit was built in San Diego. California used to be a huge manufacturing and pioneering state. Especially with aviation. Not surprising the plaques and knowledge of the history behind them have disappeared from San Diego since the city and the state have essentially become a Mexican colony. Not surprising too all manufacturing has left the state with all the socialist policies voted in by the horde of brown foreigners. I wonder, would Lindbergh cross the Atlantic with a plane built by Mexicans? I don't think so. It's almost as if all meaningful technological, philosophical, and cultural achievements were accomplished by a certain race. A fact Lindbergh was very well aware of. Of course it is racist and anti-Semitic to recognize the white European and American for their accomplishments.
Nothing incredible .... latest technology in airframe design... engineered to carry 425 gal of fuel, on 223 HP, high torque engine , prop pitch calculated for good takeoff performance, engine reliability tested for 150 hrs continuous running... so with every eventuality addressed ... the only surprise/unknown was the actual drag coefficient of 1 mile of boggy runway surface...!!! That part was incredible... I believe GOD had HIS HAND on Lingbergh for that extra nudge...!!!
Yet every airplane with better funding from big corporations, government, and prestigious pilots failed. A small unknown company using modifying an old airframe with a unknown airmail pilot accomplished what others couldn't. Of course Lindbergh managed to be smarter than these other better funded groups. Sikorsky's group tried taking off with a fucking 200lb refrigerator full of snacks in a multi-engine, the french tried another multi too. Meanwhile, Lindy was cutting off corners of his map to save weight and flying with a single engine.
@flip inheck The contest was not to fly the Atlantic but from New York to Paris, more than double the distance - even radio controlled model planes have crossed the Atlantic!
@flip inheck I was wrong, sorry. The distance across the atlantic is 3025km, the distance from New york to Paris is 5823 km. New York - Paris is only 196.5% of the distance across the Atlantic. 202km or 3.5% short of being double the distance.
Great accomplishment by Lindbergh, and very ironic that he's played (very well) by Jimmy Stewart who flew against the nazis, of which Lindbergh was one!, that aside, great film
@flip inheck you continue to show not only your foolishness but also your ignorance, I'm not an American, I'm British, and I, as are anyone reading your reply, waiting for your list of the Atlantic crossings in aircraft previous to Lindbergh!
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
My grandfather, Harlan A. Gurney, flew “Spirit” in this movie. He was technical director for the film on furlough from United Air Lines at the time. He and “Slim” (my grandfather gave him that nickname) barnstormed and flew airmail together. My 1927 DH Gypsy Moth was payment for work on the film (it was a prop). His son (my father) graduated from West Point in 1954 and was a USAF pilot until retiring as colonel. I was taught to fly by my grandfather (Dad was too impatient) and later commanded Marine Attack Squadron 513 (Flying Nightmares), a Harrier squadron. As in so many aviation families, the apple didn’t roll far from the tree.
Semper Fi,
Cow
One of my favorite scenes of this movie. The details are awe inspiring.
The detail in this movie is incredible. For example: notice on the engine the various little white bags tied to it. They contain the special fasteners and other small items for attaching and installing the engine. And when they hand Lindbergh the newspaper, the headline is about the 1927 Mississippi flood. Which was happening right at this time.
Saw this on the big screen back in the 50s as a grade schooler. Unforgettable experience.
When I was 19 years old in 1973, I was very lucky to get a summer job at the massive McDonnell Aircraft plant at the St Louis airport. This operating replica of the Spirit of St Louis was stored at the McDonnell plant at the time. It was always a bit of a surprise when I had to go out to the hangar area and see all of the advanced cutting edge military aircraft with the Spirit of St Louis replica tucked away among them.
Aviation has really changed a lot hasn't it!
What an awesome experience! Thank you for sharing it.
Sounds like a great job.
EVEN MUCH BETTER THAN BEING DRAFTED!!
What a privilege!
Of ALL the great movies Billy Wilder directed, this is my favorite.
Love that movie... whenever I got discouraged ... I just watched Spirit of St Louis for the umpteenth time... took me 35 yrs ti build my SPAD...!!!
Did you build a Spad? Thanks.
I remember seeing this movie in 1975 when I was about 6 years old with my Memaw and Pepsi. I was glued to the TV. I still enjoy it today.
I can't tell you how many times I have seen this movie or read the book.
One of the best books I've ever read. Highly recommended.
I grew up in St. Louis, it disgusts me that they removed Lindbergh’s name from the Blvd. named for him. Yes an inspirational book to read.
I need to read the book.
@@cipherthedemonlord8057 It's a good read.
Actor James Stewart served for 27 years as an officer pilot, officially retiring from the Air Force on May 31, 1968 with the rank of Brigadier-General !!!
As he was doing movies at that time he wasn't doing that much active service after WW2 ended. Still being a bomber pilot took lots of courage.
HI, In WWII he was a boomer pilot in Europe.
I love this scene and this movie. I haven't seen it in years. I think Jimmy Stewart was over 50 at the time he was playing a 25 year old Lindbergh. But Stewart is just so believable he makes it work.
Stewart was way too old, and it's part of the reason the film failed at the box office. James Dean was originally cast, but he was killed in an auto accident before production began. James Stewart always hated his performance in this film.
Jimmy Stewart went on a special diet to get slimmed down for the role. People think that's a recent idea. But no, actors were willing to do what they had to do for the part. Even back then.
Makes you long for this time when so many adventures awaited.
Legendary James Stewart
One good engine, all the gas he could carry, nothing extra and a lot of luck equals a winner! KISS!
Sometimes I wonder if he wished he had come in 2nd. I don't think he realized the intensity of the fame that would consume his life. How could anybody.
Excellent movie. His book is even better.
Everytime I'm building a model airplane this comes always comes back.
THE SPIRIT!!!! What a Plane!!!!. Thanks for the post!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love the movie. Glad I received a Blu Ray copy. 👍
Just wowderful.
Actually the original plane being built to Lindbergh’s specs for his trans-Atlantic attempt was not the one he flew to Europe.
He was worried that his plane would not be finished before some rivals beat him to the punch. A same base model aircraft was further ahead in production. It was being manufactured for a bush airline in the Yukon. They approached the customer, and asked them to switch production spots, a selling point being that the Lindbergh aircraft was better suited for a northern bush operation with its extra fuel capacity, higher gross weight, and more rugged construction. The client agreed to the deal, and the aircraft operated in the Yukon for years before being written off in a crash. A replica of this aircraft (the one being built for Lindbergh) is in the museum in Whitehorse, Yukon. The customer’s aircraft was then quickly modified enough to serve for Lindbergh’s flight across the Atlantic.
My aunt worked as a waitress in Chicago. The mail carriers would come in, she said his nickname was Dirty Neck Lindbergh.
Incredible that the machine made it all the way.
Starkodder the quest of first solo crossing of the Atlantic by air found its very unique pilot in charles lindbergh. Legendary. The Lone Eagle of America.
@flip inheck Again, this wasn't just another crossing of the Atlantic, this was a flight from New Yourk to Paris, almost double the distance!
@flip inheck No matter how many crossed the Atlantic before him, he still was the first to fly from New York to Paris, so why all that talking about crossing the Atlantic - believe he was #92 or 97 to do that.
@flip inheck Tail end Charlie?!? Because he won the race? That needs an explanation
@flip inheck AS I've said before, the contest wasn't about crossing the effing Atlantic, the contest was about flying non stop between Paris and New York in a heavier than air machine, and as far as i know, he was the first to do that!
Many died trying, but he performed the flight!!
Building an aircraft from scratch was definitely the better option. The original idea of repurposing an aircraft might have just added engineering challenges that most people would not want not want to deal with.
Then again, in 1919 Alcock and Brown flew across the Atlantic in a converted Vickers Vimy bomber from WW1.
@@RegBarlowFrom what I hear, that was a pretty dangerous flight Because of the aircraft.
The plane was so heavily loaded it almost didn't take off, The electrical system failed, And a exhaust pipe burst while in route.
Actually the crew signed the inside of the nose cone, not the side panel.
And, right in the center on the inside of the spinner with the signatures, a large swastika was painted, considered as a good luck symbol by many cultures, including native americans who worked on the project
Great movie.
Que gran pelicula.
There is a replica in the ford museum in Dearborn Michigan . Was there saw it
One of the things I have always noticed in pictures of The Spirit, are the half-dollar sized swirls in the exterior metal. In this clip they show them being made with a rotary steel brush. What were they there for?
It's called "Burnishing", The main purpose of burnishing was to hide the machine marks in the sheet metal.
@@bowl1820 I've always known this as "machine turned finish" or "engine turned finish". Was used on smaller scale for decoration on dash panels, such as in the Stude Hawk, and built hot rods
@@fourfortyroadrunner6701 Thats right, and in aviation we call it burnishing, thanks.
Its called jeuling they do the same thing on hunting rifle bolts! Different process but basically the same! Decoration is all!
Engine turning. Purely decorative here.
"HE SAID "A", BRING OUT THE SPIRIT OF ST LOUIS"
-Spingbob
Haven't seen the movie in a long time. Do they mention Hawley Bowlus in that part of the story?
Pretty ironic - the real Lindbergh never allowed anyone to film his speeches because he was convinced any Jewish producers or directors would make him look bad on purpose. And here's this movie produced by one of the most proudly Jewish directors of all time.
I suspect that they built an actual replica for the movie and we seeing construction of that replica. It’s a guess.
Where are the WARP FTL drives?
"If he did all that, how come ge never got famous?" (A 1957 'New Yorker' cartoon alluding to the central character of this picture which flopped at the box-office)
0:28 map
What does the plane given a "X" designaton?
@get to the Choppaa 🏆
Experimental. The FAA designation for aircraft not officially designed and built to approved specs.
Old CAA designation for "experimental". Built without a type certificate.
Someone dropped a wrench on the cooling fins and chipped one of them. The builders said they could shape it and it'd be ok. Lindbergh wanted it perfect so they procured another engine which WAS perfect.
Never read anything about that,you have a link or something?
I've seen this movie many times. Saw it first in 1957. I just wish i had never found out what a jerk Lindbergh turned out to be!!
Me too.
It was a shame that they demolished Lindbergh's home in Detroit back in the 70s. In spite of Lindbergh's politics, it was still an historical landmark. Those cretins. Detroit back then had no sense of it's own history, sadly especially where race was involved.
"Those cretins"? The Lindbergh's?? Why???
Lindbergh's parents lived in Minnesota, and split up in 1909; finally divorcing about 1918. As I recall, Charles lived with his mother (in Los Angeles, Calif.) during his high school years. She taught school there. Lindbergh attended the University of Wisconsin for one year and withdrew due to poor academic performance. I don't think that the Lindbergh's had much of a connection to a house in Detroit.
thought they all signed the spinner ?
They did. The spinner unfortunately cracked on the flight east and had to be replaced. The cowl was signed in the film.
@@MrShobar The original cracked spinner now resides at the Smithsonian on display. I saw it there in 2009.
I did like this movie, being 10 at the time.... I am not usually a fan of re-makes, but Jimmy Stewart was a bit old for this role and it is time for a re-evaluation of a great story of youthful determination and blind risk...
If I remember right Lindbergh approved Stewart's role and Stewart was also real combat pilot in WW2 so he had lots of personal experience on aviation which certainly gave him insight.
@@vksasdgaming9472 Charles Lindbergh was not a casting director and the producer wanted the guarantee of a big star... time for a re-make
this is when planes were made by hand and in san diego ca and the manufacturers didnt flee to washington state .
The Boeing Co.was founded in Seattle, Washington in 1916. No manufacturer fled from San Diego to Washington.
They should have named the airplane the "Sand Dab".
Naw.... That would have made the whole project seem fishy. Interesting that the engine on the Spirit was built by the Curtiss-Wright aircraft company, giving Lindbergh a connection to first flight.
I was in San Diego this week and discovered a few things:
1. The Spirit was manufactured in, what used to be, a cannery where Solar Turbines (building #11) now sits. Solar Turbines is located in the triangle formed by Laurel Street, Harbor Drive and Pacific Highway.
2. This makes sense as the Spirit had to be towed 2 1/2 miles to Ryan Field (Dutch Flats) to attach the wing and commence the test flights.
3 There were three commemorative plaques at the post office where Ryan field once sat but the post office is closed and the plaques have disappeared.
It is sad that history of the Spirit of St. Louis is slowly disappearing in San Diego.
None of the locals I spoke with knew anything about the construction of the Spirit.
Sad.
Unfortunately, history is often lost when those who learn it are not engaged in passing it on to others. Did you know for example one of the engineers working on the Spirit was a fellow named Douglas Corrigan. A man who on the 10th anniversary of the Lindbergh flight flew his own plane, a Curtiss Robin, from New York to Ireland in violation of a restriction placed on his flight by the federal government. His response to having violated the law by flying to Ireland instead of California was, "My compass broke and I guess I flew the wrong way." From that day forward, he was known as Wrong Way Corrigan.
You are right about history.
And yes, I knew that one of the engineers was the infamous "Wrong Way" Corrigan but you know more about his exploits than I.
Next time I am down in San Diego I will visit the Air and Space Museum in Balboa Park.
I would hope that there is something about the building of the Spirit of St. Louis there because information sure is lacking everywhere else.
The Spirit was built in San Diego. California used to be a huge manufacturing and pioneering state. Especially with aviation. Not surprising the plaques and knowledge of the history behind them have disappeared from San Diego since the city and the state have essentially become a Mexican colony. Not surprising too all manufacturing has left the state with all the socialist policies voted in by the horde of brown foreigners. I wonder, would Lindbergh cross the Atlantic with a plane built by Mexicans? I don't think so. It's almost as if all meaningful technological, philosophical, and cultural achievements were accomplished by a certain race. A fact Lindbergh was very well aware of. Of course it is racist and anti-Semitic to recognize the white European and American for their accomplishments.
Nothing incredible .... latest technology in airframe design... engineered to carry 425 gal of fuel, on 223 HP, high torque engine , prop pitch calculated for good takeoff performance, engine reliability tested for 150 hrs continuous running... so with every eventuality addressed ... the only surprise/unknown was the actual drag coefficient of 1 mile of boggy runway surface...!!! That part was incredible... I believe GOD had HIS HAND on Lingbergh for that extra nudge...!!!
Yet every airplane with better funding from big corporations, government, and prestigious pilots failed. A small unknown company using modifying an old airframe with a unknown airmail pilot accomplished what others couldn't. Of course Lindbergh managed to be smarter than these other better funded groups. Sikorsky's group tried taking off with a fucking 200lb refrigerator full of snacks in a multi-engine, the french tried another multi too. Meanwhile, Lindy was cutting off corners of his map to save weight and flying with a single engine.
The prop was increased 1° for better cruise, which countered takeoff performance. It had not been tested with that fuel load or rwy conditions.
@flip inheck The contest was not to fly the Atlantic but from New York to Paris, more than double the distance - even radio controlled model planes have crossed the Atlantic!
@flip inheck I was wrong, sorry. The distance across the atlantic is 3025km, the distance from New york to Paris is 5823 km. New York - Paris is only 196.5% of the distance across the Atlantic. 202km or 3.5% short of being double the distance.
@flip inheck I believe he was # 92, yes
Great accomplishment by Lindbergh, and very ironic that he's played (very well) by Jimmy Stewart who flew against the nazis, of which Lindbergh was one!, that aside, great film
@flip inheck name them and the dates
@flip inheck yes I know that, it was in a modified ww1 British bomber, and the rest?
@flip inheck well use it you idiot, you made a statement, back it up, or as they say, shut up!
@flip inheck you continue to show not only your foolishness but also your ignorance, I'm not an American, I'm British, and I, as are anyone reading your reply, waiting for your list of the Atlantic crossings in aircraft previous to Lindbergh!
@flip inheck so in other words, you were talking rubbish! Kid!