Lindy Class Airplane

Gray plane over white cloud on a blue background with white text

In 1927, 25-year old Charles Lindbergh rose to international fame after successfully flying from New York to Paris in the world's first nonstop transatlantic flight. Following his return to the U.S., Lindbergh became a sensation, receiving a ticker tape parade and a ceremony from the governor of New York that was witnessed by about four million people. Lindbergh is still the youngest Time Man of the Year following his appearance on the cover in 1928. The plane Lindbergh used, the Spirit of St. Louis, became famous in its own right, appearing on a USPS stamp and as a toy produced by Hubley. The Lindbergh flight is credited with jumpstarting public interest in aviation, with 1930's Aviator of the Year, Elinor Smith Sullivan, remarking, "The twenties was such an innocent time...I think they felt like this man was sent by God to do this. And it changed aviation forever because all of a sudden the Wall Streeters were banging on doors looking for airplanes to invest in."