Three Across

During the months of May and June in 1927, all eyes were focused on the feverish activities at Roosevelt Field on Long Island, New York. Three airplanes were lined up preparing for an historic flight. All over the world, people were caught up in the suspense and danger. Which plane would be first? Most predicted that Columbia, with the well-known test pilot, Clarence Chamberlin, at the controls, would be first. The plane was owned by Charles A. Levine, a wheeler-dealer millionaire with great ambitions. As chairman of the Columbia Aircraft Corporation he owned the most sought-after airplane of the time. By 1927 the Bellanca-designed Columbia had already flown over 30,000 miles and held the world endurance flying record.

Another plane, America, was also a favorite. It was not only multi-engined, but had a crew of four headed by an authentic American hero, Commander Richard E. Byrd, the famed Arctic explorer.

Little was known about the third plane, the Spirit of St. Louis, a surprise late entry. It was to be piloted by a lanky unknown young airmail pilot named Charles Lindbergh. Before settling on the Spirit of St. Louis, built by the little known Ryan Aircraft Company of California, Lindbergh had vainly sought permission from Charles A. Levine to fly the Columbia. Levine, however, was not impressed with the young man.

The early years of aviation were marked by a series of "firsts." It seemed as if each record-setting flight was quickly surpassed by an even more daring aviation feat. While uncountable records were made and then broken, one aviation goal captivated everyone's attention – a non-stop flight between Paris and New York.

In 1919 a hotel owner named Orteig offered the first pilot to fly that route a prize of $25,000. By 1927 the prize still had not been awarded. But not for long. That spring, three different planes prepared to fly across the Atlantic. Aside from the $25,000 cash prize – a significant amount in those days – there was the fame and immortality that awaited the winner.

There had been previous flights across the Atlantic but none came close to matching the 3,700 miles between Paris and New York. In 1919, the flying team of Brown and Alcock became the first to fly non-stop across the Atlantic. But they flew less than 2,000 miles between Newfoundland and Ireland. By 1927 their accomplishment was nearly forgotten as all attention turned to a flight nearly double the distance.

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