Spirit of St. Louis
Specs, top speed, range and facts
The Spirit of St. Louis is a long-distance record aircraft built by Ryan Airlines in the USA. It first flew in 1927, but it never entered regular service. Carry as much fuel as possible for one pilot to fly from New York to Paris nonstop.
Photo: Spirit of St. Louis on Wikipedia (free licence)
- Top speed214 km/h (133 mph)
- Range6,600 km (4,101 miles)
- First flight1927
- Wingspan14 m (46 ft)
Spirit of St. Louis specs
| Top speed | 214 km/h (133 mph) |
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| Range | 6,600 km (4,101 miles) |
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| Length | 8.4 m (28 ft) |
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| Wingspan | 14 m (46 ft) |
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| Max takeoff weight | 2.33 t (5,137 lb) |
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| Crew and capacity | 1 pilot |
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| Engines | 1 × Wright J-5 radial |
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| First flight | 1927 |
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| Entered service | Never entered regular service |
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| Built by | Ryan Airlines (USA) |
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Spirit of St. Louis facts
- Made the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight in 1927, taking 33.5 hours.
- It had no forward windshield, so the pilot used a periscope.
Quick quiz
When did the Spirit of St. Louis first fly?
In 1927.
Who built the Spirit of St. Louis?
Ryan Airlines, in the USA.
How fast can the Spirit of St. Louis fly?
Its top speed is 214 km/h (133 mph).
How far can the Spirit of St. Louis fly?
About 6,600 km (4,101 miles).
Photos, a true-scale silhouette, quizzes, flashcards, the Size Lab and the Sky Run game.
Spirit of St. Louis vs similar aircraft
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