1957 SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS II SETS ATLANTIC RECORD

LINDBERGH REMEMBERED ... Maj. Robinson Risner established a record when he flew a North American F-100F Super Sabre "Spirit of St. Louis II" across the atlantic to Paris over the same route used by Charles Lindbergh 30 years prior. Maj. Risner made the 3680 mile flight in 6 hours 37 minutes, while Lindbergh's required 33 hours 30 minutes. His flight originated at McGuire AFB, NJ and was officially timed from Floyd Bennett Field,NY, to Le Bourget Field, Paris, France. North American F-100F Super Sabre FW898. It was a fighter which first flew on 7 March 1957 with one Pratt & Whitney J57-P-21A (A/B 17,000Lb) engine. Its maximum speed was 871 mph. It had a wing span of 38ft 10in and a length of 52ft 3in. Major Robinson Risner established a record when he flew a North American F-100F Super Sabre "Spirit of St. Louis II" across the Atlantic to Paris on 21 May 1957 over the same route used by Charles Lindbergh 30 years prior.

... "Having been newly certified as an air traffic controller in the then CAA's Denver ARTCC (ZDV) back in 1957; it was my honor to control this flight along a small portion of its transit from San Diego to NY. I was assigned to the Pueblo, Colorado sector ... a sector less traveled and safe place for "green" controllers to gain experience. I had just celebrated my 22nd birthday. After receiving the Painted Desert estimate from the Los Angeles ARTCC (ZLA), my calculation for the Pueblo, Colorado VOR was exactly correct. A free cup of coffee was Awarded ... I could have used a raise in salary my take-home pay was about $64.00 a week after taxes,etc."-n1014f

(Source: Video-National Archives, Text-Internet)

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• aviation
• space
• USAF
• F-100F
• Risner
• Le
• Bourget
• McGuire
• AFB
• Lindbergh

[generalripper1964]

Thanks. I live near the USAFA. Where is the aircraft located on the grounds? If possible, I'd like to get a picture of it.

[clnbnks]

@generalripper1964 lol I go to the USAFA prep school, the plane is still there.

(p.s. not trying to outdo you, just giving another interesting fact, dont get mad.haha)

[generalripper1964]

Interesting. My home town is Pueblo, CO and I guess this aircraft flew over the city. The VORTAC is still there.