I’m Nova Hall, and for 26 years, I’ve been on a wild journey—one that started in 1999 when I stumbled upon a forgotten chest in my garage. Inside? 900+ lost artifacts from my grandfather, Donald A. Hall, the chief engineer of the Spirit of St. Louis. 📜🛩️ I'd never met him. That discovery changed my life… and, believe it or not, I actually had hair back then! (Proof is in the video. Watch and laugh.) 😂 Flying Over Time is a non-profit(501c3), and we’re using history to educate, inspire, and impact the next generation of innovators. With the 100th anniversary of Lindbergh’s flight coming in May 2027, we’re on a mission to reach 600,000+ kids! 🚀 📽️ Watch the video below and tell us your favorite part! If you DM the admin @Wendy Wiseman with how it ends, you’ll get a special digital gift that grows in value as we get closer to the Centennial. 👀🎁 Let’s keep history alive—and have some fun doing it! ⏳⚒️ 📷 Watch TLC episode: https://youtu.be/COUbSeG3fAA?si=Tf6-icv9Btagh_jA

What Aviation Merch Should We Create Next? Vote Now! 🚀 https://www.etsy.com/shop/FlyingOverTime 'WE' are making great progress on new merchandise in the Etsy Flying Over Time store. What items do you want to see? post below and do the poll! @Lyle Dillie @Wendy Wiseman @Christine Deane @Christopher Baber

Growing up, I never thought my family had a “story.” My grandfather, Donald A. Hall, helped design the Spirit of St. Louis ✈️, but who cared about forgotten engineers, right? I didn’t even know him. Then life hit me hard. My father got sick, and I had to put my dreams on hold to care for him. Suddenly, I found myself swallowed by responsibility. It was during that time of darkness that something incredible happened. While hiking in Oak Creek Canyon, I closed my eyes in despair—and saw my grandfather’s face. His voice echoed in my mind: “Family.” 👻 It wasn’t a coincidence. It was a sign. Have you ever had such an experience? An interaction with a ghost of a relative or someone from history? I've been thinking about this a lot recently. ✔️

I find that discovering one's story or heritage often starts with a tiny bread crumb 🍞... That eventually leads you to realizations, about your family or purpose. Sometimes that story is long gone, so like an equation, you have to work backwards. 👴👵🚨 These photographs took years for me to figure out. Originally when I held the negatives I had no idea that these were literally the first photographs that had ever been taken from inside the Spirit ofSt. Louis. They were not taken by Charles Lindbergh... They were taken by Donald Hall. 😳 How could that be, if only Lindbergh was allowed to fly it should be the next question ❓ Eventually I found the answer, then proof in the historic record. 📃

📽️🛩️The Wright Whirlwind J5c was the jewel of the spirit St. Louis. (Model NYP). It was a radial type air cooled engine that had proven itself during 50 hours endurance flights without failure or loss of performance. It was so good infact, that the majority of competitors selected it as their powerplant As opposed to the hulking large oil-cooled engines of world war I. 🌍 It was SO reliable, that the company created a special series 'c' for commercial use for the Orteig Prize competition. ✈️ WHAT DO YOU NOTICE in these photos? @Frank Kraljic @Pace Ellsworth