🖼️ Picture this: It’s 1927. A mail pilot no one took seriously walks into a room with a bold idea—to cross the Atlantic alone. Every other competitor has had mounds of cash, a team to fly with, and top-tier aircraft. This mail pilot has financial backers, and almost nothing else. The odds are stacked against him—until one man, Frank Mahoney, makes a decision that would change history. He had recently hired Donald A. Hall from Donald Douglas in Santa Monica, California. Mahoney assesses the two: Engineer and Pilot. Hall wasn’t a drinker. Neither is Lindbergh. Both are focused, disciplined, and shared an unspoken understanding of flight and science. Hall has critical knowledge of ocean flying and piloting. Lindbergh understands engineering and mechanics. What of the two men's connection? Do they have chemistry? Yes...Its a spark between the two that catches Mahoney's eye. It will turn an underdog, into the greatest aviation legend of all time. 🔥 Do you bet on the impossible? Do you sweeten the deal, and take the bet on two you recently met? (which is what Mahoney does, then shortly after, accepts Donald Halls assessment to move the time frame up from 90 day delivery, to 60 days. Working the crews 24/7 and the engineer, w/o asking for more money from Lindbergh) As an business owner, do you risk it all on an unknown plane, a pilot-dreamer, and an new chief engineer? 🚨 Drop your thoughts below—what do you guess made Mahoney say “Yes”, when others said “No”?🚨 @Casey Gultom @Wendy Wiseman @Frank Kraljic @Dawn Nave @Misty Morrison

📽️🛩️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

🛩️ The past meets the future here. History & Adventure From legendary stories to modern adventurers, this is where history buffs, explorers, and aviation business owners connect. 🔹 Get behind-the-scenes access to aviation’s greatest untold stories 🔹 Meet fellow enthusiasts & aviation professionals 🔹 Participate in live events, expert discussions, and community meetups 📢 First Action: ✈️ What’s your favorite aviation story or adventure? Share below! Movies about history? This is the place to post and share. Did you jump out of an perfectly good airplane? We expect the proof here. [Join the Aviators & Explorers here!] @Frank Kraljic

Imagine stumbling across something in your garage that changes your entire life. 💭 That’s exactly what happened when I opened a rusted chest and discovered the Spirit of St. Louis blueprints, letters, and rare photos. 📷✈️ It wasn’t just history; it was my family’s legacy staring me in the face. 💥 What's story is staring YOU in the face! 🫵 What if your history holds the key to your future? 🔑 You can't wait. What if the past is waiting for you to uncover it? 🔍 @Pace Ellsworth @Christine Deane @Wendy Wiseman @Tyler Webster

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. 📃