Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: Gordon Brimhall
Thanks for the trivia about the wheels. The tour after NYP must have been areal logistical success. Think about flying to all of those cities without anynavaids that are available today. I did not realize it, but when the EAAreplica was in Omaha, they had a Stinsom SM8A with it as a chase plane. Intalking with the pilot of the Stinson, he told me that due to the limitedvisibility of NX 211, there was a Fairchild 74 as a chase plane. The EAAreplica had a fake windscreen cover, as the NYP used a periscope for forwardvision. I recommend the Wartime Journals of Linbergh for further insight. Heshares his thoughts flying the DH 4 on the Chicago St. Louis run, his dreamsof what aviation could do for the cause of peace, his plans for the NYPflight,and much more. Lots of good photos. Dr. O Lanham, Bellevue, Ne.________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Gordon Brimhall
Hi Guys:I am a Linbergh fan also. I am holding in my hand a video of "The Spirit of St. Louis"1957 Color 137 min Warner Brothers Home Video"Screen-Legends"Collection. I like this movie and for Hollywood they did a pretty goodjob of sticking to the book. If you can find it get the book "The Spirit of Ryan" Tells the storybehind the company and there planes and the building of the NYP "TheSpirit of St. Louis" Wich I learned was not the only NYP built! AfterLindbergh's Flight a Japanese Newspaper orderd one Just like Lindbergh'sFor a Trans-Pacific Flight, it was built and deliverd to Japan but theflight was never attempted.Another interesting fact, The wheels you see on the "spirit" today Inthe Air and Space Musieum are not the originals that wwere on it for theparis flight, these are wider & larger diameter. The originals are inthe Fuselage behind the seat. The wheels on it are the ones used for hisCross country tour of America after returning from Paris. When the planewas donated to the Smithsonian the put the Paris flight wheels back on,In towing to the Musieum the bearing kept overheating as they were lubedwith oil instead of grease to save weight (afterall they only ahd toland once) During the tow the gear kept catching on fire. So they swapedwheels and never put the originals back.If you can...get the book has lots of neat facts like these.Happy HolidaysJohn DupreyNX-211 is still on the original plane, but yes the registration # doesbelong to the Eaa replica.________________________________________________________________________________