The lone eagle; seventy-five years ago, Charles Lindbergh dared to do the impossible: fly nonstop across the Atlantic Ocean--alone. (American History Play).CHARACTERS Narrators A-F Charles Lindbergh, airplane pilot Evangeline Lindbergh, his mother Erold Bahl, pilot, barnstormer William Robertson For other persons named William Robertson, see William Robertson (disambiguation). Field Marshal Sir William Robert Robertson, 1st Baronet, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, DSO (29 January 1860 – 12 February 1933) was a British Field Marshal who served as Chief of the Imperial General , airmail airmail, transport of mail by airplanes. Demonstration flights that showed the feasibility of carrying mail by air were made in Great Britain and in the United States in 1911. pioneer Frank Robertson, William's brother Harry Knight Harry Knight (6 August 1889 Atlanta, Georgia – 4 July 1913 Columbus, Ohio) was an American racecar driver. Knight was killed in an AAA National race. Indy 500 results Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired , president, St. Louis Flying Club Harold Bixby, pilot and businessman James Newton James W. Newton (b. Los Angeles, California, May 1, 1953) is a prominent American jazz flautist, composer, and conductor. ''Life and career From his earliest years, James Newton grew up immersed in the sounds of African American music, including urban blues, rhythm , Lindbergh's friend Pelletier d'Oisy (pel-eh-TEA-ay Do- WAH-see), French pilot Myron Herrick, U.S. Ambassador to France * Reporter * Photographer * Man in the crowd * Woman in the crowd * Starred characters are fictitious. Scene 1 Lincoln, Nebraska The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second most populous city of the U.S. state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. , 1922 Narrator NARRATOR. A pleader who draws narrs serviens narrator, a sergeant at law. Fleta, 1. 2, c. 37. Obsolete. A: Charles Lindbergh has one passion: airplanes. Though flying is still a new and dangerous way to travel, the 20-year-old Lindbergh is fascinated by the powerful machines. After taking flying lessons for six months, he makes a big decision. Charles Lindbergh: Mother, I've decided to become a barnstormer [stunt pilot]. Evangeline Lindbergh: A barnstormer? Does this mean you'll be hanging off an airplane like a circus clown  This article or section may deal primarily with the U.S. and may not present a worldwide view. ? Charles Lindbergh: Yes, Mother. I want you to meet Mr. Bahl. He's given me a job as his assistant. Erold Bahl: Mrs. Lindbergh, barnstorming
Barnstorming is the only way to make people see that flying is the way of the future. Someday, it will be a respectable profession. Evangeline: Oh, Charles, I know you love flying. But is it worth the risk? Lindbergh: Every time I look at the clouds in the sky, I know I want to be a pilot. I'll do anything to make that dream come true. I'll walk on the airplane's wings--just so I can fly. Scene 2 St. Louis, Missouri, 1925 Narrator B: After two years of barnstorming, Lindbergh joins the U.S. Army and trains as a pilot. He finishes first in his class in flight school. One day, he meets William and Frank Robertson, who own an aircraft company. Lindbergh: I've finished flight school. But there are no jobs flying in the Army. William Robertson: Would you like to work for us? Frank Robertson: We won the contract from the U.S. Post Office U.S. Post Office can refer to the United States Postal Service system. There are many interesting and historic buildings among the large number of facilities. to deliver mail from Chicago to St. Louis. By airplane. Lindbergh: I'd love it! There aren't many ways a man can make money flying. William: Great. But we want you to know the risks--30 men have been killed in crashes while delivering the mail. Lindbergh: I'll just have to be better than everyone else. Narrator B: Lindbergh flies the mail for a year and hones his skills as a pilot. And he survives two plane crashes! Scene 3 Narrator C: In 1919, Raymond Orteig Raymond Orteig (1870 - 1939) was the New York City hotel owner who offered the Orteig Prize for the first non-stop transatlantic flight between New York and Paris. Orteig was born in the south of France, in Louvie-Juzon, Bearn, but emigrated at 12, arriving in New York on , a New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of hotel owner, offered $25,000 to the first person who could fly nonstop from New York to Paris, France. But for eight years, no one has been able to do it. Lindbergh: I'm done flying the mail. I need a new challenge, like the Orteig prize The Orteig Prize was a $25,000 reward offered in 1919 by hotel owner Raymond Orteig to the first allied aviator(s) to fly non-stop from New York City to Paris or vice-versa. On offer for five years, it attracted no competitors. . Harry Knight: It's too dangerous, Lindbergh. Six men have already died trying to win that money. Lindbergh: Why shouldn't I be the one to fly from New York to Paris? Knight: But you're only 25! Lindbergh: I may be young, but I'm a great pilot. I've been flying for four years, and I've spent almost 2,000 hours in the, air. Knight: Who would you take as your co-pilot? Lindbergh: I'll go alone. I'll take nothing extra: no co-pilot, no radio, not even a parachute. Harold Bixby: What about a plane? What kind of machine could fly 3,000 miles in one trip? Lindbergh: A single-engine plane could do it. Something small, with a good engine and lots of room for fuel. Bixby: The people at Ryan Airlines in San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. could build a plane for you. Lindbergh: We'll call it the Spirit of St. Louis Spirit of St. Louis Charles Lindbergh’s plane. [Am. Hist.: Jameson, 287] See : Aviation , and it'll make history. Scene 4 Knight: You'll be famous--if you make it. Roosevelt Field, Long Island, New York, May 20, 1927 Narrator D: Lindbergh checks his plane one last time before starting across the Atlantic. Thousands of spectators line the runway. Reporters and photographers crowd around Lindbergh. Photographer: Hey, Lindbergh, smile! Reporter: Mr. Lindbergh, what will you take with you on the plane? Lindbergh: I have some sandwiches and some water. But no baggage. James Newton: Do you resent being called the "Flying Fool" by the press? Lindbergh: I certainly do. I take no foolish risks in the air. Evangeline: Oh, Charles, please be careful! Lindbergh: Don't worry, Mother. I will succeed. There's simply no other choice! Narrator D: At 7:52 a.m., the Spirit of St. Louis roars to life. Heavy with fuel, the plane bounces slowly down the runway. Reporter: It's impossible. No one can fly nonstop across the Atlantic. Photographer: Look out! Lindbergh's going to crash into the telephone wires at the edge of the field! Newton: Phew phew interj. Used to express relief, fatigue, surprise, or disgust. phew interj an exclamation of relief, surprise, disbelief, or weariness phew excl ! He just made it! Scene 5 Narrator E: Lindbergh passes over Rhode Island Rhode Island, island, United States Rhode Island, island, 15 mi (24 km) long and 5 mi (8 km) wide, S R.I., at the entrance to Narragansett Bay. It is the largest island in the state, with steep cliffs and excellent beaches. , Nova Scotia Nova Scotia (nō`və skō`shə) [Lat.,=new Scotland], province (2001 pop. 908,007), 21,425 sq mi (55,491 sq km), E Canada. Geography , and Newfoundland. He readies himself for the hardest part of the journey: the night ride over the ocean. As he flies, he charts his progress in a journal. Lindbergh: 11:52 p.m. Altitude: 10,000 feet. Air speed: 90 miles per hour. 500 miles from Newfoundland. I am struggling to keep my eyes open. And 20 more hours to go! Narrator E: Hours pass. Lindbergh holds his eyes open with his fingers. Lindbergh: 10.52 a.m. Land spotted off the left wing--it must be Ireland. I'm 2.5 hours ahead of schedule and less than three miles off course! Scene 6 Paris, France, May 21, 1927 Narrator F: At about 4:00 p.m. (10:00 p.m. local time), Lindbergh approaches Paris. More than 100,000 people are waiting at the airfield. Some of them have been there seven hours. Man in the crowd: It's impossible. They shouldn't have let him go. Myron Herrick: Don't give up hope. Pelletier d'Oisy: If he arrives, it will be nothing short of fantastic. He's got the nerve. But is that enough? Man in the crowd: There he is! Narrator F: 4:22 p.m.: the Spirit of St. Louis touches down on the ground. After more than 33 hours in the air, Lindbergh has done it: the first solo, nonstop transatlantic flight! Lindbergh: Well, I made it! Woman in the crowd: What a long trip! Lindbergh: I could have gone farther, maybe 500 miles more! D'Oisy: How did you feel when you finally saw land? Lindbergh: The way a dead man would feel to live again. Herrick: Congratulations, Charles! You've made our country proud. Now, is there anything we can get for you? Lindbergh: I'd like to have a bath and a glass of milk. Then I'll feel better. Man in the crowd: Long live Lindbergh! Long live the Lone Eagle! Afterward After his record-setting flight, Lindbergh became an international celebrity. When he returned to the U.S., more than 4 million people lined the streets of New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. for a parade in his honor. This month, Lindbergh's grandson, Erik, will re-create the flight of the Spirit of St. Louis to celebrate the 75th anniversary of his grandfather's achievement. Erik hopes the trip will take about 18 hours--about half as long as the 1927 flight! The journey will be filmed for broadcast on the History Channel on May 20. Web Click on juniorscholastic.com for related Web sites. |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion