The Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis

The Spirit of St. Louis, which hangs nearby in the Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall, was a highly modified Ryan M-2 monoplane built specially for Lindbergh’s solo transatlantic flight. “NYP” stands for “New York–Paris.” Lindbergh named the plane in honor of his supporters in St. Louis, Missouri, who paid for the aircraft.

In 1927, Charles A. Lindbergh completed the first solo, nonstop transatlantic flight in history in his Spirit of St. Louis from New York to Paris.

The Spirit Arrives at the Smithsonian
The Spirit of St. Louis made its last flight on April 30, 1928, as Charles Lindbergh flew it from St. Louis to Bolling Field in Washington, DC. It was disassembled, towed through the streets in the early morning hours, and reassembled and hung in the Smithsonian’s Arts and Industries Building on the National Mall.

“After the flight, Charles Lindbergh . . . literally became all things to all men.”

Paul Garber