Charles Lindbergh’s solo transatlantic flight made him a hero, garnered him presidential praise, and changed commercial flight forever.

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The 30th president of the United States, bestowing the Flying Cross on Charles Lindbergh. The speech took place in Washington DC on June 11, 1927, just three weeks after Lindy’s achievement. Lindy’s humorous remarks dre laughter from the crowd but he’d leave a bigger mark on the public’s perception of flight. In 1926, the year before his flight, about 6,000 Americans traveled by air. Less than two years later the number had swelled to 180,000!

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