Ортеговская премия: Гонка за перелет через Атлантику

Award given to the first Allied aviator to fly nonstop from New York to Paris
The Orteig Prize was a reward of $25,000 offered in 1919 by New York City hotel owner Raymond Orteig to the first Allied aviator, or aviators, to fly non stop from New York City to Paris or vice versa. Several famous aviators made unsuccessful attempts at the New York–Paris flight before the relatively unknown American Charles Lindbergh won the prize in 1927 in his aircraft Spirit of St. Louis. However, a number of people died who were competing to win the prize. Six men died in three separate crashes, and another three were injured in a fourth crash. The Prize occasioned considerable investment in aviation, sometimes far exceeding the value of the prize itself, and advancing public interest and the level of aviation technology.

After Lindbergh's success, the other teams had to re evaluate their aims. Chamberlin decided to attempt a flight to Berlin, which his endurance flight had shown to be achievable, and for which the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce were offering a $15,000 prize. On 4 June Chamberlin (and, at the last minute, Levine) took off in Columbia for Berlin; they arrived over Germany after a flight of 42 hours but were unable to find their way to the city and landed, out of fuel, at Eisleben, 60 miles to the south west. They finally arrived in Berlin on 7 June. Byrd, meanwhile, announced his aim was not simply the prize, but “to demonstrate that the world was ready for safe, regular, multi person flight across the Atlantic” and that he would head for Paris, as planned. He and his crew, Acosta, Noville and, as a late addition, Bernt Balchen (who actually did most of the flying) set off in America for Paris on 29 June. However, after a 40 hour flight they were unable to find the airfield at Le Bourget and turned back to ditch on the coast, landing at Ver sur Mer, Normandy, on 1 July. Advancing public interest and aviation technology, the Prize occasioned investments many times the value of the prize. In addition, people died by men who were competing to win the prize. Six men died in three separate crashes. Another three men were injured in a fourth crash. During the spring and summer of 1927, 40 pilots attempted various long distance over ocean flights, leading to 21 deaths during the attempts. For example, seven people died in August 1927 in the Orteig Prize inspired $25,000 Dole Air Race to fly from San Francisco to Hawaii. 1927 saw a number of aviation firsts and new records. The record for longest time in the air, longest flight distance, and longest overwater flight were set and all exceeded Lindbergh's effort. However, no other flyer gained the fame that Lindbergh did for winning the Orteig Prize. The Orteig Prize inspired the $10 million Ansari X Prize for repeated suborbital private spaceflights. Similar to the Orteig Prize, it was announced some eight years before it was won in 2004.

April Ludwik Idzikowski arrives in Paris to investigate aircraft for the Polish airforce. He will also begin planning a trans Atlantic flight. September 21 Attempting a New York to Paris flight, Frenchman René Fonck with co pilot Lt. Lawrence Curtin of the US Navy, crashed their $100,000 Sikorsky S.35 on takeoff, killing radio operator Charles Clavier and mechanic Jacob Islamoff. Late October Richard E. Byrd announces that he is entering competition.

Date Picture Pilot Aircraft Flight time Results1926 René Fonck and crew:Lawrence CurtinCharles Clavier (died)Jacob Islamoff (died)Sikorsky S 35 Gear collapse from excess weight during take off; crashed in flames1927 Charles NungesserFrançois Coli L'Oiseau Blanc. unknown Disappeared at sea1927 Charles LindberghSpirit of St. Louis 331/2 hoursWinner1927 Noel DavisStanton Wooster American Legion Crashed during test flight; both killed 1927 Clarence Chamberlin, Bert Acosta (replaced by Levine)Lloyd Berthaud (left after disagreement with Levine)Charlie Levine Columbia 42 hours Flew to Germany mid June1927 Richard E. Byrd and crew:Floyd Bennett (injured in test flight)Bert Acosta (joined later),Bernt Balchen (joined for flight), George NovilleFokker America 40 hoursFlew to France late June; ditched on French coast