Spirit of St. Louis

High school (ages 12+)
Transportation

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/spirit-of-st--louis

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the aircraft manufacturer?Ryan Airlines Company
2. What is the engine type?Wright Whirlwind J-5C radial engine
3. How did the Spirit of St. Louis carry so much fuel?The plane moved its fuel tanks from the body to the wings, giving it about 450 gallons of fuel.
4. Why did Lindbergh use a periscope instead of looking out the window?The fuel tanks were in front of the cockpit, blocking the view, so he used a periscope to see ahead.

High-wing monoplane: An aircraft with a single wing mounted above the fuselage.
Radial engine: An internal combustion engine where cylinders are arranged in a circle around a central crankshaft.
Orteig Prize: A prize offered for the first nonstop flight between New York and Paris.