Great Circle Sailing Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean 1926

-74) was the American aviator who made the first nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean on May 21--22, 1927. This is the chart with the gnomonic projection that he referred to as the "nugget of gold" that he found in a shop in San Pedro, California, while preparing for his transatlantic flight. It was this chart that enabled Lindbergh to determine quickly and accurately the great circle latitudes and longitudes as he plotted his course. The annotation on the map reads, "Used in laying out Great Circle Course for New York to Paris flight. San Diego, Calif. 1927. C.A.L." In his 1953 book, The Spirit of St. Louis, Lindbergh described his use of this map: "My navigating problems have begun to clarify. I found, printed on the charts I bought, ample instructions for laying out my great-circle route. With the instruments Hall loaned me, I drew a straight line between New York and Paris on the gnomonic projection. Then I transferred points from that line, at hundred-mile intervals, to the Mercator's projection, and connected these points with straight lines. At each point, I mark down the distance from New York and the magnetic course to the next change in angle."
Created by Charles A. (Charles Augustus) Lindbergh, United States. Hydrographic Office in 1926.

• Title devised, in English, by Library staff.
• "Scale 1:14,000,000. 41st edition."--Note extracted from World Digital Library.
• Original resource extent: 1 map : color, annotated ; 64 x 96 centimeters, on sheet 74 x 101 centimeters.
• Original resource at: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries.
• Content in English.
• Description based on data extracted from World Digital Library, which may be extracted from partner institutions.

Map Subjects

Flight

Circle Sailing

Nautical Charts

North Atlantic Ocean

Transatlantic Flights

Charles A. (Charles Augustus) Lindbergh

United States. Hydrographic Office

1926

Map Tags

1926

Charles A. (Charles Augustus) Lindbergh

Circle Sailing

Flight

Map

Nautical Charts

North Atlantic Ocean

Transatlantic Flights

United States. Hydrographic Office