Ryan Airlines
Waterfront · 1927
A small San Diego company took the contract nobody else wanted and built the Spirit of St. Louis in roughly two months, with Lindbergh sitting in the shop through the design.
San Diego Aviation History
The plane that crossed the Atlantic was built here in 60 days — and that was only the beginning.
Last updated
Quick answer
Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis was designed and built in San Diego by Ryan Airlines in about 60 days in 1927, test-flown over the bay, and flown east from here before the Atlantic crossing — which is why the airport carries Lindbergh's name. That was not a one-off: the region's year-round flying weather made it a natural home for naval aviation at North Island from 1917 and for Consolidated Aircraft, which employed tens of thousands building B-24 bombers and PBY flying boats during World War II. General Dynamics, Convair and later the drone industry all descend from that base. The single best place to see the story is the San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park, which holds a flying-quality Spirit replica; the Flying Leatherneck collection and the Miramar Air Show fill in the military side.
Aviation history stops
| Place | What's there | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego Air & Space Museum | Spirit of St. Louis replica, aircraft hall | Ticketed |
| Lindbergh Field / SAN | The airport named for the flight | Free to see |
| Miramar Air Show | Annual military flight demos | Free general admission |
| Flying Leatherneck collection | Marine Corps aviation | Free / by schedule |
| USS Midway Museum | Carrier aviation, flight deck aircraft | Ticketed |
| Gillespie Field | General aviation, air museum annex | Free to visit |
The Lindbergh chapter
Test flights over the bay
San Diego Bay · April 1927
The plane's first flights were over the harbor. Lindbergh then flew it to St. Louis and on to New York before the crossing.
Lindbergh Field
Downtown · Named 1928
San Diego International's official name is San Diego International Airport–Lindbergh Field, a direct nod to the flight.
Air & Space Museum
Balboa Park · Ticketed
The museum's Spirit replica was built to the original drawings and has actually flown. The collection also covers WWI, WWII and spaceflight.
The industry that followed
Consolidated Aircraft
Barnett Ave / waterfront · 1935 onward
Moved from Buffalo for the weather and became one of the largest wartime employers in California, building B-24s and PBYs by the thousand.
North Island
Coronado · 1917 onward
Often called the birthplace of naval aviation, and still one of the busiest naval air stations in the country.
Convair and General Dynamics
Kearny Mesa · Cold War
Atlas missiles and airliner work kept the aerospace workforce here through the postwar decades and seeded the region's engineering base.
Miramar Air Show
MCAS Miramar · Annual, autumn
The largest military air show in the country and the main chance for the public to get onto the base. Free general admission; arrive very early.
Frequently asked
Was the Spirit of St. Louis built in San Diego?
Yes. Ryan Airlines built it in San Diego in about 60 days in 1927, and Lindbergh test-flew it over San Diego Bay before flying east for the transatlantic attempt.
Why is San Diego's airport called Lindbergh Field?
It was named in 1928 in honor of Charles Lindbergh, whose record-setting aircraft was built in the city and first flown from the adjacent airfield.
Where can I see a Spirit of St. Louis replica?
At the San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park. The replica was built from the original drawings and is flight-capable.
Is the Miramar Air Show free?
General admission has traditionally been free, with paid seating options. Dates change annually, so check the official show site before planning around it.
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