Spirit of St. Louis Ed Morrow Blueprint Archive

Archive of approximately 14 printed blueprint drawings for the Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis, based on plans drawn by original Spirit of St. Louis builder Herbert Edwin "Ed" Morrow. One of the blueprint sheets is signed by Morrow. The drawings include detailed plan, elevation and structural views of the aircraft and bear Ryan Aeronautical Library identification. Several are large-format sheets. Morrow was the metal-fitting foreman at Ryan Airlines and a member of the small team that built Charles Lindbergh's original Spirit of St. Louis in San Diego in 1927. He personally made and fitted metal components for the aircraft and worked under Lindbergh's direct supervision during its rapid construction. Morrow later reconstructed plans of the aircraft from memory, as detailed working drawings had not been produced during the original build. His drawings were subsequently used in connection with replicas of the Spirit, including aircraft prepared for the 1957 Warner Bros. film The Spirit of St. Louis, starring James Stewart. Morrow later participated in the San Diego Aerospace Museum's effort to construct another Spirit of St. Louis reproduction after the museum's earlier replica was lost in the 1978 Balboa Park arson fire. That replacement aircraft was completed with the involvement of several men who had worked on the original Spirit, including Morrow, and first flew in 1979. The Morrow drawings have continued to be referenced by later builders studying and recreating the Ryan NYP. An interesting technical archive connected directly to one of the craftsmen who helped build Lindbergh's original aircraft. Estimate $500 - $1,000

Estimate:$500

View all items fromWeiss AuctionsorPostcards & Stamps