✈✈✈ KODAIRA Tsubasa, Lecturer
Have you heard of Charles Lindbergh? He was an American aviator who, in 1927, became the first person to successfully complete a nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean in a propeller aircraft. Achieving something unprecedented is always praiseworthy, but what is particularly remarkable is that Lindbergh took off from New York and landed in Paris at the young age of just 25. At the time, a prize called the Orteig Prize, along with a $25,000 reward, was being offered to anyone who could fly non-stop between New York and Paris. While this prize likely motivated many to attempt the transatlantic flight, it is surprising to learn that a solo flight was not a requirement for the award.
This explanation may seem sudden, but in fact, I only learned about Lindbergh quite recently. The reason I came across his name was rather unusual—for some reasons, I began listening to a Japanese rock band called “LINDBERG,” which was popular in the 90s and I suddenly wondered, “who is Lindbergh?” That question led me to discover the aviator’s story. Still, learning about what Lindbergh accomplished—just as it captivated the public at the time—was genuinely thrilling. The Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, as the name suggests, encourages us to explore new frontiers. Perhaps taking a moment to step away from research and learn about historical pioneers like Lindbergh can also be a source of inspiration.
