Lindbergh Foundation Continues to Expand In St. Louis by Building Networks, Holding Epic STEM Challenge

By Carmelo Turdo

Erik Lindbergh, Chairman of the Lindbergh Foundation, and members of his staff visited the St. Louis area last week to prepare the Foundation's move to the Gateway City. Lindbergh was in St. Louis last April to announce the Foundation's relocation, which received widespread acclaim from local business leaders. The move not only reflects the historic ties of the Lindbergh family to St. Louis dating back nearly a century, but also the city's current role as a crossroads of aviation and agribusiness that provides the backdrop for future low and zero-carbon fuel development. The proximity of highly-rated academic engineering institutions and strong STEM outreach programs were also factors in the decision.

"St. Louis changed the world, transformed it, twice - so far," Lindbergh told the audience during his April 24 announcement reception. "It is legendary, and known around the world, that St. Louis backed an unknown aviator in my grandfather [Charles Lindbergh], and he changed aviation forever. And then, at the turn of this century, St. Louis somehow backed a little, fledgling non-profit called the X-Prize Foundation. And the X-Prize Foundation was able to really transform commercial space flight. And we see St. Louis as transforming the world again."

The Lindbergh Foundation began in 1977 with a group of aerospace leaders looking for ways to balance the needs of civilization with the preservation of the earth's environment. Erik Lindbergh has made practical contributions to meeting the Foundation's goals through his work with Verdego Aero electric propulsion systems, launching the X-Prize Foundation, making his own solo transatlantic New York to Paris Flight in 2002 in The New Spirit of St. Louis (see below), and spearheading the current initiatives in aeronautics through the Forever Flight Alliance. He accomplished all this while conquering crippling rheumatoid arthritis that has plagued him since early adulthood.    

The Forever Flight Alliance partners with the X-Prize Foundation to pursue sustainable, non-carbon aviation through collaboration and X-Prize incentives to spur technological advancements. Process and product spinoffs developed through the Forever Flight Alliance will positively affect other areas of life while upholding the values of the Lindbergh Foundation. 

The Lindbergh Foundation also supports STEM education through the Epic STEM Challenge, an electric flight program developed in collaboration with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Students build the eSpirit of St. Louis and experiment with the flight characteristics of quiet aircraft. The Lindbergh Innovation Forum provides online resources to inspire and educate the next generation of aerospace innovators. 

Perhaps the most unique outreach program available in the region is the appearance of The New Spirit of St. Louis as an educational exhibit and EAA Young Eagles flight aircraft. This Lancair Columbia was used by Erik Lindbergh for his 2002 transatlantic flight to commemorate the 75th anniversary of his grandfather's flight and raise funds for the original X-Prize. Through the efforts of another group of St. Louis aviation businessmen, it too is making a significant impact on the future of aviation. 

The New Spirit of St. Louis began life as the third prototype of the Lancair Columbia program, and the first Columbia 300. It was modified for the transatlantic flight with the installation of Columbia 400 wet wings and an auxiliary fuel tank in place of the rear seats. Erik Lindbergh's flight took place on May 2, 2002 in just over 17 hours, about half the time needed for the Spirit of St. Louis flight in 1927. The aircraft was used for promotional flights over the next few years, and it was then donated to the St. Louis Science Center in 2008.

The New Spirit of St. Louis was stored in a hangar at St. Louis Downtown Airport until 2021, when the leadership of AeroCareers, a St. Louis aviation education and mentoring non-profit organization, presented a plan for using the Columbia in their programs. AeroCareers took ownership in May of 2022, and after a nearly two-year restoration effort, it flew again on February 1 of this year. Since then, it has been featured at several events and flown Young Eagles. 

During his most recent visit to St. Louis, Erik Lindbergh stopped by St. Louis Downtown Airport to fly again in The New Spirit of St. Louis. He is shown here with Foundation Vice Chairman Gregg Maryniak and AeroCareers pilot Nick Turk as they took a local flight on Tuesday afternoon. Lindbergh felt at home again as they did a touch-and-go before returning to the Jet Aviation terminal. (In-flight photos provided by Nick Turk). 

While in St. Louis, Erik Lindbergh and Foundation staff visited numerous locations, including sponsors, high schools and other potential partners for the Foundation's current and future programs. On Wednesday, they toured the Gateway Youth Aeronautical Foundation at Creve Coeur Airport. Both Foundations will work together to provide STEM education and community outreach opportunities going forward. Here we show the Lindbergh Foundation members with Joe Steimann, Gateway Youth Aeronautical Foundation Founder and President, sharing common heritage through Charles Lindbergh's service in the Missouri National Guard in the 1920s. The "Lindbergh's Own" badge is worn on the F-4 Cockpit Mobile Exhibit featured in many previous stories.

On Sunday, the Lindbergh Foundation held their Epic STEM Challenge at the St. Louis Science Center. High school students from the St. Louis Science Center's Youth Exploring Science Program planned, constructed and flew (tethered) their electric-powered aircraft for the honors of longest flight. Here we show some of the student flights, the winner's circle, Erik Lindbergh's presentation, the St. Louis Science Center's James S. McDonnell Planetarium exhibits and the Gateway Youth Aeronautical Foundation's F-4 Cockpit Mobile Exhibit provided for the event.  

The Aero Experience thanks Erik Lindbergh, Gregg Maryniak and the Lindbergh Foundation for visiting St. Louis and choosing our city as their new headquarters. We also thank AeroCareers and everyone who contributed to restoring The New Spirit of St. Louis back to flying status. We look forward to providing regular feature stories as the Lindbergh Foundation begins operations here in St. Louis.