"Charles showed exceptional mechanical ability by the time he was nine. He took things apart - his bicycle, for instance - and reassembled them with ease. He once conceived and built a clever and elaborate mechanical system for transporting large blocks of ice that had been cut from the Mississippi and were stored in the icehouse."
Chap. 1, p. 10

"Forced to fly the underpowered Jenny, Lindbergh developed piloting skills good enough to compensate. Barnstorming on his own gave him the opportunity to add to his already extensive knowledge of engines, airplane design, and cockpit controls."
Chap. 2, p. 29

"Range and fuel efficiency were of paramount importance [to the design of The Spirit of St. Louis]. Therefore weight - what to take and what not to take - became an ongoing, critical decision. Lindbergh was adamant about not taking anything he considered unnecessary."
Chap. 3, pp. 50-51

"[Lindbergh] appeared on the scene...