On May 21, 1927, mail pilot Charles Lindbergh lands his Spirit of St. Louis monoplane in Paris and becomes the first to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean without stopping for fuel. Lindbergh had taken off from Long Island, New York, 33.5 hours earlier with four sandwiches, two jugs of water, and 451 gallons (1,707 liters) of fuel. He earned $25,000 for the accomplishment and became an instant international hero, sparking widespread interest in aviation. Five years later, Amelia Earhart would become the first woman to accomplish the same feat.