On May 16, 1927, Socals San Francisco office recieved an urgent telegram. "Can you supply Red Crown Aviation Gasoline in New York in three days for Lindberg's proposed trans-Atlantic flight?"
The office responded "Who is Lindberg?"
The world would soon know...
Six 55-gallon drums of Red Crown Aviation Gasoline were available when the "Spirit of St Louis" arrived in New York. The fuel was poured into five gallon cans, then poured into the fuel tank of the "Spirit of St Louis" for its flight.
Ryan Aircraft Company, the builders of the little plane, realized after much testing, that Red Crown Aviation Gasoline weighed more per gallon than gasolines produced in the eastern states.
So if more range was the goal, why would Lindberg want to carry a heavier fuel? Simply put, the heavier Red Crown Gasoline produced more heat units per pound...
[This message has been edited by Thunder (edited 08-21-2005).]
