Lucky/Spirit by John J. Whalen

Artist: John J. Whalen - La Mesa, California
Location: Commuter Terminal SDIA

The first thing most people see when approaching San Diego International Airport from the ground is this enormous mural of Charles Lindbergh covering nearly the entire east wall of the Commuter Terminal. A smiling Lindbergh holds a model of the "Spirit of St. Louis", the monoplane designed and built by Ryan Airlines Inc. in San Diego that took him on his historic transatlantic nonstop flight in 1927. His bravery in that flight made him a worldwide hero and opened up a new era in aviation history. San Diego proudly honors and remembers the man in the official name of its airport: San Diego International Airport at Lindbergh Field.