Orteig Prize

The Orteig Prize was a $25,000 reward offered in 1919 by French-born American hotel owner Raymond Orteig. It was created to inspire aviators to develop a successful nonstop flight between New York City and Paris—a challenging and groundbreaking endeavor in aviation history. The prize motivated numerous pilots, culminating in Charles Lindbergh’s historic solo transatlantic flight in 1927. The Orteig Prize highlighted how monetary incentives can encourage technological innovation and risk-taking in aviation, leading to significant advancements in aircraft design and human flight capabilities.