After the glory of his transatlantic flight, Lindbergh served as an aviation ambassador. Flying the Spirit of St. Louis, he embarked on a tour of the United States with stops in all of the then continental 48 states during the late summer and early autumn of 1927. Lindbergh visited 75 cities, attended 69 banquets and paraded 1,285 miles. Citizens in each state bestowed on him new honors and gifts in appreciation for his feat and his work to advance the field of aviation-- among these is the Loving Cup from the citizens of Reading, Pennsylvania. Another goodwill tour followed, with Lindbergh traveling throughout Mexico. Again, the young aviator was showered with gifts including two spectacular Aztec vases from the Governor of Pueblo, Mexico. One cannot overestimate Charles Lindbergh's impact on aviation. After his historic flight, the number of pilots in the Unites States quadrupled, airmail became an invaluable service, and people began to view commercial air as a safe, reliable mode of transportation. Lindbergh dispelled the notion that aviation was a fad; he proved that aviation was the future.
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