WITHDRAWN: Flying Over Time: The Legacy of Donald A. Hall, Designer of the Spirit of St. Louis

The upcoming May 2027 centennial of Charles Lindbergh's 1927 transatlantic flight in the Spirit of St. Louis offers a unique opportunity to honor Donald A. Hall, the aircraft's chief designer [1]. This paper explores Hall's contributions and presents the "Flying Over Time" initiative, which aims to inspire future aviation innovators through immersive education and storytelling. By unveiling previously unseen artifacts from the Donald Albert Hall Collection, in partnership with the Missouri Historical Society, we seek to address the aviation industry's pressing need for skilled professionals, including 50,000 drone pilots, 50,000 commercial pilots, and 500,000 engineers and STEAM innovators. Purpose This work aims to restore Donald A. Hall's legacy in aviation history and inspire a new generation of engineers, pilots, and innovators. Through immersive storytelling and education, we intend to create an educational framework that parallels Hall's work and the evolution of commercial air and space travel. Intellectual Foundation Donald A. Hall's design of the Spirit of St. Louis in 1927 was a pivotal moment in aviation history, marking the beginning of transatlantic commercial flight. Despite his groundbreaking achievements, Hall remains overshadowed by more prominent figures in aviation history. This oversight represents a gap in public and scholarly understanding of aviation heritage. The "Flying Over Time" initiative builds upon experiential education principles, integrating storytelling, artifact curation, and technological innovation. Partnering with the Missouri Historical Society, we will unveil previously unseen artifacts from the Donald Albert Hall Collection, providing the initiative's intellectual foundation. Addressing the Pilot Shortage The aviation industry is currently grappling with a significant pilot shortage, a challenge that threatens the stability and growth of air travel globally. According to a 2022 analysis by Oliver Wyman, the demand for pilots is projected to outstrip supply in most regions between 2022 and 2024, with the shortfall worsening over the next decade. The study forecasts a global shortage of nearly 80,000 pilots by 2032, absent a downturn in future demand or substantial efforts by the industry to bolster pilot supply. In North America, the situation is particularly acute. The region is already experiencing a pilot shortage equivalent to 11% of pilot supply, approximately 8,000 pilots, a gap expected to widen throughout the decade. Factors contributing to this shortage include a wave of early retirements during the COVID-19 pandemic, a mandatory retirement age of 65 for pilots, a shrinking pool of potential pilots from the military, and the high cost and time commitment required for pilot training. Additionally, a significant training bottleneck is hampering recovery efforts, as the number of pilots that airlines must train currently exceeds historical norms. The "Flying Over Time" initiative seeks to address this pressing issue by inspiring a new generation to pursue careers in aviation. By leveraging Donald A. Hall's legacy and the Centennial of the Spirit of St. Louis flight, we aim to create educational programs and storytelling initiatives that highlight the importance of aviation careers. Through partnerships with educational institutions and industry stakeholders, we plan to develop immersive experiences that showcase the challenges and rewards of being a pilot, thereby encouraging young individuals to consider this vital profession. Preserving Records Everywhere As part of the "Flying Over Time" initiative, we plan to employ cutting-edge artificial intelligence technologies to create an interactive digital avatar of Donald A. Hall. This avatar will be designed to engage audiences of all ages, providing a dynamic and immersive way to explore Hall's contributions to aviation and his pivotal role in creating the Spirit of St. Louis. Drawing on Hall's writings, blueprints,