Explorers left legacy of never-ending quests

Every generation needs its inspirational heroes.

Two men who explored the skies and oceans and left legacies that kindled the desire to voyage into outer space and to the farthest depths of the seas have been in the news this past week.

They continue to set examples of human endurance and the quest for knowledge about the unknown.

Seventy-five years ago, Charles Lindbergh became an international hero after his across-the-Atlantic flight from Long Island, N.Y., to near Paris.

It was an aviation milestone that expanded the opportunities for commercial flight and set the stage for later generations of space exploration.

Now Lindbergh's grandson, 36-year-old Erik Lindbergh, is recreating the trip in a new Spirit of St. Louis aircraft, a state-of-the-art Lancair Columbia 300, which cost $289,000 to build. The original Spirit of St. Louis cost $10,580 to build in 1927 -- a little more than $100,000 in today's dollars.

The first leg of young Lindbergh's anniversary trip was from San Diego to St. Louis.

Last week saw the successful completion of the second leg from St. Louis to New York.

If all goes according to plan, Erik Lindbergh will take off from Long Island Wednesday for a trip to France expected to last from 17 to 21 hours. His grandfather's flight lasted more than 33 hours.

In 1951, Thor Heyerdahl built a raft of balsa logs and set out from Peru in an attempt to demonstrate how ancient civilizations could have crossed the Pacific Ocean.

Despite the scoffing, the Norwegian explorer reached Polynesia 101 days later -- a triumphant success.

In later years, Heyerdahl made other voyages on rafts made of reeds called the Ra, the Ra II and the Tigris.

His bold and controversial challenges of accepted views about human migration led to worldwide acceptance of the likelihood that long-distance travel occurred thousands of years before sailing ships and flying machines.

Countless readers of geography textbooks and old National Geographic magazines vividly recall the excitement of detailed accounts of Heyerdahl's voyages or viewing, for the very first time, his documentary about the Kon-Tiki voyage that won an academy award in 1951.

Last week, Heyerdahl died at the age of 87.

Today, the zeal for exploration and discovery remains strong.

It is evident not only in travel to unknown parts, but in the quest for scientific discovery, philosophical ideas and more gadgets that make our lives easier, fun and interesting.

Still to be explored are cures for diseases, better mousetraps, a tax code that makes sense, sunset views from mountaintops and seashores, nutritious foods to feed a hungry world, renewable fuels and world peace.

If any of these dreams sound impossible, just consider the barriers and pitfalls of all the Lindberghs and Heyerdahls who have left this planet a better place to live because of their sense of adventure and their stubborn desire to forge on when others said their goals could never be achieved.

Today's heroes continue to take inspiration from those who risked -- and often gave -- their lives for the sake of human progress.

And tomorrow's heroes will find ways to reach new destinations in high-tech reed rafts and airships that test the theory of relativity.

To all these courageous explorers we owe a huge debt for their willingness to take risks when the only reward might be an expansion of knowledge and understanding.

Thank you, Charles Lindbergh and Thor Heyerdahl.