Le Bourget, France ? Erik Lindbergh popped out of the cockpit Thursday, furiously waving his arms in the air at the end of his 17-hour flight from New York to Paris.

He was celebrating the replication of his grandfather’s groundbreaking solo and nonstop flight across the Atlantic in 1927. Two generations ago, aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh, who took along five sandwiches and only nibbled on one, needed nearly twice the time 33 1/2 hours for his then-astounding flight. Erik said he had eaten a sandwich and a half.

Erik Lindbergh, grandson of Charles Lindbergh, completes the re-creation of his grandfather's solo trip across the Atlantic 75 years ago. Erik arrived Thursday at Le Bourget airport near Paris.

“I really wanted to celebrate the 75th anniversary of grandfather’s flight,” Lindbergh said at a news conference at Le Bourget airport outside Paris. “I did it in half the time and ate twice as much.”

Lindbergh’s Lancair Columbia 300 dubbed the New Spirit of St. Louis landed at 11:27 a.m. Wearing his blue pilot’s jumpsuit, Lindbergh was met by a crowd of commercial sponsors, dozens of reporters, and well-wishers that included a six-member crew from American Airlines.

The flight was part of commemorations of Charles Lindbergh’s May 20-21, 1927, feat that dazzled the world.

Erik Lindbergh is a commercial pilot and certified flight instructor.