Charles Lindbergh’s 1927 feat rates with the highest achievements of humankind.

Modern times have produced amazing achievements and a number of these have occurred in space research and exploration, such as the monumental American landing on the moon in 1969.

But in its own unique way, the Charles Lindbergh trans-Atlantic flight in the tiny Spirit of St. Louis in 1927 deserves to be ranked in that same “unbelievable” category.

Lindbergh was nicknamed Lucky Lindy and appropriately so after his “suicidal” 33.5-hour flight 75 years ago. New attention has been focused on that fabulous feat by his grandson, Erik, who recently traced Lindy’s route from New York to France using modern equipment far superior to his grandfather’s.

Erik Lindbergh’s plane cruises at 184 mph; Charles Lindbergh’s frail and fuel-heavy craft traveled about 108 mph. Charles used “deduced reckoning” for navigation, which amounted to holding a compass and guessing at the wind. Without wind, of course, there would be no need for navigators. Imagine the tension Charles must have had on his long trip. Consider, too, his unassuming manner after he became a terrific celebrity.

As for Erik, his $289,000 plane has a pinpoint global positioning system to let him and others know his precise position at all times. His plane has other sophisticated electronic equipment that even allows him to send and receive e-mail. Charles Lindbergh’s “Spirit,” which was built at a cost of only $10,580, had nothing like the current plane’s monitoring equipment.

Yet in each case, “lonely are the brave.” The air and the sea are terribly intolerant of errors and misjudgments. And this latest Lindbergh flight gives us a chance to remind everyone what a tremendous feat Charles accomplished in 1927. The new flight also is intended to raise awareness of rheumatoid arthritis, which long has complicated Erik’s life. He would like to help conquer a disease that is so painful and incapacitating to so many people.

So, let’s hear it for the Lindberghs, past and present, and remember that what Lucky Lindy did in that “tiny little kite” in 1927 will always rate gold stars in the achievement halls of fame.