Wild About Flying: The Dreamers, Doers and Daredevils - Hardcover

Harris, Bruce

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1552978494 ISBN 13: 9781552978498

Publisher: Firefly Books, 2003

Synopsis

A celebration of aviation's first 100 years.

In 1903, the Wright Brothers achieved powered flight for the first time in history. Today, the wingspan length of commercial aircraft surpasses the distance of Orville Wright's first flight.

Wild About Flying is the story of flight as told through the people who changed the world forever. The book tells the true-life adventures of the pioneers, inventors, aviators, designers, engineers, navigators, test-pilots and visionaries who were responsible for developing one of mankind's most important inventions. Lively biographies of 54 famous, notorious, and lesser known aviation characters create a panoramic history of flight from its crude beginnings to the sophistication of space travel. The book also includes two illustrated timelines: The first features aviation's principal players and the second depicts the important technical advancements of specific aircraft.

Illustrating the text are 200 superb color paintings by internationally recognized aviation artist, David Marshall. His dynamic, historically accurate, and inspiring images are technically correct and the perfect complement to these engaging stories.

About this title

About the Author:

Bruce Harris is an aviation writer and journalist.

David Marshall's artwork can be found in the collections of the Australian Defence Forces, aviation museums, and in flight-related magazines. He is an aviation history enthusiast who once served as a pilot in the RAF and RAFVR.

Review:

Descriptions of risks taken by early aviation pioneers, essentially climbing aboard and launching rickety, motorized kites, will amaze teens. (Rollie Welch VOYA)

Celebrates the individuals who helped get aviation off the ground. (Globe and Mail 2003-12-13)

A superb coffee-table book. It is a visual delight illuminated as much by the informative text as by the fine, original illustrations... a beautiful, well-written volume. (M. Levinson Choice)

Richly illustrated, breezy history of aviation... with its unique focus and accurate, understandable technical data, this volume is a great addition to YA collections. (Alan Gropman School Library Journal)

Superb illustrations and technical content are presented from such an interesting human perspective. (Roger D. Meicenheimer Science Books and Films)

This interesting book is filled with exciting stories about the visionaries and heroes of flight, all depicted in color illustrations. (Plane and Pilot)

Vibrant historical scenes that crackle with energy... a handsome and fascinating book... its authors truly love their subject. (John Foyston Portland Oregonian 2004-01-04)

Unique... beautifully illustrated... A valuable internationalizing addition to the history and aeronautics holdings of large public, college and university libraries. (Robert B. Ridinger E-Streams)

Focuses on the people... Each person has an entry illustrated with drawings, photographs and Marshall's paintings. (Ann Lloyd Merriman Richmond Times-Dispatch 2003-12-14)

About this edition

• Publisher: Firefly Books
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 1552978494
• ISBN 13: 9781552978498
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 240
• Illustrator: Marshall David