First Flight

Description

Publishing in its centennial year, this title by aviation writer T.A. Heppenheimer looks at what Wilbur and Orville Wright achieved on December 17, 1903 at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina when they made the first successful flight of an engine-powered plane and how they accomplished it.

Reviews

"Aviation writer Heppenheimer (A Brief History of Flight) delivers a thorough look at the Wright brothers..." (Publishers Weekly, January 6, 2003) "...will appeal to aviation scholars and enthusiasts." (Library Journal, February 15, 2003) 'A detailed, well--researched chronicle of the Wright brothers' three--year struggle to achieve the impossible and fly...'(City to Cities, July/August 2003) "...excellent a ratteling good read, a most thorough account..." (General Aviation, August 2003)

Author description

T. A. HEPPENHEIMER is a well--known author who has published extensively on aviation and aerospace, business, and the history of technology. Among his many books are Turbulent Skies: The History of Commercial Aviation, Countdown: A History of Space Flight, and A Brief History of Flight, all available from Wiley. He holds a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from the University of Michigan and is an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Aerospace.

Table of contents

ONE: ENTER THE WRIGHTS. TWO: PROPHETS WITH SOME HONOR. THREE: TEACHERS AND FIRST LESSONS. FOUR: HITTING A WALL. FIVE: "WE NOW HOLD ALL THE RECORDS!" SIX: AMBIGUOUS SUCCESS. SEVEN: RETURN TO DAYTON. EIGHT: INTO THE WORLD. NINE: NOON INTO TWILIGHT. TEN: INVENTIVENESS AND INVENTION. NOTES. BIBLIOGRAPHY. INDEX.