TRIUMPH

by ‧ RELEASE DATE: N/A

The story of how three giant, cumbersome Navy planes made the first Transatlantic flight--in 1919--is still one of the great classics of aviation. Here it is told in a clear, unromanticized, straightforward style. The 22,000 pound planes (one of them carried 50 people on a previous flight), manned by men like Jack Towers, Putty Read, and Lou Barin, were never expected to make the trip. What was worse, a group of English flyers were expected to make the hop first, using some of the same routes. But make it, the Navy did! From Cape Cod to Halifax to Newfoundland to the Azores they flew. Through fog, forced landings at sea, storms, and overly enthusiastic welcoming parties, they forged ahead. One broke down. One taxied 200 miles at sea into port. But the NC-4, piloted by Putty Read, makes the last, leg of the journey. In the words of the authors, ""he had changed the world"". Really an important contribution to aviation literature.

Pub Date: N/A

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Harper

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 1961

Categories: NONFICTION