The Flight of the Phoenix

By: Elleston Trevor

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 6 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

They are twelve men who shouldn't be alive. They have survived the sudden blinding sandstorm that crippled their air freighter. Survived a desperate crash landing in the Sahara of Central Libya. Survived to face the slow, dry, agonizing death of the desert. Twelve men with one hope: to build a new plane from the wreckage of their Skytruck and make a flight out of hell.

Only one man could build such a plane: Stringer, the brilliant and obsessed engineer. Only one man could fly it: Towns, the arrogant and tormented pilot. Both had been aboard the Skytruck, but both are mortal enemies whose consuming hatred for each other is a danger greater than the desert itself.

©1964 Elleston Trevor (P)2004 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Tense, exciting....Horribly vivid!" (London Evening Standard)
"A Master. One never doubts the absolute reality of every page [Elleston Trevor] writes." (The New York Times)

Classic Survival Novel

Excellent novel with great narration. Elleston Trevor is a highly skilled writer. He is also famous for espionage novels under a different name but this book is a wonderful read with vivid characters.

It is a classic and was made into a movie with James Stewart and Richard Attenborough, among others, who did it justice. There is now a recent movie with Dennis Quaid, so we are lucky to get this in audible. What a treat! Highly recommended.

not exactly the movie/s but still good

this differs in some cases considerably from the recent movie with Dennis Quaid (2004). some cases better. some cases worse. and differs from the original movie with Jimmy Stewart (1965).
there's some mighty clever dialogue in here.

Amazing story

Excellent book! Grover Gardner is masterful as he reads this epic tale of survival and triumph

Great book

Highly recommend it this audio book. I will have to listen to it again.
Great story and a plot line.

superb survival drama

original movie was better, and that's rare. Concept is exceptional. Characters are all unique personalities.

Gripping adventure with writing that soars.

I'd always loved the movie, but assumed the book would be written in a simplistic, plot-driven way, without much literary weight. But I found the writing to be very thoughtful, with the emphasis on character. A page-turner that will make you think.
Grover Gardner gives the perfect read. Flawless.

Out of the Desert

This story of men and the stuggle to survive is one that you will remember.
From start to finish Flight of the Phoenix
is not about men fighting to survive in the eternal wast of the desert, but to refuse to give up against impossible odds.
All quality all the way.

Fantastic

I loved this movie as a child and was thrilled to discover the audiobook. The narrator is pitch perfect and the story is still a 100% winner. Wonderful blast from the past.

excellent adventure

Well written and narrated with enough detail to place you there. Well developed characters. Far superior to either movie.

Saw the movie.

Excellent narator. He added accents to the subjects. The language & description of the characters very discriptive . I could all most feel the heat & thirst of the characters with death looming on the horizon. The desert was brought to life when a 30,000 ft dust storm brought the plain down. The rest you'll have to read.