The Flight

By: Dan Hampton

Narrated by: John Pruden

Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's Summary

A gripping and unique in-the-cockpit account of Charles Lindbergh's extraordinary first transatlantic flight from New York to Paris, by acclaimed aviation historian and former fighter pilot Dan Hampton - "one of the most decorated pilots in Air Force history" (New York Post).

America's finest aviation story in the hands of our finest aviation historian, The Flight is Dan Hampton's biggest, most dramatic book yet.

On the morning of May 20, 1927, a little-known pilot named Charles Lindbergh waited to take off from Roosevelt Field on Long Island. He was determined to claim the $25,000 Orteig Prize promised to the first pilot to fly nonstop from New York to Paris - a contest that had already claimed six men's lives. Just 25 years old, Lindbergh had never before flown over water. Yet 33 hours later, his single-engine monoplane, The Spirit of St. Louis, touched down in Paris. Overnight, Charles Lindbergh became the most famous aviator of all time.

The Flight is a long overdue flyer's-eye-view look at Lindbergh's legendary journey. Decorated fighter pilot and best-selling author Dan Hampton offers a unique appreciation for Lindbergh's accomplishment: Hampton has flown the exact same route many times, knowledge that informs and shapes The Flight. Relying upon a trove of primary sources, including Lindbergh's own personal diary and writings, Hampton crafts a dramatic narrative of a challenging, death-defying feat that many had believed was impossible.

Moving hour by hour, Hampton recounts Lindbergh's uncertainty over his equipment and his courage as he traverses the vast darkness of the Atlantic with no radar. Moving between the sky and ground, Hampton intersperses the tale of the flight with Lindbergh's personal history as well as some of the stories of those waiting for him on the ground, praying he would make it safely across.

©2017 Ascalon, LLC (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

Rehash

I've read several books on Lindbergh and his flight. I thought there was entirely too much filler in this book. Some was interesting but the interruption of the story of the flight was distracting.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Gripping account of his life - focus on "Flight"

Well written and performed. It seems that if you want to know truth of Lindbergh's flight - in excellent, full 3D detail this is the book for you! Being a pilot myself it was great to hear Lindbergh's life and the details of his historic flight from a famous fighter pilot that lives in the cockpit and shares from that special perspective..

Rich Kid Novice Pilot

Wow! I did not know Lindburgh was a novice flyer who was just rich. He got his plane built specifically to cross Atlantic and he really could not fail. Europe is hard to miss if you understand a compass.

Another great one!

Any additional comments?

Dan Hampton is an incredible author. I'm a professional pilot and his books are top notch for aviation buffs. John Pruden does total justice to Hamptons books. In fact, it's hard to imagine listening to a Dan Hampton effort with any other voice.

Lindbergh Was A Very Interesting Person

Lindbergh Was A Very Interesting Person

I learned a lot I didn't know about his flight across the Atlantic but I also felt that his life after his accomplishment was touched upon but was not described as well as it could have been. I do understand that this book was about his transatlantic crossing, there were areas of his life after that which were touched upon but not fully explained. The book is very pro-Lindbergh and made no mention of any of the negatives he was also associated with (such as his anti Semitic feelings and the fact that he was a suspect in the kidnapping of his own child) Overall, a very good listen.

Only by Risking Much Can One Gain Much

Any additional comments?

The skill and brutal force of will that Lindbergh possessed was never better evidenced than in this book. Humans live history....extraordinary humans make history.