Phantoms of the Skies: The Lost History of Aviation from Antiquity to the Wright Brothers - Softcover

This book tells the true story of aviation as it evolved from mankind's first primitive attempts to fly to the remarkable successes of the early twentieth century in a non-technical and even fun way, designed to impress upon the reader that the history of aviation is richer and more remarkable than they ever imagined. It is also a tribute to the men—and a few women—who laid the foundations that made not only Kitty Hawk possible, but Von Zeppelin's great dirigibles a reality as well. Most of the names and events mentioned in this book are known to only a handful of aviation enthusiasts and practically unknown to the general public, making this work an important recounting of the lost history of aviation that demands to be told. Some of it is controversial. Parts of it are contentious, and some of it is even speculative, but all of it is a valuable insight into an era when men dared to dream great dreams and bet their lives on the results. Many times they paid dearly for such presumptuousness, but without their sacrifices, the safety and ease of air travel we enjoy today would not be possible. But even more than a retelling of history, it is also a compendium of over 150 patent office blueprints produced between 1847 and 1903 that faithfully capture the spirit of the age. Carefully reproduced from original drawings, they perfectly illustrate the enthusiasm of technology that ran through the world during the height of the industrial revolution, and though many of the designs were impractical, fanciful, and even outrageous, they are an important part of the infant steps aviation took as it tried to find its wings at a time when anything was thought to be possible.

Chuck Davis (1935-2010) devoted his life to being the expert on the city's history. In 2010 he was awarded the George Woodcock Award for an outstanding literary career in British Columbia.Chuck has prepared a comprehensive social and economic history with the care and attention to detail of a historian, and with the exuberance and flair for storytelling that have made him one of Vancouver's most successful and beloved journalist/broadcasters. Davis takes an informal, anecdotal approach to his material, retelling the city's history in a clear and entertaining style. His work is a fascinating account of the rich and colourful past of a unique coastal city, and a must-read for historians, visitors and locals alike.