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Roaring Thunder: A Novel of the Jet Age
The story of the jet age of aviation revolves around remarkable geniuses--including Sir Frank Whittle, the British inventor of the jet engine; Hans von Ohain, a German jet engine designer who comes to work for the U.S.; famed aeronautical engineer Kelly Johnson; the daring test pilot Tex Johnston, and many more--brilliant men who conceived these early extraordinary airplanes and had the courage to fly them to new horizons.
Roaring Thunder blends real life adventures of the industry giants with the fictional Vance Shannon and his aviation family. Shannon, a prototypical American test pilot, sees and guides the birth of American jet aviation, while his sons, Tom and Harry fly the new jets in combat. Their aviation careers are blessed by their skill and courage, and they help usher in the greatest advance in aviation history with the birth of the jet transport. The Shannons serve as counterparts to the real-life heroes, creating continuity and explaining the intricacies, successes, and setbacks of a brand new industry.
The dramatic, totally accurate story of the beginning of the jet age is presented against a background of personalities, real and fictional who bring the story to life, and represent the first stage in the first ever fiction trilogy about the history of the aerospace industry.
Roaring Thunder blends real life adventures of the industry giants with the fictional Vance Shannon and his aviation family. Shannon, a prototypical American test pilot, sees and guides the birth of American jet aviation, while his sons, Tom and Harry fly the new jets in combat. Their aviation careers are blessed by their skill and courage, and they help usher in the greatest advance in aviation history with the birth of the jet transport. The Shannons serve as counterparts to the real-life heroes, creating continuity and explaining the intricacies, successes, and setbacks of a brand new industry.
The dramatic, totally accurate story of the beginning of the jet age is presented against a background of personalities, real and fictional who bring the story to life, and represent the first stage in the first ever fiction trilogy about the history of the aerospace industry.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 10, 2006
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September 20, 2013
Historical fiction is probably on of the toughest genres to write. Not only does the book have to be factually true, it also has to be intresting. Boyne pulls this off perfectly with this book. This book tells the story of how the German jet sciantests transfered to the American jet labrotorys and secretly began working for the Americans after WW2. In the middle of this, Vince Shannon, a jet sciantest who has the worst luck, and even winds up dating a spy, has to help them get used to American ways.
I would recomend this book very strongly but only to a small group of people. To understand this book, oyu have to have a lot of backround knowledge about the late 1940's jet technology. Overall, this was a great book.
I would recomend this book very strongly but only to a small group of people. To understand this book, oyu have to have a lot of backround knowledge about the late 1940's jet technology. Overall, this was a great book.
Displaying 1 of 1 review