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Biplane
A Simon & Schuster eBook. Simon & Schuster has a great book for every reader.
165 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1966
32 people are currently reading
731 people want to read
About the author
Richard Bach
163 books3,807 followers
Since Jonathan Livingston Seagull - which dominated the #1 spot on the New York Times Bestseller List for two consecutive years - Richard Bach has touched millions of people through his humor, wisdom and insight.
With over 60 million copies of his books sold, Richard Bach remains one of the world's most beloved authors. A former USAF fighter pilot, Air Force captain and latter-day barnstorming pilot, Bach continues to be an avid aviator-author, exploring and chronicling the joys and freedom of flying, reporting his findings to readers.
His most recent works include Travels with Puff, which recounts Bach's journey from Florida to Washington state in his small seaplane, Puff, and Illusions II: The Adventures of a Reluctant Student, which incorporates Bach's real-life plane crash.
In October 2014, the never-before-published Part Four to Jonathan Livingston Seagull was published.
Readers can find more about Richard and his work at www.richardbach.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
January 3, 2012
This book changed my life. That sounds kind of dramatic, and I don't know that this is a book that typically does that for people, but it totally did for me.
I went through a big Richard Bach phase in high school, and I read everything of his that I could get my hands on. And most of it I enjoyed, and most of it made me think about things in a different way, and most of it made me feel more hopeful about things, which is something I needed at the time. But this one opened up a whole new world for me.
I flew a LOT as a child. My family lived in England for four years, and we flew back to the States twice a year to spend time with my grandparents--one set in Texas and one set in California. So you'd think I would have gotten used to planes, but I hadn't. I hated flying--I was worried about crashing, I hated the smell, I got airsick, I was cramped and uncomfortable...I was miserable every time I was forced to get on a plane, which was way, way, way too often for my liking. But reading this book actually changed my view.
In Biplane, Bach basically flies across the country, dreaming of landing in the fields of 1929 and offering folks ten minute rides around their towns in his old biplane, sleeping under the wing, and the next morning flying to another town and doing it all over again. The biplane is his time machine and as he moves from place to place, Bach looks back into his own past--the other planes he's flown, the pilots he's flown with, his love of flight itself, all while getting to know the biplane. It's a quiet book. But somehow Bach manages to capture all the magic and adventure and romance of flight--he makes it seem like such an amazing, beautiful, freeing thing.
And so the next time I got on a plane after reading it, I found that my focus had shifted, and now I absolutely LOVE flying. I press my face up against the window at take-off and landing and periodically in between. Turbulence makes my heart beat faster, but in a GOOD way. I've actually thought about taking flying lessons one day.
I've only read this book the one time, and I'm not sure if I would feel the same way about it were I to read it again now, as an adult. But it's always going to hold a very special place in my heart for opening up the skies to me. Totally cheesy, but true!
Update: I decided to finally reread this in anticipation of my first flying lesson next weekend (sooooo excited!), and yep! I still love it just as much now as I did when I first read it in high school.
I went through a big Richard Bach phase in high school, and I read everything of his that I could get my hands on. And most of it I enjoyed, and most of it made me think about things in a different way, and most of it made me feel more hopeful about things, which is something I needed at the time. But this one opened up a whole new world for me.
I flew a LOT as a child. My family lived in England for four years, and we flew back to the States twice a year to spend time with my grandparents--one set in Texas and one set in California. So you'd think I would have gotten used to planes, but I hadn't. I hated flying--I was worried about crashing, I hated the smell, I got airsick, I was cramped and uncomfortable...I was miserable every time I was forced to get on a plane, which was way, way, way too often for my liking. But reading this book actually changed my view.
In Biplane, Bach basically flies across the country, dreaming of landing in the fields of 1929 and offering folks ten minute rides around their towns in his old biplane, sleeping under the wing, and the next morning flying to another town and doing it all over again. The biplane is his time machine and as he moves from place to place, Bach looks back into his own past--the other planes he's flown, the pilots he's flown with, his love of flight itself, all while getting to know the biplane. It's a quiet book. But somehow Bach manages to capture all the magic and adventure and romance of flight--he makes it seem like such an amazing, beautiful, freeing thing.
And so the next time I got on a plane after reading it, I found that my focus had shifted, and now I absolutely LOVE flying. I press my face up against the window at take-off and landing and periodically in between. Turbulence makes my heart beat faster, but in a GOOD way. I've actually thought about taking flying lessons one day.
I've only read this book the one time, and I'm not sure if I would feel the same way about it were I to read it again now, as an adult. But it's always going to hold a very special place in my heart for opening up the skies to me. Totally cheesy, but true!
Update: I decided to finally reread this in anticipation of my first flying lesson next weekend (sooooo excited!), and yep! I still love it just as much now as I did when I first read it in high school.
December 2, 2025
En marzo de 1964, un joven Richard Bach decide adquirir un antiguo avión biplano, de 1929. El artefacto no cuenta con radio, es poco confiable, alcanza apenas unos 150 kilómetros por hora de velocidad (que puede variar levemente según tenga el viento de frente o de cola) y tiene una autonomía de vuelo de apenas cinco horas. Con él, para regresar a su casa, deberá atravesar todo Estados Unidos, de este a oeste. Es un viaje de alrededor de 4200 kilómetros, que le demorará aproximadamente una semana, siempre y cuando todo vaya bien y no sufra contratiempos importantes.
Este libro es la historia de ese viaje. Pero, para que se entienda: no es solo el relato de un vuelo, con sus paradas y contingencias. No. La travesía adquiere el formato de un viaje de aprendizaje, durante el cual el aviador deberá aprender a confiar en su compañero inanimado, a entender sus capacidades y limitaciones y qué puede o no esperar de él; a repararlo con sus propias manos si es necesario para poder completar la travesía e, incluso, a pasar las noches a su lado, en una incómoda bolsa de dormir. El viaje se convertirá, muy pronto, en toda una aventura; quizás, para Bach, en la aventura de su vida.
Pero el libro también es más, mucho más, que la historia de un viaje. Mientras atraviesa el país, Bach nos va contando su propia historia y su relación con los aviones, su pasado como aviador militar y civil y numerosas experiencias que marcaron su vida, como aviador y como persona. También reflexiona sobre las diferencias entre volar en la actualidad (la de 1965, se entiende) y los primeros tiempos de la aviación, donde todo estaba mucho menos automatizado y el pilote debía ser muy cuidadoso con lo que hacía, porque le iba la vida en ello. En algún sentido, su experiencia con el biplano es como un viaje en el tiempo, como si él no se encontrara en 1964 sino en 1929, en una época donde realmente pilotar un avión era un arte.
Pero, por sobre todas las cosas, Biplano es un canto de amor a la aviación, al hecho de volar, de atravesar los cielos, desafiando no solo a la gravedad, sino a las fuerzas de la naturaleza. Y Bach logra transmitirnos ese amor con una capacidad que no te deja indifirente. Es poco probable que termines de leerlo sin que desees experimentar alguna vez por vos mismo la experiencia de pilotar un avión o, al menos, de estar en uno. Y no en uno de nuestros aviones modernos, sino de los de antes, en los que una palanca de mando, un par de pedales y tu destreza era todo lo que separaba un vuelo tranquilo de una tragedia.
Este libro es la historia de ese viaje. Pero, para que se entienda: no es solo el relato de un vuelo, con sus paradas y contingencias. No. La travesía adquiere el formato de un viaje de aprendizaje, durante el cual el aviador deberá aprender a confiar en su compañero inanimado, a entender sus capacidades y limitaciones y qué puede o no esperar de él; a repararlo con sus propias manos si es necesario para poder completar la travesía e, incluso, a pasar las noches a su lado, en una incómoda bolsa de dormir. El viaje se convertirá, muy pronto, en toda una aventura; quizás, para Bach, en la aventura de su vida.
Pero el libro también es más, mucho más, que la historia de un viaje. Mientras atraviesa el país, Bach nos va contando su propia historia y su relación con los aviones, su pasado como aviador militar y civil y numerosas experiencias que marcaron su vida, como aviador y como persona. También reflexiona sobre las diferencias entre volar en la actualidad (la de 1965, se entiende) y los primeros tiempos de la aviación, donde todo estaba mucho menos automatizado y el pilote debía ser muy cuidadoso con lo que hacía, porque le iba la vida en ello. En algún sentido, su experiencia con el biplano es como un viaje en el tiempo, como si él no se encontrara en 1964 sino en 1929, en una época donde realmente pilotar un avión era un arte.
Pero, por sobre todas las cosas, Biplano es un canto de amor a la aviación, al hecho de volar, de atravesar los cielos, desafiando no solo a la gravedad, sino a las fuerzas de la naturaleza. Y Bach logra transmitirnos ese amor con una capacidad que no te deja indifirente. Es poco probable que termines de leerlo sin que desees experimentar alguna vez por vos mismo la experiencia de pilotar un avión o, al menos, de estar en uno. Y no en uno de nuestros aviones modernos, sino de los de antes, en los que una palanca de mando, un par de pedales y tu destreza era todo lo que separaba un vuelo tranquilo de una tragedia.
October 14, 2012
Ebbene sì, un'altra volta l'abusata metafora del volo.
Richard Bach è, prima che uno scrittore, un aviatore: scrive cose che io, e molti come me, non possono e non potranno forse mai comprendere, ma lo fa con una tale passione che anche io avrei voluto essere là, nel 1964, a volare con il suo biplano del 1929 attraverso l'America.
Ma Richard Bach è anche uno scrittore, e Biplano è una delle sue prime opere, una di quelle che oscillano tra il resoconto di una traversata aerea coast to coast e un viaggio alla scoperta di sé stessi. E il risultato, sebbene non sia uno di quei libri che ti rimangono impressi, è di certo meritevole ed offre qualche ottimo spunto di riflessione.
December 1, 2012
This slim little volume is an ode of love to flying in general and biplanes in particular. Bach's poeticism and easy-going philosophy lends weight to his tale of a cross-country journey in a 1920s biplane. From my perspective, as a novelist researching the old planes, it's also a goldmine of fascinating details about the life and biz of being a pilot. A must-read on the subject.
April 6, 2020
One of the greatest books I've ever read.
Imagery and storytelling at their finest! A masterpiece of simplicity and the joys associated with it.
Read this as a young teen. Should probably reread as an adult pilot.
Imagery and storytelling at their finest! A masterpiece of simplicity and the joys associated with it.
Read this as a young teen. Should probably reread as an adult pilot.
October 31, 2021
Gökyüzünün kendisi gibi uçak da... derslerini bize sunuyordur işte. Biz öğrenmek istiyorsak ders boldur. Üstelik bunlar son derece ayrıntılı ve derin dersler de olabilir.
.
Richard Bach sevdiğim bir yazar. Hatta Martı Jonathan Livingston en sevdiğim kitaplar arasındadır. Yazarın bütün kitaplarını okumaya başladım ve Pırpır en son okuduğum kitabı oldu. Richard Bach'ın havacılığa olan sevgisi ve bağlılığı oldukça bulaşıcı. Bu kitabında da diğer kitaplarında olduğu gibi gökyüzünden, uçaklardan, özgürlükten bahsediyor. Haliyle deneyimlerinden de bolca yararlanıyor.
.
Pırpır'da, aldığı Wright model bir biplane ile olan yolculuğunu anlatıyor. Biplane; gövdenin hem altında hem de üzerinde kanadı olan uçak modeli. Pırpır, Martı'dan iyi miydi bence değildi ancak okuması keyifli bir kitaptı. Gerçi beklediğimden daha uzun sürede okuyup bitirdim ama bu kitaba olan beğenimi azaltmadı. Yıllar sonrasında tekrar dönüp okuyacağımı düşünüyorum. Eğer Richard Bach seviyorsanız bakmanızı tavsiye ederim. Sahaflarda kitapları genelde bulunuyor. Son olarak çevirinin muhteşem olmadığını eklemem gerek. Biplane'in düz olarak biplan ya da diğer terimlerin garip ifadelerle çevrilmesi dikkatimi çekti. Eski olduğundan çok önemsemedim. İyi okumalar...
.
Richard Bach sevdiğim bir yazar. Hatta Martı Jonathan Livingston en sevdiğim kitaplar arasındadır. Yazarın bütün kitaplarını okumaya başladım ve Pırpır en son okuduğum kitabı oldu. Richard Bach'ın havacılığa olan sevgisi ve bağlılığı oldukça bulaşıcı. Bu kitabında da diğer kitaplarında olduğu gibi gökyüzünden, uçaklardan, özgürlükten bahsediyor. Haliyle deneyimlerinden de bolca yararlanıyor.
.
Pırpır'da, aldığı Wright model bir biplane ile olan yolculuğunu anlatıyor. Biplane; gövdenin hem altında hem de üzerinde kanadı olan uçak modeli. Pırpır, Martı'dan iyi miydi bence değildi ancak okuması keyifli bir kitaptı. Gerçi beklediğimden daha uzun sürede okuyup bitirdim ama bu kitaba olan beğenimi azaltmadı. Yıllar sonrasında tekrar dönüp okuyacağımı düşünüyorum. Eğer Richard Bach seviyorsanız bakmanızı tavsiye ederim. Sahaflarda kitapları genelde bulunuyor. Son olarak çevirinin muhteşem olmadığını eklemem gerek. Biplane'in düz olarak biplan ya da diğer terimlerin garip ifadelerle çevrilmesi dikkatimi çekti. Eski olduğundan çok önemsemedim. İyi okumalar...
December 31, 2023
Per una ragazza che si sente sempre fuori luogo, lontana da dove dovrebbe essere, che a volte vorrebbe solamente uscire di casa e mai tornare indietro, non capite cosa significhi questo libro. Descrive esattamente uno dei miei sogni più grandi: fare il giro d'America in groppa ad un aeroplano inaffidabile (e inafferrabile). Senza mai sapere dove sarò il giorno successivo, chi incontrerò...
È un po' come alzare gli occhi al cielo quando passa un aereo di linea. Immaginare dove è diretto e tutte le storie nascoste in quelle ali. La forma delle nuvole.
Quando nella vita vi sentite bloccati nella monotonia, trovate che ogni giorno sia uguale all'altro, e andate avanti per inerzia, provate ad alzare gli occhi al cielo. Vi assicuro che lì non è mai uguale. Viaggiate, almeno con la mente. E fatela una pazzia, ogni tanto.
È un po' come alzare gli occhi al cielo quando passa un aereo di linea. Immaginare dove è diretto e tutte le storie nascoste in quelle ali. La forma delle nuvole.
Quando nella vita vi sentite bloccati nella monotonia, trovate che ogni giorno sia uguale all'altro, e andate avanti per inerzia, provate ad alzare gli occhi al cielo. Vi assicuro che lì non è mai uguale. Viaggiate, almeno con la mente. E fatela una pazzia, ogni tanto.
September 11, 2018
I picked this up with some trepidation, as I absolutely loathed Jonathan Livingstone Seagull (the deputy headmistress at my school was a big fan and regularly treated us to readings in Assembly). I enjoyed this account of buying a vintage biplane and flying it home across the country a great deal more, though. Full of nostalgia, description and joy; it's no wonder Ray Bradbury liked it enough to write the preface.
August 24, 2011
what an amazing book! You feel at one with the flying machine as Richard Bach takes you flying beyond the blue horizon..:)
February 15, 2021
Le doy ⭐⭐⭐ 1/2.
Con solo un personaje y una idea simple, logro hacer una historia entretenida.
Por momentos me imaginé que era yo el que estaba en el aire.
Con solo un personaje y una idea simple, logro hacer una historia entretenida.
Por momentos me imaginé que era yo el que estaba en el aire.
August 16, 2009
Maybe be one of the most boring books i've ever read in my whole life. Although i call myself "aviator", love everything about aviation, and i love Richard Bach's books - this piece of literature wouldn't be my favorite for sure!
I've been forcing my way through lines for MONTHS! Even though the book has just 176 pages, i couldn't read it quick. I was reading it before going to sleep, and all i can say... my sleep was good.
I've been forcing my way through lines for MONTHS! Even though the book has just 176 pages, i couldn't read it quick. I was reading it before going to sleep, and all i can say... my sleep was good.
June 28, 2020
As always in works of Bach, there are phrases every few pages that just make you stop reading and start contemplating for a few minutes.. nothing pompous, everything just flows, but in all of its apparent simplicity - it really makes you dream and feel some heartwarming hope and fills your thoughts with unexpected amount of optimism. Greatness in simplicity - that's how I would describe Bach's writing.
July 29, 2020
Jenny and I started reading this Book together before her trip out to Oklahoma, and it was both wonderful to share one of my favorite authors with her, and to share our adventures of cross country flight and small airplanes. I love the way she lit up at Bach’s words and hearing her so happy to hear about the small airports that we both been to.
November 14, 2022
Siempre es lindo volver a leer a Richard, y en Biplano me encontré una narración tranquila sobre sus vuelos de una punta a la otra de Estados Unidos en un -claramente- biplano de 1929. Me gustó mucho la escritura, las descripciones del cielo, de la naturaleza y de lo maravilloso que es que los seres humanos hayan podido inventar máquinas para volar. Hermoso.
February 6, 2023
i feel this was the kind of novel i needed. this was so unexpectedly good and beautiful to read! it gave me peace and calmness right when i feel i'm losing my mind to my work and daily routine. it's a really fast read as well! there were some chapters were i was so moved. it surprised me to find myself crying at some paragraphs. i love it!
January 28, 2025
Գիրք, որը առաջացնում է անհագ սեր դեպի ավիացիա։ Հաճախ քեզ պատկերացնում ես օդաչուի դերում, պատկերացնում թե ինչպես ես սլանում երկնքում։ Երբեմն ընթերցանությունը ընդհատում էի ու գնում կարդում բիպլան տիպի ինքնաթիռի մասին։ Երբեմն օգևորվում էի, բացում էի Google Earth-ը և ավիասիմուլյատորով փորձում թռնել ․․․
Այս գիրքը առաջացնում է կախվածություն, և դու դառնում ես օդաչու :)
Այս գիրքը առաջացնում է կախվածություն, և դու դառնում ես օդաչու :)
September 24, 2025
Libro "On the sky" contrapposto all' "on the road" più conosciuto.
Il libro che mi ha fatto conoscere Bach e che ho amato molto più del volume di Keruac.
Dedicato a tutti quelli che a un'impeccabile berlina di rappresentanza con climatizzatore e sedili massaggianti, preferiscono una vecchia spider inglese.
Bellissimo come un cielo libero da nubi e sconfinato.
Il libro che mi ha fatto conoscere Bach e che ho amato molto più del volume di Keruac.
Dedicato a tutti quelli che a un'impeccabile berlina di rappresentanza con climatizzatore e sedili massaggianti, preferiscono una vecchia spider inglese.
Bellissimo come un cielo libero da nubi e sconfinato.
March 17, 2022
Richard Bach was my favorite writer when I was young.
Biplane is his story of bringing this very old biplane to home (California) from East Coast.
I am used to reading his flying stories as analogies of life which he didn't do as much in this one.
Biplane is his story of bringing this very old biplane to home (California) from East Coast.
I am used to reading his flying stories as analogies of life which he didn't do as much in this one.
May 23, 2023
Another great book by Richard Bach
Bach takes you back to a simpler, slower time of flying and traveling across this wonderful country as it must have been as a barnstormer. No technology to rely upon, help navigate or allow an auto pilot to give you relief from the long hours of slowly, at times, painfully flying from one refueling stop to another. Great escapism from modern times!!
Bach takes you back to a simpler, slower time of flying and traveling across this wonderful country as it must have been as a barnstormer. No technology to rely upon, help navigate or allow an auto pilot to give you relief from the long hours of slowly, at times, painfully flying from one refueling stop to another. Great escapism from modern times!!
July 11, 2023
Libro molto interessante, una versione volante del coast to coast americano, anche in questo caso come per illusioni ci sono delle massime filosofiche; ma se in illusioni erano palesi, in questo le troviamo nel sottotesto e nel non espresso.
September 21, 2024
Wonderful!
A book for pilots, or more accurately, Flyers, but Richard Bach is his usual, thoughtful and poetic self. As an old flyer, sadly no longer flying, it brought back many happy memories. To be alone in the sky in an old aircraft was a huge privilege, MUCH missed😢
A book for pilots, or more accurately, Flyers, but Richard Bach is his usual, thoughtful and poetic self. As an old flyer, sadly no longer flying, it brought back many happy memories. To be alone in the sky in an old aircraft was a huge privilege, MUCH missed😢
November 18, 2018
One of his best. If you are a fan of aviation, you will want to read this book.
June 26, 2019
Read years ago.
September 7, 2020
Не одтин з кращих творів Річарда Баха. Один з перших і надмірно напханий техніяними термінами та описами особливостейпольоту біплана. Читалося важко і неохоче.
October 11, 2020
This book stirs my soul. It's why I want to learn to fly old planes.
May 10, 2021
Life changing book! Can almost heard the Whirr of the engine!
July 28, 2021
Какой то нескончаемый словесный понос ни о чем
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2022
Esta bueno, me sentí identificada en varias partes del libro, soy piloto
Read
August 16, 2022NOOK
Read
August 30, 2022I read this a million years ago.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews