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Lost in Oscar Hotel: There is Something in the Air
"The first, longest, slowest and most peculiar flight to Wright Brothers Airport ever made."
This is a true, strange record of hours, won alongside an accounting of odd discoveries, beautifully captured photographs and the spinning of flying tales. It is a story of love and a nearly forgotten secret: Airplanes were the original Internet—invented to bring people in this world together.
Words from a dead pilot recalled in a freezing rainstorm and memories of singing TV hillbillies ignite the spark for a college professor to do something no one has ever tried. He is joined by a Vietnam-era flight surgeon and the unlikely pair set out to fly a couple of aviation's holy relics to Wright Brothers Airport in Dayton. It's the 75th anniversary of the airplane that taught a half-million veterans to fly.
Take off with them—in the wrong direction. Fly from sunrise to sunset for 10 days; low enough to smile at farmers; slow enough to count your blessings. Cover 44,825 square miles and land in every Ohio county, claiming a peculiar world record while nearly 50,000 people follow. You have uncovered a tribe of kindred souls and they invite you again to dream. In the end, a chance to reclaim your spirit's erstwhile pieces and be reminded living, much like all flying—is done first in the imagination.
This is a true, strange record of hours, won alongside an accounting of odd discoveries, beautifully captured photographs and the spinning of flying tales. It is a story of love and a nearly forgotten secret: Airplanes were the original Internet—invented to bring people in this world together.
Words from a dead pilot recalled in a freezing rainstorm and memories of singing TV hillbillies ignite the spark for a college professor to do something no one has ever tried. He is joined by a Vietnam-era flight surgeon and the unlikely pair set out to fly a couple of aviation's holy relics to Wright Brothers Airport in Dayton. It's the 75th anniversary of the airplane that taught a half-million veterans to fly.
Take off with them—in the wrong direction. Fly from sunrise to sunset for 10 days; low enough to smile at farmers; slow enough to count your blessings. Cover 44,825 square miles and land in every Ohio county, claiming a peculiar world record while nearly 50,000 people follow. You have uncovered a tribe of kindred souls and they invite you again to dream. In the end, a chance to reclaim your spirit's erstwhile pieces and be reminded living, much like all flying—is done first in the imagination.
214 pages, Hardcover
First published February 15, 2014
2 people are currently reading
197 people want to read
About the author
Gordon Murray
1 book1 followerGordon Murray is a journalism professor and pilot. He was trained as an educational psychologist and spent much of his academic and professional careers working in television as a director, writer, videographer and editor. His research, interests and assignments have taken him to South Africa, Cuba and Antarctica. Documentaries Murray produced in the U.S., Europe, and Middle East have been recognized with numerous industry awards. He grew up in Ohio and is often found flying old airplanes into grass airfields and farms around the Midwest, mostly looking for a free lunch and homemade pie.
Murray was joined on the "Lost in Oscar Hotel" adventure by pilot Ron Siwik. Siwik is a former military flight surgeon who served in Vietnam. In 2008, Siwik piloted a Beechcraft Bonanza solo around the world.
Murray and Siwik's flight together celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Piper J3 Cub—an airplane that taught nearly a half million WWII veterans to fly. No one had ever attempted it before. Ohio has 88 counties, spread across nearly 44,885 square miles.
The two pilots flew from sunrise to sunset, spending 36 hours and six minutes in the air. They traced a 1,809 nautical mile route that covered all of Ohio, often flying low and slow enough to shout a greeting to farmers waving from fields below. To the astonishment of the pilots, scores came out to greet them at airfields and farms all over the state and nearly 50,000 people tracked the flight online. Stories of the flight were reported in local, regional and national newspapers and magazines, and on television and radio.
People gathered at the airfields and socialized, made ice cream, told stories and looked at airplanes. They were curious to find out more about the hidden world of aviation, and they wanted to be part of the adventure. Everybody brought a camera and asked, “Where can I get a t-shirt?” and, “When is the book coming out?”
Airports offered meals and fuel to help keep the pilots and Cubs going. The pilots signed autographs. Farmers, friends and strangers pressed wrinkled dollars into palms and shirt pockets for a scholarship fund. For a short while, Murray and Siwik, along with photographers Gary Harwood, Laura Fong, Phil Botta, and Sam Verbulecz all unwittingly became the good will ambassadors of flight—honoring the legacy of the Wrights in the Birthplace of Aviation.
Murray was joined on the "Lost in Oscar Hotel" adventure by pilot Ron Siwik. Siwik is a former military flight surgeon who served in Vietnam. In 2008, Siwik piloted a Beechcraft Bonanza solo around the world.
Murray and Siwik's flight together celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Piper J3 Cub—an airplane that taught nearly a half million WWII veterans to fly. No one had ever attempted it before. Ohio has 88 counties, spread across nearly 44,885 square miles.
The two pilots flew from sunrise to sunset, spending 36 hours and six minutes in the air. They traced a 1,809 nautical mile route that covered all of Ohio, often flying low and slow enough to shout a greeting to farmers waving from fields below. To the astonishment of the pilots, scores came out to greet them at airfields and farms all over the state and nearly 50,000 people tracked the flight online. Stories of the flight were reported in local, regional and national newspapers and magazines, and on television and radio.
People gathered at the airfields and socialized, made ice cream, told stories and looked at airplanes. They were curious to find out more about the hidden world of aviation, and they wanted to be part of the adventure. Everybody brought a camera and asked, “Where can I get a t-shirt?” and, “When is the book coming out?”
Airports offered meals and fuel to help keep the pilots and Cubs going. The pilots signed autographs. Farmers, friends and strangers pressed wrinkled dollars into palms and shirt pockets for a scholarship fund. For a short while, Murray and Siwik, along with photographers Gary Harwood, Laura Fong, Phil Botta, and Sam Verbulecz all unwittingly became the good will ambassadors of flight—honoring the legacy of the Wrights in the Birthplace of Aviation.
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March 20, 2014Thank you! Special price for Goodreads Members
Three people are going to win a free hardcover edition soon!
We would like to thank all of the Goodreads members who want to read Lost in Oscar Hotel by offering $10 off the retail price of the hardcover edition.
http://bit.ly/1hIebka
This special price is just for you and will only last until April 15.
Three people are going to win a free hardcover edition soon!
We would like to thank all of the Goodreads members who want to read Lost in Oscar Hotel by offering $10 off the retail price of the hardcover edition.
http://bit.ly/1hIebka
This special price is just for you and will only last until April 15.
May 5, 2014
This book was good. I don't often read a book about flying and planes and similar topics but I enjoyed this one. This book was certainly a positive experience in books about planes, flying and flying adventures. I'll be recommending it for sure!
*eon on GoodReads First Reads*
*eon on GoodReads First Reads*
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews