The Flight: Charles Lindbergh's Daring and Immortal 1927 Transatlantic Crossing – A Masterful Aviation History of the Spirit of St. Louis

by Dan Hampton

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 (Viper Pilot, Lords of the Sky) 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 twenty-five years old, Lindbergh had never before flown over water. Yet thirty-three 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 bestselling author Dan Hampton offers a unique appreciation for Lindbergh s 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.



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Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Aviation, American History, Historical, Audiobook

498 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 16, 2017

About the author

U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Dan Hampton flew more than 150 combat missions during his twenty years (1986–2006) as a Wild Weasel fighter pilot. For his service in the Iraq War, Kosovo conflict, first Gulf War, and elsewhere, Colonel Hampton received four Distinguished Flying Crosses with Valor, a Purple Heart, eight Air Medals with Valor, five Meritorious Service Medals, and numerous other citations. He is a graduate of the USAF Fighter Weapons School, USN Top Gun School (TOGS), and USAF Special Operations School. A recipient of several awards for tactical innovation, Hampton pioneered air-combat tactics that are now standard, and he was named his squadron's Instructor Pilot of the Year six times. Hampton served on the Air Combat Command staff in Langley, Virginia, during the 1999 Kosovo War and designed the NATO campaign that destroyed the Yugoslav army's air defenses around Sarajevo. A graduate of Texas A&M University, he has published articles in The Journal of Electronic Defense, Air Force Magazine, and Airpower magazine, as well as several classified tactical works for the USAF Fighter Weapons Review.

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

"[Charles Lindbergh] had a few sandwiches in a brown paper bag that Dick Blythe, a Wright Aeronautical Corporation public relations man, bought for him on the way back to Roosevelt Field the night before [the historic flight]. Frank Tichenor, who edited the magazine 'Aero Digest' had asked, 'Are you only taking five sandwiches?' 'Yes,' [Lindbergh] had replied. 'That's enough. If I get to Paris I won't need any more, and if I don't get to Paris I won't need any more, either.'" -- spittin' facts on page 28

Smartly drawing on a myriad of sources, author and former military pilot Hampton places the reader in the tight cockpit of the 'The Spirit of St. Louis' alongside aviator Charles 'Slim' Lindbergh for the first successful solo non-stop transatlantic journey across an ocean in The Flight. At a mere 25 years of age, Lindbergh accomplished a feat that had caused the deaths or disappearances of countless other pilots immediately preceding him. In an era - May of 1927 - when long-distance air travel was just this side of science-fiction, Lindbergh found investors and ponied up his own money to have a small and rather no-frills aircraft built to his specifications. Spurred on by a love of flying PLUS the chance at winning the long-unclaimed Orteig Prize (a $25,000 award), Lindbergh flew alone from New York City to Paris in a little over 33 hours. Although Lindbergh is now likely remembered these days for some of the less flattering aspects from his later years, Hampton succeeds in presenting him in a nicely courageous manner as reflected by his talent and determination. Also, there were several little details mentioned in the narrative which helped to make this real-life soaring adventure a little more earthbound, such as a particularly heartwarming moment when Lindbergh unexpectedly finds a St. Christopher's medal (note: he is the patron saint of travelers) had been surreptitiously slipped inside an exterior pocket of his flight suit by an anonymous but caring mechanic or bystander.

[KOMET · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who has been an aviation fan since I was 10, "THE FLIGHT: Charles Lindbergh's Daring and Immortal 1927 Transatlantic Crossing" was a book that commanded my immediate attention. So I bought it and read it avidly. The strengths of the book are in the way Hampton, himself a retired U.S. Air Force combat pilot, conveys vividly to the reader, the joys and thrills of flight as well as the challenges Lindbergh faced in making his solo flight across the Atlantic from New York to Paris in May 1927. Several aviators since 1919 (when the Orteig Prize was initially offered for any aviator(s) who were able to successfully fly non-stop across the Atlantic from New York to Paris or Paris to New York) had tried to fly the Atlantic non-stop, and failed. Many of them dying horrible deaths. And in the case of the celebrated First World War French aviators Charles Nungesser and François Coli, disappeared in an attempt to fly from Paris to New York several weeks before Lindbergh's flight from Roosevelt Field.

Reading this book deepened my appreciation of Lindbergh's singular accomplishment. Imagine yourself flying alone in a small, upper-winged monoplane across 3,000 miles of ocean to Europe, not always sure of your position in the sky (even with the benefit of charts, compass, and other navigational aides) for roughly 33.5 hours straight without having slept for close to 3 days? Many people in the early to mid-1920s looked upon aviation as little more than a sport or a fool's hobby. What Lindbergh and his plane, The Spirit of St. Louis, managed to do showed aviation's potential and made possible the further development of commercial aviation and technology for aerospace travel and exploration over the next 50 years.

Hampton also shares with the reader how much Lindbergh's life was changed as a result of the flight - good and not-so-good, for Fame often exacts a high cost from anyone who becomes a public celebrity - which was sobering to me. This is a book I would highly recommend to ANYONE who loves stories of how seemingly ordinary, humble people can --- in spite of heavy odds --- accomplish great things and so inspire the world.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of David McCullough you will enjoy this history of Charles Lindbergh's flight in the Spirit of St. Louis. Hampton is a pilot and his descriptions of the plane and the flight are fascinating and detailed. The flight itself is, in turn, thrilling, frightening and filled with unexpected beauty: the first landfall and the approach to Paris surprisingly emotional. We also come to understand better the man and his times and the way this flight help inspire the future.

[Sruly P · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, this book is fun!

It’s written to bring you into the cockpit as only an aviator could. You can tell Hampton is drawing from personal experience, and that's one of the book's strengths.
The writing falls short of great but is good to very good throughout and consistently exciting.

One thing that initially bugged me (but grew on me as I read) was that he switches between present tense for the cockpit chapters and past tense for the others. It seems gimmicky, but, for the most part, it works!

The bleary-eyed, heavy-lidded flight, with all its inexorable anxieties and little victories is wonderfully painted. In all honesty, it makes me want to be a pilot—but a pilot back when safety was hardly the primary concern, or at least the defining feature of aviation, when pilots enjoyed swooping dangerously low before pulling up, inspired by the soaring flight of birds and drunk with their newfound freedom in the sky.

The Flight isn't heavy on backstory, but it's hard to regret that, given that the titular journey is so compelling. Hampton provides the compulsory historical context but little more. I found that rather refreshing.

Like Lindbergh, Hampton sticks the landing, bumps and all. I felt my tears coming up for "Slim" as he finally touched down at Le Bourget after more than 33 hours in the air. Exhausted as he was, the tremendous triumph of that moment must surely have followed him to the end. And for the surging crowd of Parisians (more than 100,000 strong!), and a good part of the rest of the world who was there with him in Spirit, Hampton convinces us that this was a defining moment of the century.

Five stars because it's exactly what it ought to be.

[Diane Haney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hampton brings Lindberg's historical flight to life. This is the first story dedicated to the flight itself. Using Lindberg's notes and quotes and extensive research, we feel the story is as close to what actually happened as we can get. We are in the cockpit with Lindberg seeing what he sees and feeling what he feels. Some early biography and contemporary aviation history is provided, but it helps clarify rather than detract. As a pilot himself, Hampton understands and can explain the inner workings of " The Spirit of St Louis" and what is necessary to be a great pilot. My only criticism is the constant us of "Slim" referring to Lindberg. Having read other Lindberg books and those of his wife Anne Morrow Lindberg, that nickname for Lindberg is not familiar to me and was distracting until I got used to it.

[Pete Hessert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished "The Flight" by Dan Hampton.

Wow!

You know the outcome already but I found myself cheering Lindbergh on to the finish. I was concerned for his every action and if it would impact the result.
I found myself smiling and telling myself that he'll be fine.

As a pilot or just an aviation enthusiast or even a history buff, you will be amazed at this journey through the eyes of another pilot. Perspective and views of aviation not thought about before during this historic "Flight" come alive.

Hampton brings this sensationalized event down to aviation basics...needle, ball, and airspeed...for 33 hours+ and includes many historical events to interest the reader.

Definitely recommend!

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an excellent book! Thinking about how the first person to do this flew by site in a little plane without any sleep for a few days is just remarkable. Our pioneers aren’t always stellar in every area of their lives, but his contribution to aviation is remarkable and cannot be overlooked. I love that he was at Cape Canaveral to watch the first flight to the moon.

[Tom Barber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful book, focusing on the trans-Atlantic flight itself, while intermingling biographical facts about Lindbergh. It's written by a pilot, which means that the author can understand and appreciate Lindbergh's accomplishment much more than the rest of us. Great book!

[Steven Voorhees · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of magnetos, crankshafts, ailerons and fuselages. Of lonely leaders who embrace challenge and see it not as a lark, but as a lifeforce. THE FLIGHT chronicles Charles Augustus Lindbergh's epic 1927 transatlantic solo flight from New York to Paris. This literal and figurative superhero made the 20th Century the American one. Discoveries in fields like aviation, film and automobiles were first seen in Europe. But America made them ways of life. Consider D.W. Griffith egregious yet enduring celluloid epics and the machinations of Henry Ford, Michigan's mahatma of the motor car. And Lindbergh's journey. Hampton very thoroughly sets down how "we" (as in Lindbergh and his plane THE SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS) made history. Using intricate technical detail and visceral prose, Hampton puts the reader in the cockpit with Lindbergh on the eerie yet exhilarating 33+ hour flight. We feel Lindy's adrenaline, his body aches and his aeronautic acumen. We're with him as he fights fatigue, as he worries about possessing enough fuel and as he navigates the deceptive beauty of clouds. While the outcome's never in doubt, Hampton frames his narrative as a series of cliffhangers and challenges Lindbergh must navigate. The author succeeds in portraying the flight as a duel where man and machine's pitted against nature. His book is dazzling but data heavy, meandering and extremely technical. His discussion of 1920s events/the post World War I world almost become too heavy a cargo load. An emergency landing of sorts's nearly forced because of the weight of non-Lindbergh narration. Do we really need to know about the Scopes Monkey Trial while we follow Lindbergh's thrilling shuttle for the ages? Hampton thinks so. The endless use of aviation terms had me searching Wikipedia constantly for their meanings. But once Hampton's story of Lindberghian luck tempered by loneliness takes off, you pray all of the SPIRIT's moving parts are indeed moving. Especially magnetos, crankshafts, ailerons and fuselages.

[Robert Huddleston · Rating 5 out of 5]

“THE FLIGHT” by Dan Hampton, 2017. (317 pages that includes ACKNOWLEDGMENTS, a GLOSSARY, SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY, NOTES AND SOURCES, and an INDEX.)

Robert Huddleston

Another book about Lindbergh's 1927 solo flight from New York to Paris! Overkill, was my initial reaction. As an nonagenarian born before “Lucky Lindy's” historic flight: Who read “WE,” his personal account of the experience, as soon as the craft of reading was managed. And who came to worship aviation and aviators. What could author Hampton possibly tell me that I didn't already know? The answer: A lot!

Three key elements make THE FLIGHT an excellent addition to the Lindbergh story;
One: The author's subject -matter expertise;
Two: His prodigious research, and;
Three: The ability to meld One and Two into excellent prose

On the first page of his AUTHOR'S NOTE that follows the CONTENTS, Don Hampton, a retired Air Force fighter pilot, informs readers of what is to come: “My purpose in these pages,” he writes, “is to put the reader into the cockpit of the Spirit of St. Louis during those thirty-three and a half hours on May 20 and 21, 1927, and to fly along with him.” Not to second-guess Lindbergh the pilot, but to clarify for the reader what Lindbergh had to know and what he had do to achieve his goal. In preparing the Spirit for the flight,, as an example, Lindbergh assisted Don Hall, who designed and build the aircraft, in modifying it Hampton quotes Hall about Lindbergh: “The presence of Charles Lindbergh, with his keen knowledge of flying, his understanding of engineering problems, his implicit faith in the proposed flight, and his constant application to it, was a most important factor in welding the entire factory organization into one smoothly running team.”
Yes, Lindbergh was a brilliant pilot, but he was also informed and effective in dealing with all facets of the flight including the unexpected: A solo flight that many considered impossible. Alone, he was the navigator. Drifting off-course early in the flight would cost fuel leaving the aircraft short of the goal. Hampton explains in detail how Lindbergh mastered the navigation.
Enhancing the value of THE FLIGHT is the author's prodigious research, not only about Lindbergh, but about the decade in which the historic flight was achieved. The “Roaring Twenties,” separated from the “Victorian Age” by the Great War of 1914-1918, produced jazz, flappers, speakeasies (illegal watering holes), motion pictures and automobiles conducive to “petting,” and more. Also, women's right to vote. It was a world that F. Scott Fitzgerald lived and wrote about and author Hampton describes in detail.

Is this important to “The Flight” ? Hampton's makes the case of Lindbergh becoming an international hero, not only for what he accomplished, but for his being a needed hero for what Fitzgerald called the “lost generation.” His exalted celebrity status, something not matched even in this age of celebrities, lends credence to Hampton's interpretation.
The third factor important to the book is Dan Hampton's literary talent. Simply put, the guy can write! “The dying light,” he writes as the aircraft reaches the open sea, “catches the little silver plane, and for a long moment the Spirit of St. Louis is perfectly framed by the rocky pillars, feathery salt spray, and angry gray water. Then suddenly it's gone. One machine, one man—swallowed up by the darkness filling the eastern sky.”

While I recommend “THE FLIGHT without any reservation, I suggest that readers lacking knowledge of Lindbergh precede the book with a good introduction, one being LINDBERGH ALONE by Brendan Gill. 1977. It includes excellent vintage photographs.. More detailed is Lindbergh's 1954 Pulitzer Award winning memoir, the Spirit of St. Louis, and the biography LINDBERGH by A. Scott Berg, 1998. Berg, however, includes limited details about the flight leaving an opening for Dan Hampton.
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(Note to readers: THE FLIGHT does not end with Lindbergh achieving his historic flight by landing in Paris on May 21, 1927. It ends with his death at his home in the Hawaiian Islands on August 26, 1974 at the age of seventy-two.)

Robert Huddleston, a WW II combat fighter pilot, is the author of a novella, “AN AMERICAN PILOT WITH THE LUFTWAFFE, 2014 and other stories of the Second World War.

[Mike Farrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book that tells the story of Lindbergh’s 1927 solo transatlantic flight.

“The Flight: Charles LTC Hampton 1927 Trans-Atlantic Crossing” by LTC Dan Hampton is an exciting and detailed story told from a pilot’s point of view. LTC Hampton is a retired USAF pilot who flew F-16 fighters during his career.

The book is almost entirely about the details of flying The Spirit of St. Louis, as Lindbergh’s plane was named. This was a daring attempt by Lindbergh to be the first person to fly nonstop across the Atlantic. LTC Hampton tells of every change in fuel/air mixture, altitude, speed and navigation checks during Lindbergh’s flight and includes Lindbergh’s efforts to stay awake for the full 33.5 hours of the flight.

The book includes a biographic brief on Lindbergh, a discussion of the cultural, political and economic issues of the post WW1 years and an extensive epilog on Lindbergh’s life after the flight.

I found this book to be very exciting especially considering it’s mainly relating the details of flying a plane across the Atlantic Ocean at the dawn of aviation. I also found that the technology was more advances than I had thought, especially systems to control level light and to make course corrections when flying without the systems used now; LTC briefly tells the story of Charles Nungesser and Francois Coli, two French pilots who set out from France on May 8, 1927, only two weeks before Lindbergh, to attempt the Atlantic crossing. After crossing the Irish coast, the pair were never heard from again, illustrating the deadly dangers of flying at that time.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who appreciate reading about the truly significant events in our history.

[Joop Debruin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping! Hampton puts you in the seat as Lindbergh, with details to keep you in the agony of not knowing what's coming. Though I've read several biographies of Lindbergh, none had details that Hampton covered.

So it's a great biography, but more importantly, it is a gripping first person account of an epic flight. Exactly what I was hoping for, and counting on Dan Hampton's excellent writing skills that I previously enjoyed in his prior books.

As an aside, my grandmother was born two years before Lindy. She hadn't seen an airplane until she was in her mid-twenties. She grew up in the mountains of Tennessee, where there was not much demand for aircraft service. She told me about the mania around Lindy's flight when it happened. She felt that the mania was as great, if not greater than the Apollo 11 moon landing. She attributed that to the steps that were taken to get to Apollo 11. In the book, Hampton includes a photo of the Apollo 7 and the Apollo 8 crews with Lindbergh, right before Apollo 8 took off and circled the moon at Christmas time. So though Neil & Buzz were made famous by their amazing journey, we had just experienced Apollo 8 circling the moon. I can't comment on the validity of her opinion, but suspect that she was right.

I never had the opportunity to meet Lindy, something that I regret. I did meet Neil and Buzz, as well as the original seven astronauts due to my father's role as a quality exec in aerospace. I'm buying this book for him as thanks for those opportunities. He's an 87 yr old airborne Korean War veteran. Thank you Dad! You're going to love this book!

[Mike Raymond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lindbergh’s 1927 Atlantic crossing was to the early 20th century what the Apollo 11 mission (to the moon) was to the late 20th century. Both milestones ‘bridged’ distant lands through piloted aviation. The feat was all the more remarkable because Lindbergh was an obscure air mail pilot in a race to accomplish the flight ahead of (then) more notable aviators, who had more corporate-backing and who (incidentally) planned the crossing with two-person, twin-engine airplanes. Lindbergh flew by HIMSELF in his SINGLE-engine craft, ‘the Spirit of St. Louis.’

To give you a sense of accomplishment, you only need to consider the reaction: in NYC, with a population of 5 million, 4 million people cheered him on at a ticker tape parade; he was lauded as much, if not more, in London and Paris; he was knighted by King George V, and similarly feted by dozens of other heads of state; he generated 250,000 tons of newsprint; and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Medal of Honor, both highly unusual for a civilian. Against, the backdrop of a disillusioned public in the post-Great War years, along with prohibition, the Scopes trial, street gangs, and the likes of Al Capone, Lindbergh was a welcomed, unassuming hero to many, the world over.

This book, written by a former F-16 jock, focused only on the flight and its immediate aftermath. It doesn’t delve into Lindbergh’s later life, like the kidnapping of his son, his anti-war involvement in WWII (although he logged dozens of combat sorties in the Pacific), his invention of the artificial heart, or his involvement in the space program. If you’re interested in that history, I’d recommend ‘Lindbergh,’ by Scott Berg.

[Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Dan Hampton's "The Flight", which tells the incredible story of Charles Lindbergh's heroic 1927 flight from New York to Paris. I didn't know much information about Lindbergh prior to reading this book (and most of my knowledge was unrelated to his Transatlantic crossing), but I really gained a lot of insight from Hampton's well researched book.

Hampton is very effective at putting us "in the cockpit" with Lindbergh while he attempts something no man has done before him. I was on the edge of my seat and couldn't imagine the feelings that Lindbergh would have experienced the night he flew over open ocean for the first time. Hampton, an experienced pilot, is also quite a concise and coherent writer. The book is well laid out and a very quick, easy read.

I enjoyed his use of Lindbergh's actual quotes throughout the book - it gave me a better understanding of Lindbergh's own motivations and thoughts throughout his daring adventure. What a benefit that he felt the need to keep such well documented logs. It helped push the narrative forward.

The only negative I found with the book was the technical jargon. While I understand its use within the context (and it wasn't overpowering by any means), I found my eyes glazing over every time he would begin to speak too technically... but, obviously that content could be quite interesting for some.

Overall, I would recommend "The Flight" - a very well written, interesting and addictive read.

[Peter Goodman · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Flight: Charles Lindbergh’s daring and immortal 1927 transatlantic crossing,” by Dan Hampton (William Morrow, 2017). Hampton is a decorated fighter pilot, and this telling of the familiar story is presented from the cockpit. There are good, brief accounts of Lindbergh’s family history, of his development as a young flier, a bit about other transatlantic attempts. But the greatest value of this very clear recounting is Hampton’s explanation of how the flight actually was accomplished: the quality of the Wright Whirlwind J5-C engine which worked flawlessly; how Lindbergh carefully balanced his use of fuel from each of the tanks, to keep the plane on an even keel; how he tried to navigate through clouds with only the barest knowledge of what was happening with the weather. There is a brief recounting of his life afterward, with essentially an apologia for his visit to Hitler’s Germany (he was actually providing information to the US government, Hampton says). He desperately wanted to get into WWII combat, but he had angered FDR who refused to give him a chance. But he still managed to get to the Pacific, and actually flew several dozen combat missions and shot down at least one Japanese plane. By virtue of his one, short, tremendously heroic act, Lindbergh was forced for the rest of his life to be someone he wasn’t.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dave Hampton weaves a fascinating tale in the novel The Flight: Charles Lindbergh's 1927 Trans-Atlantic Crossing. Charles Lindbergh becomes the first pilot to cross the Atlantic in airplane nonstop from New York to Paris. This is great read from the pilots perspective, although anyone who has sit in a cramped cockpit will shake their head in amazement at what he had to endure. Imagine being cramped in a small cockpit for 33 hours fighting sleep deprivation, checking gauges, fighting elements of weather, no radio contact and wondering if your heading in the right direction. Hampton keeps the reader on the edge of their seat as he writes how Lindbergh would deal with all of these obstacles. The only beef I had about the book is when Hampton deviates from the actual flight and talks about Lindbergh's early life and the sidebars of current events of the 1920's. I felt this had nothing to do with the flight and it was distracting. It interrupted the smooth flow of the narrative. Other then that if I found the historical content and the flight detail perfect for the reader interested in aviation.

[Ralphz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an account of the 18-or-so hours that Charles Lindbergh spent crossing the Pacific from New York to Paris, and it's a riveting one.

Let's be clear that the author isn't about to defend the man's politics, or to go over the kidnapping of his son. It's strictly about the flight, and it's a good thing.

The perilousness of his feat is well illustrated by the forward, which follows the attempt by two French aviators to make the crossing from Paris to New York two weeks before. After using the best plane, a concocting a solid game plan, and leaving nothing to chance - they disappear.

Lindbergh's margin of error was small, and the story illustrates the many times it could have gone wrong. Using his own account of the flight and other contemporaneous accounts, you're in the cockpit with "Slim," and find yourself rooting for him, too.

The story does correct and unearth some forgotten information, such as the fact that he flew combat missions during WWII, which, of course, he opposed. That opposition didn't, and doesn't, make him a Nazi or Nazi sympathizer, any more than those in the 2010s who oppose action in Iraq are automatically ISIS or ISIS sympathizers.

This book lets you revel in the triumph of flight, when it was still a wonder, and marvel at the people who stretched the boundaries.

I received this book for review from Goodreads.

Read more of my reviews on Ralphsbooks.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this over a 3 day stretch at 1.5 speed and it kept my attention very well. It has a unique take on "Slim" and his flight in the "Spirit". Dan Hampton writes it from a mostly cockpit perspective of the 33hr 30min flight in 1927 instead of focusing all on the growing up and after flight of the man. There's one chapter towards the middle of the book where the author comments on his views of the 1920s that I could have done without, but I can appreciate how it helped set the context for the people of the world looking for a hero. I grew up in the St. Louis area so I always liked knowing that it was the Spirit of St. Louis that made such a heroic flight, so much so that Lindbergh Blvd in the area has his namesake. There is also a replica of the plane that hangs in Lambert International Airport that I remember seeing as a kid. What I never knew about was the flight, or the man, or his plane and how it functioned. Hampton is a master at weaving this tale with Slim's own words and all of the press that was available. Good read for sure.

[Rehmat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone who has read the book, One Summer of 1927 which covers the story of the summer of 1927, a particularly pivotal three months in American history then s/he has become wee-acquainted with the interesting story of Charles Lindbergh’s famous 1927 solo transatlantic flight who made a great value addition in the history of aviation.

One summer of 1927 marked the emergence of the United States as a major power on the international scene and set the stage for the Great Depression of the ‘30s.

Charles Lindbergh’s 1927's famous solo transatlantic flight changed the world and can still be recognized as a phenomenal achievement today. What Lindbergh managed to accomplish required expert navigation skills as well as a remarkable amount of courage, determination and engineering. All these years later, it still stands as an unsurpassed milestone in aviation and American history.

[Shirley (stampartiste) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Someone more knowledgeable about the technical aspects of flying would most certainly give this book a five-star rating. As much as I was able, I tried to understand what Lindbergh must have gone through on that maiden trans-Atlantic flight. However, a lot of it was just too technical and I wanted to quickly get through that most important part of the book. Thus, my three-star rating. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the other aspects of the book: Lindbergh's personal history, the world's reaction to his flight, and how this singular event changed his life and the world forever. I would greatly recommend this book to anyone interested in this great historical event. The book was obviously well-researched and as well written as the technical aspects allowed.

[Andrew Crouch · Rating 3 out of 5]

More-or-less superfluous account of Lindbergh's renowned transatlantic flight. Hampton, a decorated Air Force pilot, does add a pleasing sheen of technical detail to the story of the flight. He's obviously a well-seasoned veteran flier, and his expertise is engaging. He seems to have a genuine sympathy for Lindbergh's experience during the flight and I appreciated his knowledge. However, in the end, it's a story that's already been told quite eloquently by the man himself (Lindbergh won a Pulitzer for his account, "The Spirit of St. Louis"). The epilogue was also very superficial and unnecessary and left a bad taste in my mouth. I would certainly say this is a gripping story worth reading, but I'm not sure I would recommend this book over Lindbergh's.

[Jeffrey Bluhm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very focused, and nicely detailed, description of Charles Lindbergh's transformative solo flight across the Atlantic. Written from a pilot's perspective, the book highlights the flight itself, with interspersed historical context to fully develop the characters and story. Very little of Lindberg's (sometimes controversial) post-flight career is discussed, but it needn't be, as the flight itself is dramatic enough to carry weight of the narrative. The reader will return again and again to the photo of the cockpit, marveling at the technical and physical factors overcome during the 33 and a half hour flight. Being a map guy, larger maps would have been appreciated, but that small quibble aside, this is a very interesting read.

[Everydayreader1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charles Lindbergh, in flying solo, nonstop from New York to Paris in 1927, was, of course unequaled in its daring, especially considering aviation and flight were fraught with danger and many unknowns. In this book, Dan Hampton presents a perspective I've not read previously. The majority of the book tells Charles Lindbergh's story from the perspective of his time in the air and what he experienced. The later part of the book explains, or tries to explain, Charles A. Lindbergh the man. This interested me very much. So much has been written about his political views for which he is often maligned. I think that is often done in a way which overshadows his character and humanity. I'm glad this book presents a more balanced portrayal, and I thought it a great read. One I will likely revisit.

[Dave Hoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many books written by Lindbergh and others of the first non-stop flight from New York to Paris. What sets this book apart was what Charles Lindbergh did in the So. Pacific during WW2. Often thought he was not allowed back into the military for his desire not to get into a war with Germany, it was a personal grudge by FDR. When FDR took the airmail service away from commercial airlines and had Army Pilots fly it, 12 AAC pilots died from lack of experience in the harrowing flights to get the mail thru. Lindbergh objected and FDR said "I'll get that guy". However Lindbergh fought as a civilian in various fighter planes under the guise of giving technical advice. He .made 50 missions

[David Lubin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Accurate and well written

Dan Hampton has done a remarkable job with this book. I read Scott Berg's authorized biography (he was give access by Anne Morrow to much personal data) and it is very comprehensive covering Lindbergh's entire life. What Hampton does is just so much more focused on the 33 1/3 hour flight in 1927 that changed his life and ours. I really could put myself in the cockpit with Lindbergh and feel the cold, the turbulence, hear the noise of the Wright Whirlwind and experience the fatigue that he endured during that flight. Well worth the time to read, I recommend this book without reservation.

[Luke Koran · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charles Lindbergh's unprecedented 33 hour, solo, transatlantic flight in 1927 was a true game changer in human history. Not only were the obstacles Lindbergh faced during his journey nearly beyond belief - only sweetened by the fun fact that he did not sleep for SIXTY-THREE straight hours - but this simple man became the last great pioneer in the age of aviation and exploration literally overnight. Parts of Lindbergh's actual flight as told here features too much technical jargon that most readers will fail to appreciate or find interest in, though it was nice to hear how a true trailblazer went about launching a new age of travel.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very well researched and written recap of the famous transAtlantic solo flight by Charles Lindbergh on May 20-21, 1927. I felt that the story was most interesting when author Hampton put the adventure in context to major events happening just prior and eventually after the flight that helped the reader understand just how important this was to the moral of the global audience living through it. It helped you understand why this event made Lindbergh the most famous person in the world at that time.

[Shane Larson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book! But then I pretty much love aviation stories and this is one of the grand daddies of them all. Charles Lindbergh’s solo flight over the Atlantic was crazy bold and going along with this “in the cockpit” tale was epic. I was so surprised to hear that he landed in Paris at night, that his Atlantic hop was followed by another pilot’s (with a passenger) just weeks later and that he had planned to fly back to the United States but POTUS vetoed that plan. Great book about such an amazing achievement. I highly recommend this one!

[Margit · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review.

Do not be put off by my rating of this book. It is very much a niche read for those who like to know what makes a machine tick, who like to know who made the parts and to what specifications, who want to know what weather conditions existed during the time involved, and who like a smattering of history tossed in for good measure. I enjoyed the history parts but the rest, not so much.

[R. Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this story of Lindbergh's transatlantic flight. Hampton's description of the events leading up to and following the flight is informative, and rounds out the flight. The flight itself is well paced and gives you a good understanding of the perils involved, and there were many. Hampton's explanation of the technicalities of flying is clear and helps you to feel as if you're there with Lindbergh.