Airborne: Finding Foxtrot Alpha Mike

by Jonathan Rotondo

A magical, airborne story of father and son. Jonathan Rotondo was 28 when his father, Antonio, died. Numb with grief, Rotondo decided to track down the object that had once given his father so much a tiny single-seat biplane called Charlie Foxtrot Foxtrot Alpha Mike . Thus began Rotondo’s journey to retrace his father’s life from Italy to Canada via the plains of East Africa. In his search for Foxtrot Alpha Mike , Rotondo meets a host of colourful an Australian expat living in Kenya who inspired Antonio’s love of flight; a soft-spoken Swiss-Canadian who managed to get Foxtrot Alpha Mike into the air; a free-spirited dreamer who bought the plane to dogfight with his mates. In this uplifting story of a father and son, Rotondo catches fleeting glimpses of his father and rediscovers his own passion for flight. All the while he captures "the rush of speed, the exhilaration of the wind’s breath rushing through the cockpit and along the fabric flanks, the surreal sensation of gravity’s pull and lift’s might."

Genres: Nonfiction

230 pages, Paperback

Published February 19, 2019

About the author

Jonathan Rotondo is an award-winning writer, recovering journalist, and biplane pilot who spent his childhood hanging off airport perimeter fences across Ontario and Quebec — a passion that spilled over into adulthood. He lives in Ottawa.

Reviews

[Jim Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book about the joys of flying small airplanes that the author learned from his father. The book is in several parts: his father's early life and how he came to be a pilot; finding his father's beloved Smith biplane, and then acquiring his own, and finally, life with his new family and plane in the Ottawa area. A book that small plane pilots will truly enjoy and get the most out of. For those of us who will never see the inside of a cockpit, it gets a little technical at times, but the author's love for flying shines through and the technicalities fly away. Well-written, with some black and white photos. Full review here: http://bit.ly/airbornereview

[Kayla Hounsell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Airborne is, at its core, a love story, an exploration of the author's love affair with flight and how that shared experience helped him rediscover a love for his father. I am not a pilot, nor do I know anything about planes, but I appreciated Jonathan Rotondo's pursuit of his passion. Airborne is gorgeously written with, at times, poetic prose, and when it ends, you feel happy you read it.

[Serenity · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not my usual Genre, even for non-fiction. I am definitely no aviator, nor am I even interested in planes, but Jonathan Rotondo does a fantastic job of making his passion for aviation compelling and accessible to any lay-person. His weaving of his father's history, his search for FAM, and his own journey to flight in an organic narrative that is a touching, pleasure to read.

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the way Jonathan Rotondo wove everything together. His use of story-building and pictures beautifully completes it. I don't have any knowledge about planes but still understood everything, though those with pre-existing knowledge would have an even better idea as to what he writes about. Honestly recommend to anyone.

[V · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tale of aerial adventures and life experiences, told with vivid flash-backs and forwards, that span decades, continents and generations.

A great read that honours the bond between father and son and their mutual love of flight. Highly recommended

[Terrie Pereira · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a treat! A great book! I actually bought 2 copies of this book, one for myself and the other for my friend. I recommend reading this book. It is not only well written but it is engaging and captivating. I highly recommend you purchase Airborne: Finding Foxtrot Alpha Mike from Jonathan Rotondo. It will be worth your investment in money and time.
Congatulations Jonathan!
Terrie Pereira

[Derrick Grose · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is not about great people or great achievements and I found myself wondering why I continued to read it. The book provides many details about recreational flying for those who are curious about the hobby. It was interesting to read about an Italian immigrant who learned to fly while managing construction projects in East Africa who brought his interest to his new life in Canada. It was interesting to see how the author, that man's son, grew up sharing his father's passion. Descriptions of the experience of flying in my neighbourhood around Rockcliffe Airport, eastern Ontario and west Quebec helped me to connect with the author's experience however, as the author himself explains in his acknowledgements, what gives this "story" general relevance is its general subject, the pursuit of dreams.