The Great Air Race

Death, Glory, and the Dawn of American Aviation

By: John Lancaster

Narrated by: Jonathan Todd Ross

The incredible, untold story of the men who risked their lives in the first transcontinental air contest—and put American aviation on the map.

The Great Air Race reclaims one of the most important moments in the history of American aviation: the transcontinental air race of October 1919 that saw scores of pilots compete for the fastest roundtrip time between New York and San Francisco in frail, open-cockpit biplanes. Riveting the nation, the aviators—most of them veterans of the Great War—pioneered the first coast-to-coast air route, braving blizzards and driving rain as they landed in fields or at the edges of cliffs. Bringing the pilots and the race's impresario, Billy Mitchell, to vivid life, journalist and amateur pilot John Lancaster captures the challenges of flying in that almost prehistoric age—the deafening roar of the engine, the constant fear of mechanical failure, the threat posed by mere rain. As he demonstrates, the race, despite much drama and tragedy, was a milestone in the development of commercial aviation. The Great Air Race is a captivating story of man and machine, and the debut of a major new popular historian.

©2023 John Lancaster (P)2022 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Pronunciation gaffs

Narrator should learn to pronounce Wasatch and be consistent with pronunciation of Medicine Bow. Great writing in

Author Pilot

The author got all aeronautical aspects correct. Surely easy for pedestrians to understand. Thorough research made it very interesting.

Slow start but Interesting History

When a book is about a stated subject, I.e, an air race, I prefer for information to be clearly linked with the subject. Eventually the information is linked, but the early chapters are slow going. The history of the early days of air travel is interesting and enlightening, but would have been more accessible if the race began the book and background was provided by flashbacks (IMHOP).

Fun Listen. Gel my attention

Great book to listen to. It’s easy to forget how fragile these early planes were and how often they needed repairs. Great book.

Heroics Galore!

It was difficult to keep the various pilots straight but the bravery and commitment of the group relayed their singleminded commitment to succeed. A different era.

Producer failed the narrator

Mispronounciation of Medicine Bow as “bough” is totally distracting. So many others. Use the google machine!

Very entertaining/informative book

If you are interested in technology, the testing of human endurance or the development of aircraft, or any combination of these, this is a good book for you. I had never heard of this air race, but certainly I had heard of Billy Mitchell & a few other characters in the story. The book is very well narrated. I only give it 4 stars, instead of 5, because if might have used a bit more editing in places, the move the story along more smoothly. Still I recommend it.

Great listen

Interesting history of a lot more the just the air race. Uncovering the early days of the airmails history was real eye opening.

great recount

so little information to find online on this event. great history lesson and well presented.

exciting true story

A very exciting true story of early aviation. I found the difficulties of flying in 1919 very informative.