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The Flyers
- In Search of Wilbur & Orville Wright
- Narrated by: Noah Adams
- Length: 5 hrs and 2 mins
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Publisher's summary
Adams, one of our most distinctive and talented storytellers, traveled thousands of miles and interviewed scores of experts and individuals to piece together his story. He finds a local boat captain to ferry him to Kitty Hawk, along the same route that Wilbur took in 1900, and spends several days talking with descendants of the families who first welcomed the Wright brothers a century ago and helped them conduct their gliding experiments. To experience first-hand the thrill of being in the air, Adams himself goes hang-gliding in the Outer Banks. To understand the aerodynamics of lift and drag and how the famous 1903 plane was constructed, he visits the Virginia pilot and vintage aircraft builder who is creating the world's most accurate reproduction of the 1903 Wright Flyer. He also travels to France to visit the old racetrack at Le Mans where Wilbur startled the European aviation community with his demonstration flights in 1908.
In Adams's book we encounter the Wright brothers in a way that no writer has introduced them before. Through the lens of his own experiences as well as original reporting, letters, diaries and other primary source material, he helps us understand the talent and intensity of the brothers and their family, including the fascinating, deeply complex, and at times tragic bond between Orville and Katharine, his younger sister.
The Flyers is a wonderfully rich narrative that brings an unprecedented spirit of immediacy to one of history's most dramatic stories.
Critic reviews
"A refreshing look at these aviation pioneers." (Publishers Weekly)
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What listeners say about The Flyers
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- K
- 08-05-12
A Great Account of History
What did you love best about The Flyers?
The Flyers was not what I expected. The account was based on the people not the technology. It showed what could be achieved from the diaries of of people in history.
What did you like best about this story?
The way the book revolved about the family and the influences showed these men to be above others.
Any additional comments?
This is a book I would recommend to anyone who likes biographies or history.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall
- Jonathan
- 06-26-09
great listen
Nice read/listen. Noahs experience on NPR weaves this into a great story - not too long - not too short. A+++
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Overall
- Mark
- 02-15-04
Top Flight Entertainment
A most enjoyable book. Well narated by the auther , whose passion for the subject is conveyed. The book rambles through the lives locations and times of the famous Wright brothers, giving good insight into their quest to fly, and the fabric of their lives. I enjoyed learning of the technical and logistical challenges they faced, and how their success changed them and the world.
I can highly recomend this to anybody with an interest in the history of flight or technology.
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5 people found this helpful
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- gadgetavi8tor
- 02-13-19
great piece of history
loved the personal tour of their live 100 years after the face. fantastic research on the personal backgrounds of family and friends. I learned a lot about the early days of aviation.
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