WILD ABOUT FLYING!: Dreamers, Doers, and Daredevils tells the stories of the amazing people behind aviation's greatest moments. These men and vomen - aviators, navigators, fighter-pilots, designers, engineers and test pilots - explored the frontiers of flight with foresight, courage, and remarkable creativity, from the earliest days when men such as Otto Lilienthal were hurling themselves off hill tops in flimsy gliders to modern times when John Glenn, at 77, circled the Earth in the Space Shuttle.

The dramatic stories of those trailblazers who changed the world forever bring the age of powered flight to life - stories of the daring young Harry Hawker, who attempted to fly the Atlantic, of fighter pilot John Cunningham, pioneer flier Francis Chichester and long-distance pilot Bert Hinkler. Also featured are the famous figures of the Wright brothers, Charles Lindbergh, Howard Hughes, and Charles Kingsford Smith. Lively biographies of many key individuals and their true-life adventures take us into the realms of aviation's great leaders. The contributions of these dreamers, doers, and daredevils turned the pioneering flight by the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk in 1903 into the reality of aviation as we know it today.

These fascinating stories are the work of aviation artist David Marshall, who spent years searching out the exploits of the great aviation figures and illustrating them with over 200 color paintings. As co-author, Bruce Harris provided further research and stories to assist in capturing the key elements in the story of flight. Marshall's paintings of the aircraft are technicall correct and his color portraits of 70 individualas ares also featured. Aircraft specification details and a timeline of events complete a wealth of reference.

This stunning book makes compellintg reading and a fascinating visual feast for aviation novices and aficionados alike. It is destined to become a landmark publication in the records of flight's great path.