Gift of Wings [Paperback]

This is a collection of Richard Bach's magazine articles - saved from the Scout Jumble Sale waste paper collection and given more permanance in book form. It is truly inspirational; I read it first in about 1975, and shortly afterwards took up gliding. By 1979 I had my PPL (Private Pilot's Licence), and a share in an aerobatic de Havilland Chipmunk aeroplane. Bach's book was the inspiration, and I have re-read that copy so many times that the pages are falling out. I bought a new copy a while ago so that if I loose any pages out of the original I will not be deprived of Bach at his best. The stories cover many aspects of flying; Air Force fast-jet pilot, saving for a Piper Cub, taking that Cub to little fly-ins, barnstorming with an old biplane, gliding. Each one superbly written. Bach puts you there! Here is an example. He is standing by the biplane in a field in small-town America trying to sell the last ride of the day to a reluctant crowd. There are no takers, so he climbs into the cockpit and goes flying alone up into that glorious sunset - and it was better than even he thought it would have been. A deep golden haze covered the ground, and the little hills rose lighter gold out of that haze as 'we (the biplane and I) pulled up into a long lazy loop that melted into a barrel roll that became a wingover'. He swished down to the small-town meadow, taxyed in, and as the propellor clanked round to a stop, and he sat there letting the experience soak in, a woman in the crowd said, clearly audible across the still evening air, "he must have the courage of ten men to fly that old crate!" It was like being hit over the head with a lead pipe. But what aviator hasn't suddenly felt the enourmouse gulf, at some time, between those that fly and those that stay on the ground. The former experience things which the latted can't even begin to appreciate. Richard's story encapsulates that perfectly. Enchanting! I read the book and then I took up flying myself, and it was everything that Richard had said it would be...... Vince Chadwick

I read this while I was doing a gliding course at Sutton Bank Yorks, to cover the time when the weather was not so good for flying.

Richard is more well known for 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull', an oft used text to prove perspective on life. This text provides a view of his own flying experiences as documented in the late 1960's and early 1970's (about when I was born!).

It costs a bit more to fly now (aftrerall it was written 40 years ago), but the sentiment in the collection of essays is the same. Having flown too, the energy and feeling you get from the text does fit with the feelings from the cockpit and people you meet (often there are characters!).

In terms of style, it may at times be a little over the top (hence four out of five). However, each chapter is short and also delightfully illustrated with pencil drawings of many kinds of aircraft. Each drawing fitting well with each short chapter.

I first read this many years ago.
It remains a classic of its type.
A thoroughly recommended read.
Good service from the supplier also.