I learned a lot reading this book. I was mostly familiar with the Pan Am Clippers and grew up with the Goose in the USVI and this book includes a lot more. I really enjoyed learning about the early history. Historical Photographs are also included. I enjoyed the historical armchair traveling. Enjoy the voyages

I am an aviation buff, and have read other books about the Pan Am Clippers so I was intrigued by this book to say the least.

All I can say is this was a book I was sorry to see end. This is an exquisite tour of the flying boat era from the twenties to the end of the commercial flying boats basically in the early Fifties, with a fascinating tour of both the planes and people that made it possible. Some names are familiar, some are familiar in things other than aviation, all of the names are truly interesting.

I absolutely love the illustrations. As I was reading, I would see a reference to a plane, and by the next page there is a beautiful plate showing the plane, or the sea-port, or a poster or something just cool. I read an electronic edition so I can only imagine the printed version is even better.

It is rare I will really rave about a book, but I just loved the narrative, with plenty of interesting side-trips. Also, this volume is not focused just on Americans, but also (and equally fascinating) the British efforts. Certainly the British stories are incredible because of the sheer distances involved to fly to the reaches of the empire like South Africa and ANZAC. These stories are like flying to Mars while the Americans were landing on the moon because of the immense challenges. Both are equally amazing feats and get a lot of deserved attention.

For the aviation buff, this is a fantastic volume. A must read.

There are many books on the history of flying boats. This book is an excellent edition to that collection. It focuses on the "golden age" which is approximately between World Wars One and Two, although there is coverage from the dawn of flight to after World War Two. Although there are not a lot of pictures, the ones included are very good.

Talk about an enthralling and intriguing book! The amount of knowledge I gained is phenomenal...as a frequent international traveler I will never view flying the same way again, nor take it for granted. Not only does the author detail and describe the earliest flying boats (my assumption about runways in that era was wrong) but also the inventors' genius (and courage!) behind them. These adventurous men were risk takers as flights often ended in tragedy, many of which are described here. I cannot fathom stepping aboard what seems rickety to current sensibilities without seatbelts or life jackets let alone navigational systems in place (pilots flew short flights, very low and used visual landmarks!). How would others know if the plane crashed into the ocean? Smoking rooms were a necessity. And yet people during the war desperately needed something new and inventive to look forward to and focus on. It opened up a brand new world. Flying boats were to be luxurious like their ship counterparts and allow breathtaking glimpses from the air. This was the Golden Age of flying.

The many photographs are remarkably interesting, especially the massive luxury flying boats complete with wood-panelled dining rooms, glassware and fine china, stupendous food menus (would radio in orders which were ready at the next stop...flights were initially short for many reasons which are outlined in this book) and sleeping suites. I learned about the "step" of the F-Boat, the "Red Wing" and "White Wing" biplanes, cash incentives to build the best and longest flights, commercial aviation and Thomas Cook and Pan American, Dole Derby deaths, celebrity pilot Ed Musick (which appalled him), prefab hotels, introducing Africans to chewing gum and ice cubes and that pigs really can fly!

Anyone even slightly interested in aviation and/or aeronautics ought to read this book. For me it is as enlightening as learning a new language or about a newly-discovered animal species with so many lightbulb moments. It made such an impact on me that I told several people about it today.

My sincere thank you to SunRise Publishing Ltd. and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this wondrous and thought-provoking book!

The delightful historical analysis of flying boats. Is it is extremely informative and interesting. I highly enjoyed this book and think any reader who’s interested in travel would also enjoy.