The airplane changed the course of history. Above all, it changed the history of the United States. When the Wright brothers invented their flying machine, Americans lived in a nation of two dimensions, circumscribed by lines drawn on a conventional map. A century later, their nation existed--in fact, reigned--in three dimensions. Two million Americans slipped the surly bonds of earth daily, carried aloft by aircraft operating in every part of the world. The airplane turned the sky into a new domain of human activity, a ...
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The airplane changed the course of history. Above all, it changed the history of the United States. When the Wright brothers invented their flying machine, Americans lived in a nation of two dimensions, circumscribed by lines drawn on a conventional map. A century later, their nation existed--in fact, reigned--in three dimensions. Two million Americans slipped the surly bonds of earth daily, carried aloft by aircraft operating in every part of the world. The airplane turned the sky into a new domain of human activity, a fast-developing frontier. The first to brave that frontier were adventurous young men. Then came the rich and the hurried. Then just about everybody else. Until now, no one has told the story of aviation as one of frontier expansion. David Courtwright does so in Sky as Frontier . He has written an ambitious history of American aviation ranging from the patent fight between the Wright brothers and Glenn Curtiss through the tragedy of 9/11 and the Iraq War. Along the way, Courtwright stops to consider dogfighting, barnstorming, the first air mail pilots, the development of airlines, air power during World War II, flight's impact on the environment, the troubled space frontier, and how the male-dominated aviation enterprise was domesticated and democratized. Aviation's frontier stage lasted a scant three decades, then vanished as flying became a settled experience. Sky as Frontier recreates that pioneer world and shows how commercial and military imperatives destroyed it by routinizing flight. At bottom, it is the story of a fateful tradeoff. Rationalization killed the adventure in flying but made possible rapid aerial expansion. With it came commercial growth and glob8al military reach. In no other country did social life, business, and military operations become so intertwined with aerospace advances, or have such large consequences for national power and prestige.
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Add this copy of Sky as Frontier: Adventure, Aviation, and Empire to cart. $10.00, very good condition, Sold by Weller Book Works, A.B.A.A. rated 1.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Salt Lake City, UT, UNITED STATES, published 2005 by Texas A & M University Press.
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Good. Ships in a BOX from Central Missouri! May not include working access code. Will not include dust jacket. Has used sticker(s) and some writing or highlighting. Ships same or next business day. UPS shipping for most packages, (Priority Mail for AK/HI/APO/PO Boxes).
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Very Good. Texas A&M University Press; College Station, 2005. Trade paperback. Signed and inscribed by author directly on title page. Fine, binding firm, interior and extremities tidy, minimal use/handling marks, couple of small smudge marks bottom text block edge, a nice, clean and unmarked but signed copy in wraps. 8vo[octavo or approx. 6 x 9], 284pp., indexed, notes, b&w illustration. We pack securely and ship daily w/delivery confirmation on every book. The picture on the listing page is of the actual book for sale. Additional Scan(s) are available for any item, please inquire.
Add this copy of Sky as Frontier: Adventure, Aviation, and Empire to cart. $21.79, very good condition, Sold by Rebooksellers rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Tequesta, FL, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by Texas A&M University Press.
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Add this copy of Sky as Frontier: Adventure, Aviation, and Empire to cart. $30.09, new condition, Sold by Chequered Past rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Jacksonville Beach, FL, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by Texas A&M University Press.
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New. Book. 6 By 9 1/4" Signed by Author(s) Wide research gives a fresh tale even for those well versed in this field. Clever anecdotes add spice and interest. #11 in Series.
Add this copy of Sky as Frontier: Adventure, Aviation, and Empire to cart. $35.67, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by Texas A&M University Press.
Add this copy of Sky as Frontier: Adventure, Aviation, and Empire to cart. $52.14, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by Texas A&M University Press.
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Add this copy of Sky as Frontier: Adventure, Aviation, and Empire to cart. $86.31, new condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by Texas A&M University Press.
