Customer Reviews

First to Fly: North Carolina and the Beginnings of Aviation

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I first met Tom Parramore, the author of this important book, about 1998 as we were planning for the centennial of flight celebration that would take place in 2003. Tom was an invaluable source of knowledge about the development of flight in North Carolina, including the pivotal role of the Wright Brothers on the Outer Banks as they systematically honed their design for a flying machine into a vehicle that would be the first in the world to accomplish controlled, powered flight. He was invariably correct in every discussion we had on this important subject and his knowledge shines through in this book.

"First to Fly: North Carolina and the Beginnings of Aviation" is a wonderful account of the desire for and the development of aviation in North Carolina. It brings to light many aspects of this story. While recounting the story of the Wrights on the dunes at Kill Devil Hills by the Atlantic Ocean, Parramore also describes the surprising prehistory of the quest to fly in North Carolina well before the brothers left their home at Dayton, Ohio, to experiment with their flyers. Ballooning, gliding, attempts at powered flight, dreamers, inventers, and crackpot all contributed to this rich history. It is a fascinating account and worthy of attention by anyone with an interest in the history of aviation in the U.S. Then there is the help the Wrights received from those living on the Outer Banks, and it is probable that their success would not have been achieved without the dedicated assistance of the surfmen and their families residing there.

"First to Fly" is a delightful account of the birth of aviation in North Carolina, and the fascinating, sometimes quirky personalities and events that brought it to fruition.