Wind in the Wires (Flight, its first seventy-five years) [Hardcover]

Milne Duncan Grinnell (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 259 pages
• Publisher: Ayer Co Pub (June 1979)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0405121741
• ISBN-13: 978-0405121746
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #192,637 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wind In the Wires a Must Read for Fans of Early Aviation, January 13, 2001

By 

"drbug" (Bowie, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wind in the Wires (Flight, its first seventy-five years) (Hardcover)

This is a classic memoir of WWI flying from the early days until the end of the war, with a short gap in between. It is on a par with, or as I believe, better than the classic _Sagittarius Rising_ by Cecil Lewis. The author has an eye for detail, and an excellent self-deprecating sense of humor. He survived some truly amazing experiences. This is my favorite WWI flying book, and I highly recommend it!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wind in the Wires, July 4, 2002

By 

Robert C. Myers "Spad VII" (St. Joseph, MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wind in the Wires (Flight, its first seventy-five years) (Hardcover)

Wind in the Wires paints a vivid picture of World War I aviation, especially in the war's early years. The author's account of flying the Maurice Farman "Shorthorn" and the BE 2 in 1915 is fascinating and more than a little frightening. Forced down and captured after his aircraft suffered engine failure, Grinnell-Milne returned to the front in 1918 as a member of 56 Squadron, flying the SE5a. His experiences with the famous squadron late in the war provide a fitting "bookend" to his wartime career. This ranks among the best aviation books I have ever read, and the quality of writing places it among my favorite books of any genre.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wind in the Wires, May 30, 2005

By 

PALEFLIER "Oh I have slipped the surly bonds.... (West London UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wind in the wires (Wings of war)

When I first read this book as a thirteen year old, back in 1972, it inspired me to learn to fly. Co-incidentally, I actually still fly from Shoreham Airport, where the Author learnt to fly almost 100 years ago.

This book is charming, well written, and in places, humourous. It describes the early days of aerial combat, and the even more dangerous aspects of learning to fly.

A rivetting read, and easily ranks with Sagitarius Rising by Cecil Lewis, or Wind, Sand and Stars by Antoine De Saint-Exupery.
For those interested in WWI aviation, then I also recommend Against the Odds by W. Alister-Williams. This is a biography of Gp Capt Lionel Rees VC.