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Growth on the flatlands along the western extents of Imperial Highway in the 1920s was once measured in beans, barley, and jackrabbits. After 2000, the site that became Los Angeles International Airport would be measured by the more than 60 million passengers and nearly two million tons of cargo passing through it each year. One of the world's busiest airports grew out of Mines Field and expanded quickly in the 1930s with the exploits of Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart, Howard Hughes and Will Rogers, Curtiss and Martin, and Boeing and Lockheed. After World War II, this large portion of coastal Los Angeles between El Segundo and Marina del Rey became the main airport for Greater Los Angeles. With the advent of the jet age in the town of the jet set, LAX became a nexus of international travel and a symbol of sophistication as the "Gateway to the World," a cutting-edge center for the overlapping spheres of aviation, business, politics, and entertainment.

Bush pilots are known as rough, tough, resourceful people who fly their aircraft into tight spots in the worst of weather. Alaska's bush pilots are all of that and more. Acting as pioneers in a land with 43,000 miles of coastline and North America's largest mountains, Alaska's bush pilots were and are visionaries of a lifestyle of freedom. Flying came late to Alaska but caught on quickly. The first flight was made over a three-day exhibition at Fairbanks, July 3-5, 1913. James Martin first flew that aircraft, owned by him and his wife, Lilly, and investors Arthur Williams and R.S. McDonald. Ever since, Alaskan bush pilots have found that they were calculators of their own fate, flying in fragile aircraft over vast stretches of tundra or through towering mountain passes. This book examines the pioneer aviators and the aircraft types such as the Stearman, Stinson, and Lockheed, many of which were tested and crashed in the far north regions of Alaska.

Iowans embraced aviation from its very beginning. In the late 1800s, Keokuk s Baldwin brothers headlined Lee County Chautauqua festivals with balloon ascensions. Two decades later, early powered-flight daredevils like Lincoln Beachey, Glenn Messer, and Eugene Ely thrilled huge crowds along the Mississippi River from Decorah to Fort Madison. Dubuque s Clifton Ole Oleson barnstormed from Oelwein to Mount Pleasant and in communities in between. Visionaries like the Livingston brothers from Cedar Falls and Davenport s Ralph Cram, Don Luscombe, and Billy Cook started air taxi and freight lines, flight and mechanic schools, and aircraft manufacturing facilities. Iowa City became an original U.S. Airmail stop and, during World War II, Ottumwa and other communities operated training sites for military aviation, with women playing a major role. The postwar establishment of regional air carriers became commonplace, and today a new generation is leading Eastern Iowa into the 21st century while preserving the memory of those who started it all."

The book chronicles the evolution of aviation in Washington, focusing on the early pioneers like Charles Hamilton, who made history as the state's first flyer. It highlights the establishment of Boeing Field in 1928, which became a central hub for air travel, initially featuring biplanes that transported passengers and mail. The narrative also delves into wartime contributions, showcasing the production of Flying Fortress bombers and the diverse aircraft that have graced the airfield, including the iconic Air Force One.

By the early 1920s, Eddie Stinson-a charismatic daredevil pilot-had become nationally known for his fearlessness and skill. In 1926, he and his close friend Bill Mara founded a company to design and manufacture airplanes that combined features then only found in luxury automobiles. In 1932, Stinson was killed in a tragic crash while demonstrating a new model. Although his life was short, the world of aviation still reveres the airplanes built under his name. Featuring many never-before-published photographs and comprehensive biographical information, Stinson Aircraft Company chronicles a remarkable period in airplane development. It details the growth of Stinson's company, which produced more airplanes for a longer period of time than any other Michigan airframe producer. The book also reveals the story of Eddie Stinson and Bill Mara, who together made aviation history. Today, about 3,000 Stinson airplanes remain and are still greatly esteemed by aviation enthusiasts, 50 years after the last one was built.

The narrative delves into Area 51, a clandestine military site established during the Cold War for high-security projects, shielded from espionage. Originally a temporary camp, it evolved into a significant testing facility for advanced military technology, including supersonic and stealth aircraft. The base's enigmatic reputation has fueled speculation about UFOs and extraterrestrial technology, yet declassified images offer an authentic look at its operations, revealing the intersection of secrecy, innovation, and national defense in America's history.