Published: May 24, 2011
Words: 219,020 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9781458172686

Short description

Riders of the Wind is a fascinating tale of romance and adventure in the pioneering world of aviation. The story follows the lives of Charlie and Doretta Cross through the exciting skies of 1930s America, through the prohibition era, the formation of the infant airlines, and ultimately to the mystery of the Amazon jungles. This is the first novel of the epic “Riders of the Wind” series.

Extended description

Riders of the Wind is an epic novel of adventure and romance set in the scene of aviation during the turbulent times of the nineteen twenties and thirties. The book follows the lives of Charles and Doretta Cross through the era of the great depression, prohibition, the airmail, and the formation of the infant airlines. It graphically portrays the danger, excitement and romance of flight in the pioneering years before World War Two and takes the reader into the cockpit with the airmail pilots of the twenties and the airline route survey pilots flying the heart of the Amazon jungles. A “must read” for anyone interested in aviation or, for that matter, anyone who is merely interested in the history, dress and lifestyle of the pre-WWII era.

Excerpt:
Charlie was lost; there was no doubt about it. He was not disoriented nor was it his imagination he was definitely lost. He had left Newark two hours ago bound for Elmira on a night express mail route in an unfamiliar airplane on a run h.. (Read more) Riders of the Wind is an epic novel of adventure and romance set in the scene of aviation during the turbulent times of the nineteen twenties and thirties. The book follows the lives of Charles and Doretta Cross through the era of the great depression, prohibition, the airmail, and the formation of the infant airlines. It graphically portrays the danger, excitement and romance of flight in the pioneering years before World War Two and takes the reader into the cockpit with the airmail pilots of the twenties and the airline route survey pilots flying the heart of the Amazon jungles. A “must read” for anyone interested in aviation or, for that matter, anyone who is merely interested in the history, dress and lifestyle of the pre-WWII era.

Excerpt:
Charlie was lost; there was no doubt about it. He was not disoriented nor was it his imagination he was definitely lost. He had left Newark two hours ago bound for Elmira on a night express mail route in an unfamiliar airplane on a run he had never flown before over terrain that was unknown to him and unfriendly to say the least. He should have known better. The plane was an almost new Boeing model 95 with a wingspan of 45 feet. It was powered by a Pratt and Whitney Hornet engine that had been making strange sounds since he had left Newark. The rattles and clanks he just put down to not being used to Pratt and Whiney engines.
Without warning there was a great gout of flame from the exhaust that lit the whole underside of the aircraft followed by a streamer of heavy smoke. The engine died with a clanking rattle, seizing solid with the prop stopped in a horizontal position. Charlie knew the signs; a connecting rod had let go. His grip on the control stick tightened and his heart rate jumped a hundred percent. He didn’t panic but went through the engine out procedures as if it were a practice drill. He began a gliding descent until he finally broke out of the overcast at three thousand feet only to see by the dim light that mountains surrounded him. He had descended into a narrow defile between ridgelines and most of the mountain peaks were now above him. Looking down he could see nothing but trees and he was approaching all too rapidly. “Oh Hell, there’s no place to land this thing, just stall into the treetops straight ahead I guess.”
Time had seemingly slowed to a crawl and a thousand thoughts raced through Charlie’s mind, At that instant something seemed to touch him on his right shoulder and he turned to see what it could be. As he did he spied a small clearing that looked to be within gliding distance but as he turned toward it he saw that it would be too close and too short.
“Well, I can’t do anything about the short but I can sure do something about it being too close.”
He slammed the stick to the right and the rudder to the left, putting the biplane into an all-out sideslip. He dropped like a stone kicking the plane straight just before he touched down at the edge of the clearing. It bounced once and slewed sideways. Charlie kicked the rudder to straighten out his course toward the far edge of the field. He thought, “Too short, and too damn fast.”
The aircraft plowed through the drifted snow, throwing plumes high into the air. Just before they reached the trees at the far end of the field the landing gear struck something buried in the snow. The wheel broke off, spinning the charging plane around to the left so the right wing was the first part of the ship to hit a tree. The wing snapped off like a twig to the accompanying sounds of breaking wood, tearing fabric, and the screech of rending metal. The headlong slide of the Boeing came to an end with the side of the fuselage against a tree. Charlie’s head snapped forward on the first impact, smashing against the instrument panel. He never felt his lower leg snap or the piece of steel tubing that penetrated his calf.
Except for the muted hiss of falling snow silence once again reigned in the tiny valley.
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Tags

romance, adventure, action, depression, historical fiction, aviation, airmail, lindbergh, prohibition, early airlines

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Reviews

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Review by: Ey Wade on Feb. 12, 2012 :
via the books description: "Riders of the Wind is a fascinating tale of romance and adventure in the pioneering world of aviation", I jumped to the book for the chance to read a good love story and received so much more. I was totally entertained with the adventures and love between Charlie and Doretta Cross, while being subtly educated about aviation and points in history. I loved this book and can't wait to read DeBurgh's next book in the series Winds of Fate.
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Jan Brown on Aug. 26, 2011 :
A historical fictional story about the early years of aviation. Charlie and Doretta take us through the years and different airplanes in the years before WWII. The author does a good job of explaining the differences the pilots were dealing with as each new plane came along without getting too technical, yet leaving you feeling like you might be able to fly one with the knowledge shared and how the commercial airlines came about, the pilots clothing and the different types of pilots/planes by weaving the story of Charlie and Doretta into it all. Do be aware this is nearly 700 pages long so you won't be able to read it all in one sitting!
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Greta Burroughs on June 16, 2011 :
Riders of the Wind is a very fascinating look back to the early days of aviation. Everything was new and experimental and DeBurgh describes the era in a way that expresses the passion and excitement of the time.
The adventures and misadventures of the pilots flying airmail, rumrunning, competing in air races and exploring new routes through the Amazon makes for some very exciting reading.
The courtship, marriage and absolute love shared between the two main characters, Charlie and Doretta Cross and the bond they have with their friends makes this more than just an aviation story. The tough times during the depression and prohibition era shape the events that take place and the addition of several historic characters add reality to the book.
Riders of the Wind is tale of romance, adventure, tears and laughter with a little mysticism mixed in creating a balanced mixture of all the elements that make a great novel. The reader does not have to an aviation fan to enjoy this book, it is a great story that will leave the reader wanting for more.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Doug Welch on June 08, 2011 :
I thoroughly enjoyed Riders of the Wind.
The novel spans the early days of the aeronautical industry, and how that industry survived the Great Depression and spawned the common names we know today such as TWA, Eastern Airlines, American Airlines Lockheed and Boeing.
It follows the lives of a real aviation family, Charles and Doretta Cross and includes several historical characters such as Charles Lindbergh and his family as some of the books minor characters.
An aviation enthusiast will find much to like in the book, as it provides details of the technology that the pioneers of flight wrestled around the sky.
The book has romance, danger and and tense moments, with a dabble of fantasy thrown in. All in all a very entertaining read.
(reviewed within a week of purchase)

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