'...succinct, power-packed bits of wisdom which are easily digested by the reader. There's much to be learned as well as enjoyed...' - Ron Machado, aviation writer and personality. From the exhilarating High Flight, written by a doomed WWII Spitfire pilot in World War II and the source of this book's title to John Glen's expressions of wonder in orbit, Slipping the Surly Bonds will carry you into the sky with the greatest airmen and women of all time. You'll meet dreamers, balloonists, and inventors of airplanes, da Vinci, Lindbergh, Armstrong, Yeager, and hundreds more. A true labor of love, shining with passion, adventure, and eloquence, this collection of more than 1000 enthralling quotations on flight will leave you breathless and yearning for wings.'To invent an airplane is nothing. To build one is something. To fly is everything' - Otto Lilenthal, pioneer aircraft builder. Flying inspires passions unknown to mere earth-bound mortals. Throughout the ages, flyers and those who dreamed of flying have attempted to capture in words the feelings of magic and wonder evoked by flight. A fitting crown for the Century of Flight, this unique collection of the most compelling words ever written or spoken about flying spotlights one of humankind's greatest, most enduring, and most spectacular accomplishments - the gravity-defying conquest of the skies. Gathered together for the first time, these quotations convey the drama, achievement, and pure thrill of flying. Some touch you with the pathos of doomed heroes and heroines and the brave struggles of storied aviators. Others capture with humor the fun of flight.You'll find predictions of the future of aviation, air combat experiences, historical anecdotes, wisdom on safety, thoughts by and about women pilots, and much, much more - all lovingly selected to inspire and uplift flyers and non-flyers alike. A word of caution, however. If you're buying this book for yourself, be sure to write your name inside the cover. Slipping the Surly Bonds is one of those rare books that you just won't be able to resist sharing with friends! 'succinct, power-packed bits of wisdom which are easily digested by the reader. There's much to be learned as well as enjoyed!' - Rod Machado, aviation writer and personality.