Traces the history of the Navy's elite pilot group, and discusses their aircraft and the types of manuevers they perform at air shows.

"50 Tales of Flight" captures the magic of flight from the ground up. The flight deck door has now been opened, taking the reader aloft in everything from biplanes to Boeings. From the alarm clock buzzing to begin the airline pilot's day to the threatening sound of silence when a light aircraft's engine fails and all that lies beneath are trees and cliffs. There are moments of pulse-racing tension and others of humorous relief to be found amongst this collection of stories from Owen Zupp's thirty years of flying. Interspersed are tales of combat veterans of wars passed and of those who lost their lives pursuing their passion in times of peace. For anyone interested in the world amongst the clouds, or just intrigued by this amazing field of endeavour, there is much to be seen through these "50 Tales of Flight."

The Boeing 747 is more than an airliner - it is the Queen of the Skies. From flights over Antarctica to carrying a spare fifth engine beneath the wing, award-winning aviation writer and airline pilot, Owen Zupp, has detailed the varied journeys of the magnificent Boeing 747.

All of aviation's dangerous, exciting, and most courageous moments are featured within this stunning compendium on flight. Packed with stories of heroic and innovative pioneers, fascinating profiles of remarkable planes from Spitfires to space shuttles, and how-to instructions for making everything from origami helicopters to bottle rockets—all accompanied by sensational photographs, illustrations, and diagrams—Cleared for Takeoff promises to astonish, entertain, and fire the imaginations of everyone with their head in the clouds.

"Both what you run from -- and what you yearn for -- are within you." --Anthony de Mello, S.J. In the tradition of his bestselling Song of the Bird, de Mello has written these story meditations as stepping stones toward a spiritual life based on self-knowledge and understanding. This book contains over 250 stories, grouped under the themes of Prayer, Awareness, Religion, Grace, "Saints," Self, Love, and Truth. Although derived from a variety of countries and cultures, these tales share the spiritual heritage and popular humor of the entire human race. As he does so skillfully in his other books, de Mello uses the medium of the story to enable his readers to work through their problems and arrive at essential Truth. With each seemingly simple anecdote comes a lesson powerful enough to break down barriers that limit self-understanding -- which in turn fosters a better understanding of others, in all situations in life. "Even if you read the stories in this book only for the entertainment," he warns, "there is no guarantee that an occasional story will not slip through your defenses and explode when you least expect it to." Taking Flight offers a joyful, transcendental experience. De Mello pilots a spiritual journey with the skill of a true master.

One small act of kindness ripples out to connect four kids in this stirring novel by the author of the beloved The Benefits of Being an Octopus. Libby comes from a long line of bullies. She wants to be different, but sometimes that doesn’t work out. To bolster herself, she makes a card with the message You are amazing. That card sets off a chain reaction that ends up making a difference in the lives of some kids who could also use a boost—be it from dealing with bullies, unaccepting families, or the hole that grief leaves. Receiving an encouraging message helps each kid summon up the thing they need most, whether it’s bravery, empathy, or understanding. Because it helps them realize they matter—and that they're not flying solo anymore.

"The revelatory account of a woman's quest for a new life in Africa in the wake of World War II--a heroic career that hid a dark wartime past"--