The Untold Story of the Spirit of St. Louis

Rating:
Summary: A Magnificently Detailed History
Review: The title of Ev Cassagneres' "The Untold Story of the Spirit of St. Louis" sounds presumptuous. What on earth could be written, new and enlightening, about one of history's most famous planes? Well, simply put, Cassagneres delivers on his boast. Within the 168 pages of this book are a treasure-trove of photographs, along with a highly detailed text which describes every aspect of the Spirit of St. Louis' career -- from construction to first flight, to record-setting flight, to world tour, to delivery at the Smithsonian, and then up to the present day. This book will answer every single question you ever had about the "Spirit", from the materials used to construct it, to the exact number of miles it flew prior to being stored at the NASM. Cassagneres, who spent over thirty-five years conducting interviews (with Lindbergh and others), examining the actual aircraft (the Smithsonian let him in the cockpit!), gathering photos (many never published before) and finding lost materials, deserves to be applauded for what amounts to THE definitive guide to one of history's great aircraft. Bravo! This book is a must-have if you are interested in the "Spirit", and makes a wonderful companion to Scott Berg's Pulitzer Prize winning book. It's also a terrific find if you are a modeler trying to find the most detailed description of the plane (at various stages of its career) in existence. I would also recommend it to anyone who is a student of history, not just simply because the book paints such a detailed portrait of both pilot and plane, but because it demonstrates so thoroughly the fact that complex historical items, such as the Spirit of St. Louis aircraft or the Enola Gay B-29, are constantly subject to change and modification -- not only during their useful lives but for many years thereafter. What is truly "authentic" about the "Spirit" hanging in the NASM, and what is not? It is a question which, thanks to Cassagneres' diligent effort, future generations will be able to answer.

Rating:
Summary: A Magnificently Detailed History
Review: The title of Ev Cassagneres' "The Untold Story of the Spirit of St. Louis" sounds presumptuous. What on earth could be written, new and enlightening, about one of history's most famous planes? Well, simply put, Cassagneres delivers on his boast. Within the 168 pages of this book are a treasure-trove of photographs, along with a highly detailed text which describes every aspect of the Spirit of St. Louis' career -- from construction to first flight, to record-setting flight, to world tour, to delivery at the Smithsonian, and then up to the present day. This book will answer every single question you ever had about the "Spirit", from the materials used to construct it, to the exact number of miles it flew prior to being stored at the NASM. Cassagneres, who spent over thirty-five years conducting interviews (with Lindbergh and others), examining the actual aircraft (the Smithsonian let him in the cockpit!), gathering photos (many never published before) and finding lost materials, deserves to be applauded for what amounts to THE definitive guide to one of history's great aircraft. Bravo! This book is a must-have if you are interested in the "Spirit", and makes a wonderful companion to Scott Berg's Pulitzer Prize winning book. It's also a terrific find if you are a modeler trying to find the most detailed description of the plane (at various stages of its career) in existence. I would also recommend it to anyone who is a student of history, not just simply because the book paints such a detailed portrait of both pilot and plane, but because it demonstrates so thoroughly the fact that complex historical items, such as the Spirit of St. Louis aircraft or the Enola Gay B-29, are constantly subject to change and modification -- not only during their useful lives but for many years thereafter. What is truly "authentic" about the "Spirit" hanging in the NASM, and what is not? It is a question which, thanks to Cassagneres' diligent effort, future generations will be able to answer.