• The Flight

  • Charles Lindbergh's Daring and Immortal 1927 Transatlantic Crossing
  • By: Dan Hampton
  • Narrated by: John Pruden
  • Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (111 ratings)

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The Flight  By  cover art

The Flight

By: Dan Hampton
Narrated by: John Pruden
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Publisher's summary

A gripping and unique in-the-cockpit account of Charles Lindbergh's extraordinary first transatlantic flight from New York to Paris, by acclaimed aviation historian and former fighter pilot Dan Hampton - "one of the most decorated pilots in Air Force history" (New York Post).

America's finest aviation story in the hands of our finest aviation historian, The Flight is Dan Hampton's biggest, most dramatic book yet.

On the morning of May 20, 1927, a little-known pilot named Charles Lindbergh waited to take off from Roosevelt Field on Long Island. He was determined to claim the $25,000 Orteig Prize promised to the first pilot to fly nonstop from New York to Paris - a contest that had already claimed six men's lives. Just 25 years old, Lindbergh had never before flown over water. Yet 33 hours later, his single-engine monoplane, The Spirit of St. Louis, touched down in Paris. Overnight, Charles Lindbergh became the most famous aviator of all time.

The Flight is a long overdue flyer's-eye-view look at Lindbergh's legendary journey. Decorated fighter pilot and best-selling author Dan Hampton offers a unique appreciation for Lindbergh's accomplishment: Hampton has flown the exact same route many times, knowledge that informs and shapes The Flight. Relying upon a trove of primary sources, including Lindbergh's own personal diary and writings, Hampton crafts a dramatic narrative of a challenging, death-defying feat that many had believed was impossible.

Moving hour by hour, Hampton recounts Lindbergh's uncertainty over his equipment and his courage as he traverses the vast darkness of the Atlantic with no radar. Moving between the sky and ground, Hampton intersperses the tale of the flight with Lindbergh's personal history as well as some of the stories of those waiting for him on the ground, praying he would make it safely across.

©2017 Ascalon, LLC (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

What listeners say about The Flight

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The Flight: Charles Lindbergh

the person reading the book, voice just hurt my ears and I had enough damage done to them in Vietnam. the account of the flight and the airplane were very weak. Lindbergh had a lot of input into the building of the Spirt, witch was an enlarged M-1 mail plane. Lindbergh knew what the performances of the Spirt front and back and he knew that as long as the engine kept running he was going to make it, and he did. San Diego, Ca.

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Puts You Right In The Cockpit Flying to Paris!

Charles A. Lindbergh's solo flight to Paris is the ultimate "Hero's Journey" story and this Audiobook's story and performance is superb. Like a 20th century Luke Skywalker, his flight epitomizes the archetypal essence of the universal Hero's Journey, and I think only this could explain the incredible public response to his achievement.

I have listened multiple times and always find something interesting that I hadn't thought about before.

Sure, there are elements of Lindbergh's later life that, certainly with the benefit of hind-sight, might topple him off his pedestal. He was, surprise, like all of us, a fallible human being who, in his case happened to have done an incredibly brave and daring thing at the young age of 25.

I have to admit that I have recently read about a dozen biographical, autobiographical, and historical fiction books about Charles and also Anne (his wife). Compared to all these books, this excellent audio-book is the best account of the actual flight that I have encountered.

Bravo, Dan Hampton and John Pruden!

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3 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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Rehash

I've read several books on Lindbergh and his flight. I thought there was entirely too much filler in this book. Some was interesting but the interruption of the story of the flight was distracting.

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3 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Not Much New, But Good Listen

This is an entertaining book that, as its title suggests, focuses on Lindbergh's transatlantic flight in the Spirit of St. Louis, although it mentions other aspects of Lindbergh's complex and sometimes controversial life.

The book reminds us of the considerable risk that Lindbergh took in making the flight and the accomplishment. The book tells the story fluidly and moves along.

Good read.

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Not like Spirit

I wouldnt bother with this book. It doesnt get the spirit of Spirit of St Louis yet it seems to distort or over emphasize some of the pilot details.

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1 person found this helpful

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  • RR
  • 10-11-23

Sierra Hotel

Fellow Vioer Driver Dan H has crafted a masterpiece. A must listen to be added to your list. If you’re a fan of the Spirit of St Louis, look no further.
V/R
RR

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Best Aviation

Cannot think of many other books rating 10+. History wise: excellence. Narrator:Top notch.
Highly recommended.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Aloft with Lucky Lindy ~

Having previously listened to “The Aviators” by Winston Groom and as a pilot myself, I was certainly familiar with the story of Lindbergh’s solo flight to Paris and the contributions he made to military aviation, matters which were also covered here.
This audiobook covers in detail his family and personal history going back several generations, and then relates his moment-by-moment experiences on his most famous flight. Then it tracks the aftermath, both the good and the bad.
Well-documented and with well-performed narration, this is a strong thumbs-up.

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Great narration and captivating story.

This book was written with a great balance between historical context and thrilling cockpit narration. The book makes you feel like you get to know Charles Lindbergh better than the people of his own time. The storytelling during the flight kept me on the edge of my seat as if I didn’t know how it would end. Truly an entertaining and enlightening book

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A Great Read!

Anything Dan Hampton writes is wonderful read or listen. He fully immerses you in his stories. If he wrote a book on hanging wall paper I would buy it! Dan is an amazingly talented writer!

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