Wings over Florida

Lynn M. Homan · Thomas Reilly

Jul 1999 · Arcadia Publishing

About this eBook

Floridas contribution to aviation history cannot be underestimated. Wings over Florida chronicles the story of flying in the Sunshine State, from the early pioneers in gliders and balloons, to the recent developments in the space program. The story of Florida in flight is even older than its statehood, with Colonel John Sherburne planning to use balloons as early as 1840 in the Second Seminole War. Not only was the first scheduled passenger airline (the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line) begun in Florida, but it is also home to the worlds oldest international airline.
Many heroes and heroines of the air came from Florida. Even those who were not Floridians by birth spent time flying in the ideal conditions that Florida provided. Pioneers, such as Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Peter Sones, and Jacqueline Cochran, all took to the air over Florida.

About the author

Lynn M. Homan and Thomas Reilly have combined their historical knowledge and enthusiasm for aviation to illustrate the unique contribution that Florida has made to the story of flight. The authors present the images chronologically, documenting the developments of the Roaring Twenties, the Golden Age of Flight, the war years, and beyond. These photographs, many of which have never been published before, provide a fresh, visual perspective of a fascinating subject.