Absolute Altitude

In this age of sleek 500- seat transglobal airliners, what remains of the mystery and romance of flight? Martin Buckley circumnavigated the world in a whole series of mostly small aircraft, flying by some of the oldest and strangest planes still in use to some of the remotest places on earth- places where flying is almost the only transport option; and to meet some of the oldest surviving pilots, as well as contemporary pilots who still fly by the seat of their pants. Some years ago Martin discovered that with a qualified pilot's license you can sometimes 'hitch- hike' in the co- pilot's seat (pilots like it, plane owners and insurance companies like it, and customs officials are usually well- disposed). He decided that the subject of his next book would be to try and hitch hike around the world by plane.