Challenge To The Poles: Highlights of Arctic and Antarctic Aviation.

GRIERSON, John. Introduction by Charles Lindbergh.

Item Number: 111056

London: G. T. Foulis & Co. Ltd, 1964.

First edition of Grierson’s detailed historical survey of the major Arctic and Antarctic aviation expeditions. Octavo, original boards, cartographic endpapers, profusely illustrated with photographs and maps. From the library of James Stephen “Steve” Fossett with his bookplate to the pastedown. American businessman and record-setting aviator Steve Fossett became the first person to fly solo nonstop around the world in 2002 in his 10-story high balloon Spirit of Freedom. He completed the 2002 trip in 13 days, 8 hours, and 33 minutes and set records for both the Longest Distance Flown Solo in a Balloon and Fastest Balloon Flight Around the World. Fossett was also one of sailing’s most prolific distance record holders set the Absolute World Speed Record for airships with a Zeppelin NT in 2004. He received numerous awards and honors throughout his career including aviation’s highest award, the Gold Medal of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), which he was awarded in 2002. Fossett disappeared on September 3, 2007 while flying a light aircraft over the Great Basin Desert, between Nevada and California. Fine in a near fine dust jacket.

English long-distance flier and author John Grierson was the first solo pilot to fly along the Arctic Air Route from Great Britain, via Greenland, to Canada. Challenge To The Poles includes a detailed survey of twenty-one historic Arctic and Antarctic aviation expeditions including those led by Roald Amundsen, Sir Hubert Wilkins, Richard Byrd, Lars Christensen, Sir Douglas Mawson, and Lincoln Ellsworth among others.