When Sir Charles Kingslrd Smith's aircraft l,ad Southern Cross mysteriously disappeared off the Burmese coast in 1935, the golden age of' aviation lost one of its most charismatic heroes: the man who had piloted the first flights across the Pacific in both directions, conquered the Tasman Sea and made the first successful westbound crossing of the Atlantic.

Written with the co-oåçperation of Smithy's' widow and family, this illuminating and authoritative biography looks beyond his awesome flying exploits to reveal a complex reckless character obsessed by flume and worshipped by women - and yet, paradoxically, one who suffbi-ed from a morbid fear of the sea.

Relayed wit h the style of a fast-moving novel but dr!ipping the authenticity of thorough research' BRISBANE COURIER-MAIL

Mackerley’s rendering of those terrifying fiights is masterly WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN . 1998 Sun strike spine text binding good