Directorguy From Egypt, joined Jul 2008, 1569 posts, RR: 12 Posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 3139 times:
Hey guys, I've always wanted to find out as much as I can about these two great airlines. There do seem to be some titles available on Amazon.com and on eBay, but I can't tell which are the real deal, and which are ridiculously overpriced books with nothing but photos and a few captions saying obvious stuff like 'Pan Am had a hub at JFK...TWA operated 747s...
I'm looking for a meaty, insider book that shows how, why and when everything happened. A book that takes readers into these airlines. I did pick up a book called 'The Pan Am Journey' by Thomas Kewin which although interesting, was basically nothing but a collection of anecdotes and recollections, and none too detailed.
So...any suggestions?
Thanks in advance.
Legacyins From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 1839 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 3137 times:
i just finished "SKY GODS" by Robert Gandt . It is a very good book about the rise and fall of Pan AM.
MrSkyGuy From United States of America, joined Aug 2008, 1203 posts, RR: 3 Reply 2, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 3127 times:
And if you ever want to see how each of these greats worked together (ironically even in the era of terrific regulated competition, many airlines worked together on multiple levels) I'd highly recommend 'Hard Landing'.
That book has inspired more people to join the airline ranks than any others I know.. which may or may not be a good thing.
"The strength of the turbulence is directly proportional to the temperature of your coffee." -- Gunter's 2nd Law of Air
LAXintl From United States of America, joined May 2000, 22057 posts, RR: 51 Reply 3, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 3125 times:
R.E.G Davies has a nice pictorial book of aircraft and network operated by both carriers.
Pan Am one is called - Pan Am: An Airline and Its Aircraft
TWA one is - TWA : An Airline and Its Aircraft
Then there is a wonderful large coffee table book on Pan Am with some great rare photos called Pan Am: An Aviation Legend by Barnaby Conrad.
I'm sure of you check Amazon they should have many titles.
From the desert to the sea, to all of Southern California
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21494 posts, RR: 24 Reply 4, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 3057 times:
Although published in 1982, a decade before Pan Am's demise, "Chosen Instrument" is another good book covering Pan Am up to that date. It's basically a detailed biography (almost 600 pages) of Juan Trippe, Pan Am's founder and long-time CEO who died at age 81 in 1981. You can probably find a used copy on Amazon etc. for a few dollars.
Nwaesc From United States of America, joined Aug 2007, 3324 posts, RR: 9 Reply 5, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 3043 times:
I emphatically second this. Possibly one of my all time favorites (aviation or not).
If you don't already own it, go buy this book now.
As for PA, I really enjoyed "Fasten your seat belts" by PA F/A Valerie Lester & "Turbulence on the ground," by Ed Parrey. Neither of these are particularly academic, but are enjoyable reads from people that were there.
"Nothing ever happens here, " I said. "I just wait."
USPIT10L From United States of America, joined Mar 2006, 3266 posts, RR: 8 Reply 6, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 2997 times:
Excellent book, I have a copy myself. Probably the best account of PanAm's demise. It's written by an ex-PanAm captain named Bob Gandt, who went on to fly for DL until his retirement.
Another outstanding read that I also own. Unfortunately, the fall of TWA is so recent that there really aren't any up-to-date books on it. Airways Magazine did a nice tribute magazine on each airline not too long ago, but they were so popular they're out of print. The most informative book I've read on TWA was written in 1983 by Robert Serling, called "Howard Hughes' Airline: An Informal History of TWA." It's currently out of print, but is still available at local libraries. I have read each of Serling's airline histories: they are outstanding. It's just a shame no one has followed up on the details of each airline he wrote about.
L1011Lover From Germany, joined Oct 2003, 971 posts, RR: 15 Reply 7, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 2979 times:
I highly recommend the book:
"GLAMOUR AND TURBULENCE - I remember Pan Am, 1966-91"
by Aimée Bratt
Vantage Press, Inc.
ISBN: 0-533-11972-3
$ 11.95
From the back cover:
"Glamour and Turbulence: I remember Pan Am, 1966-91, by Aimée Bratt, tells the tale of the inevitable demise of Pan Am from the viewpoint of one who served on the front lines. For close to thirty years, Ms. Bratt was a flight attendant for the once-revered airline.
She saw it all and relates to her readers stories fro the glory days, when being a Pan Am employee was a prestigious position, being associated with a class act; to the frightening days when terrorism and anti-Americanism ruled the skies; and, finally, to that sad time when waste and increased competition brought this once-proud airline low.
AIMÉE BRATT was born in Sweden but grew up all over the world, as her father was a diplomat. She continued her globe-trotting ways as a flight attendant with Pan Am for close to three decades. Ms. Bratt is currently flying for Delta as an in-flight coordinator, however, she looks back on her Pan Am days with fondness, and has written her first book, Glamour and Turbulence, to tell her story of those years."
Try to get a copy... it's absolutely worth it and a must read for all Pan Am enthusiasts.
PresRDC From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 628 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 2959 times:
Another really good Pan Am FA memoir is "The Company We Kept" by Jay Koren.
AirFrnt From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 2775 posts, RR: 43 Reply 9, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 2915 times:
Quoting Legacyins (Reply 1): i just finished "SKY GODS" by Robert Gandt . It is a very good book about the rise and fall of Pan AM.
Psa188 From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 447 posts, RR: 20 Reply 10, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 2889 times:
Airways published "Airways Classics" special editions on both PA and TW. I recommend both.
IFlyTWA From United States of America, joined Jan 2007, 267 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 2883 times:
Excellent book on Trans World Airlines:
Howard Hughes' Airline: An Informal History of TWA by Robert Serling
"To express the excitement of travel" - Eero Saarinen
Floorrunner From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 259 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 2852 times:
Get a copy of the "China Clipper"
It's about the early years of Pan Am. It was also made into a movie in 1936 starring Humphrey Bogart.
Directorguy From Egypt, joined Jul 2008, 1569 posts, RR: 12 Reply 13, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 2812 times:
Quoting MrSkyGuy (Reply 2): And if you ever want to see how each of these greats worked together (ironically even in the era of terrific regulated competition, many airlines worked together on multiple levels) I'd highly recommend 'Hard Landing'.
The book by Thomas Petzinger, right? There are several books with that name. Looks like a good book-594 pages. I know I'll be happy with that for quite some time.
Thanks guys for offering so many great titles! I'm going to devote my day to look through eBay and Amazon.com for the best deals. Problem is, the books aren't always in print so I can't bulk order them from Amazon.com like I normally do.
Cheers
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