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Animals Aloft
By Allan Janus
Bunker Hill, $22.50
Ever though of taking your dog for a plane ride?
Probably won't be a problem as long as you don't let him or her hang out the window (open cockpits excepted). But forget housecats.
We took our dog Cherokee over to Catalina once and she curled up on the floor behind me and went to sleep and soon as we took off. Once we arrived, she had that same confused look on her face as she did when she got of an elevator.
But she adapted, as dogs do, and didn't make a fuss about it. Cats, on the other hand, don't travel all that well (at least, ours don't)..
I imagine that should we manage to load Buck and Jules into our plane to attempt an air trip, we'd be unable to communicate with ATC for all the howling that would be going on.
Nevertheless, there have been plenty of animal connected to aviation and the Smithsonian has put together a hardcover book from their archives of some great photos of planes and animals, dating all the way back to 1798 (okay, that one's a painting), but it shows a man on a horse under a balloon, Pierre Testu-Brissy, who made the first balloon ascension on Oct. 16, 1798.
(Unfortunately, the horse got nosebleed.)
A richly illustrated documentary tribute to American animals and other "foreign nationals" in flight, the author introduces an all star cast, from the Montgolfier brothers' first balloon born menagerie (a sheep, a rooster and a duck), to Kiddo the first cat to try crossing the Atlantic by air (pity his pilot), to Lord Brabazon's flying pig and a host of horses, dogs, lions, goats, military pigeons, airborne cows and parachuting dogs.
"A unique tribute to our animal best friends and unfailing companions, Animals Aloft will delight and intrigue readers of all ages, from aviation history buffs to animal enthusiasts to anyone who enjoys the experience of flying, whether in the air or through armchair voyaging," said the publisher, and we tend to agree.
Author Allan Janus is a well-known photographer whose work is included in the National Museum of American Art, The Corcoran Gallery of Art and the Baltimore Museum of Art. He also works at the archives of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum where he maintains the archives' balloons and airship files.
If you know someone who loves animals and aviation, this is their cup of kibble. For more information contact Bunker Hill Publisher at (603) 272-9221 or see their website at www.bunkerhillpublishing.com
Tell them who sent you.
- Wayman Dunlap
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