One Pilot's Log: The Career of E. L. "Slonnie" Sloniger

Rating:
Summary: Old Number One
Review: If you've heard of E.L. Sloniger chances are it's because you read about him in one of Ernest K. Gann's fine books such as "Flying Circus", "A Hostage to Fortune" or his masterpiece, "Fate is the Hunter". "Slonnie" was known as "Old Number One" because he was the first official airline pilot with American Airlines and had the seniority number of 1. Gann revered him as did many others because he was the finest and most experienced air transport pilot in the world. This book will tell you all you ever wanted to know about him. It traces his long flying career from learning to fly in the army during WW1 to barnstorming, flying the mail and pioneering the airlines including over ocean flights, to his retirement in the late fifties. Seeing as how Gann had written so much about Sloniger I was hoping there would be something about Gann in the book also, but Gann is only mentioned a few times in passing which was a big disappointment to me. It would have been as interesting to hear Sloniger talk about Gann as it was to hear Gann talk about Sloniger. Alas, it was not to be. Other than that the book is very well done, interesting, reads fast and has lots of pictures. If you want to know more about "Old Number One" this is the book. If you want to hear about his adventures with Ernie Gann you will be diappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Old Number One
Review: If you've heard of E.L. Sloniger chances are it's because you read about him in one of Ernest K. Gann's fine books such as "Flying Circus", "A Hostage to Fortune" or his masterpiece, "Fate is the Hunter". "Slonnie" was known as "Old Number One" because he was the first official airline pilot with American Airlines and had the seniority number of 1. Gann revered him as did many others because he was the finest and most experienced air transport pilot in the world. This book will tell you all you ever wanted to know about him. It traces his long flying career from learning to fly in the army during WW1 to barnstorming, flying the mail and pioneering the airlines including over ocean flights, to his retirement in the late fifties. Seeing as how Gann had written so much about Sloniger I was hoping there would be something about Gann in the book also, but Gann is only mentioned a few times in passing which was a big disappointment to me. It would have been as interesting to hear Sloniger talk about Gann as it was to hear Gann talk about Sloniger. Alas, it was not to be. Other than that the book is very well done, interesting, reads fast and has lots of pictures. If you want to know more about "Old Number One" this is the book. If you want to hear about his adventures with Ernie Gann you will be diappointed.