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Summary: "Free Flight" Highlights an Important Travel Alternative
Review: The respected commentator James Fallows resolved his mid-life crisis by learning to pilot small airplanes. He now embraces the true faith that holds there little else in life comparable to experiencing the visual romance of flying one's own aircraft. Fallows, though, does not wish to merely preach to the choir. He also hopes that "Free Flight" is a tipping point phenomenon facilitating the conversion of the modestly affluent to both the thrill and pragmatic benefits of this form of travel. The odds are overwhelmingly probable that this will eventually be the case. Nevertheless, it would be better if this occurs sooner than later. Fallows cites evidence indicating that in the early part of this century a traveler might as well drive a distance less than 500 miles. Conventional air travel does little to speed up the process.Fallows is well aware that the general public often perceives smaller aircraft as nothing more than death traps. Furthermore, other professional journalists don't help matters when they usually mention these planes only after crashes involving the rich and famous. The author therefore feels compelled to devote a whole chapter to the Cirrus SR20 aircraft which includes as a standard accessory, not just a parachute for each passenger, but for the whole plane! A picture of this remarkable airplane is prominently displayed on the front cover. The founders of Cirrus Design, Alan and Dale Klapmeier, endured some flack from many within the true believer pilot community. The latter zealots are alarmed by the more mainstream enthusiasts invading their turf who place a higher value on safety--especially when it involves their immediate family members. Throughout the history of most innovations, the influence of the established "nerds" must inevitably be marginalized. The common folk opt for new disruptive technologies only if a minimal degree of user friendliness, aggressive pricing, and reasonable safety have been achieved. Fallows also introduces us to Eclipse Aviation. Sam Williams is one the top executives of this pioneering business entity. The James Bond film "Thunderball" featured his personal jetback transporting invention. However, the lack of an airplane parachute on their models is a turn off for me. It seems that Fallow's wife Deborah and son Tad think the same way. The author ultimately convinced them to join him on a cross country journey, but they hesitated until reassured over a period of several years by his comforting "descriptions of the 'plane with the parachute.'" The blurb on the jacket by the well known Internet guru Esther Dyson touches upon the "Free Flight" evolving business models. She remarks that "this book makes you want to go out and put down a deposit on one of the new aircraft." But is Dyson likely to spend her money and precious time in this manner? While I entertain doubts about her actually going this far, Dyson will almost certainly seriously consider this alternative for her own future travel arrangements. The latter scenario should be the focus for the entrepreneurs and investors about to jump aboard this bandwagon. Is Fallow's new book an exercise in presenting a new opportunity of displaying conspicuous consumption? Should the majority of citizens even care about this subject? After all, small airplane travel will still remain far beyond the financial wherewithal of most people. The answer is adamantly in the affirmative. Those inclined towards class warfare egalitarianism fail to comprehend the overwhelming evidence that trickle down economic activity improves the lives of everyone. The masses indirectly also come out ahead when those in the higher income brackets are able to use their time more productively. Wouldn't you, for instance, feel more relieved knowing that a surgeon was well rested before proceeding with the operation to save your life? I suspect that the wider acceptance of smaller aircraft could alleviate air traffic congestion by at least 5-10%. This admittedly is not as important as the needed public debate to take to task those hypocritical citizens who refuse to consider the building of a new airport in their own proverbial backyard. Nonetheless, Fallows is right on target in asserting that this disruptive technological breakthrough is of major significance. "Free Flight" deserves our genuine interest.
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Summary: THE WAY OF THE FUTURE...
Review: The title of this book captured my attention. "Free Flight: From Airline Hell..." First of all, I have been on a few of those flights in my lifetime, which literally could be aptly described as "free flight," especially when it felt the bottom was about to drop out of the plane. While my lunch was desperately trying to defy the force of gravity, my body felt as if it had found the quickest route of least resistance and was about to catapult into the firey depths of Hell! On one flight, the plane actually overshot the runway, plowed through a chicken coup some considerable distance ahead, and never once missed a beat. "Minor turbulance?" That would be an understatement. When the emergency vehicles appeared on the scene, I wasn't sure if it was for the passangers or the chickens! All that aside, I did enjoy this well-written book even if it did get a little too technical for my liking in some areas. Clearly, the author's expertise in flying comes to light as he casts asides many ill-founded fears of those who cringe at the thought of flying in a small aircraft. The book truly does give some interesting food for thought about the future of the airline industry. What helped make up for the sometimes monotonous technical jargon was the author's humourous wit.
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Summary: Surprisingly timely, surprisingly lively
Review: This book came out before Sept 11, but (like one previous reviewer) I think its message is more compelling than before. As airline travel becomes more and more encumbered, through security precautions, the demand for more flexible point-to-point service is bound to increase. The author could not have anticipated this change but it strengthens his point. The big surprise to me was the lively narrative tone of the book. I noticed it first because of a New Yorker review that said it had the tone of a "boy's adventure story," and in a good way I think that's true. The reader comment from "peter in Portland," about an earlier article in Aviation Week and Space Technology, is absurd. One of the companies that is highlighted in this book, Eclipse Aviation, did not even exist two years ago. And the story in the book is updated through the spring of 2001. Also, one of the points in the book is that within the aviation world many people have been talking about these small plane developments. His book helps explain them to an audience that doesn't see Aviation Week.
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Summary: Excellent outlook on the industry's future
Review: This book gives a very interesting strategic outlook for the aviation industry. It is also a great book about entrepreneurship and the success factors that are required to be successful!
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Summary: What if "Moore¿s Law¿ applied to Airplanes?
Review: To fill out some summer reading time I picked up a copy of "free flight" by James Fallows last week. As a GA pilot I found the book fascinating as it chronicles the struggles of Cirrus Design and other "Next Generation" GA aircraft startups and how they are trying to bring a new world of flight (free flight) into being. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to know where the new technology is taking GA and how the Cirrus aircraft fits in. For those of us that have already place a deposit on the Cirrus SR-20 (in my case via the fractional ownership program run by OurPlane) and are waiting impatiently for its delivery, this book will remind you why the wait will be worth it. Bet you didn't know "Moore's Law" could also apply to Airplanes....
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