First published 2001
James Fallows takes readers inside the world of aviation innovators working to transform how Americans fly. The Atlantic Monthly correspondent examines three promising developments that could replace today's crowded hub system with faster, more convenient alternatives. He follows researchers at NASA developing small aircraft technology, engineers creating planes equipped with whole-aircraft parachutes for enhanced safety, and entrepreneurs building low-cost jets designed for air taxi operations. Each group pursues a different path toward the same goal: making air travel more accessible and efficient. Fallows shows how these innovations could reshape commercial aviation by offering travelers direct routes between smaller airports, bypassing the delays and complications of major hubs. The book reveals the technical challenges, financial obstacles, and regulatory hurdles these pioneers face as they work to bring their visions to market.
Genres: business, non-fiction, engineering, aviation
Vibes: fast-paced, informative, thought-provoking
Tropes: investigative-journalism, technological-progress
288 pages · Hardcover · PublicAffairs