ABSTRACT
What aviation historians call the golden twenties was truly a soul-stirring time for pilots and the American public. Flying airplanes higher, faster, and farther became an irresistible challenge–almost a Promethean defiance. By 1930, it was nothing to scoff at Jules Verne's around-the-world in eighty days; how about in fifteen or less? Marathon flying was tricky business. It required that the pilot burn every ounce of gas before refueling in an attempt to cover as many miles as possible, but it was also a kick in the pants. For the public it was vicarious adventure of the highest order. Just as Phi-leas Fogg and Passpartout dazzled the world with their exploits in Verne's fictional account, so too did their real life counterparts.
