Bird of the Islands

The Story of a Flying Boat in the South Seas

by Sir Gordon Taylor

Cassell Australia, 1964, [First Edition], b/w photographic plates, illustrated end-papers, hardcover, dustjacket

Very Good Condition, a little edge and shelf wear, a little rubbing on edges and corners, pages age-toned, dustjacket shows signs of wear with small tears and chips, rubbing and creasing (see photographs)

'Even as he was bringing the now world-famous Frigate Bird II in to land at Sydney's Rose Bay in 1951 at the end of his historic flight to open up the route for a regular air service between Australia and South America, Sir Gordon Taylor was making plans for a unique flying boat cruise service in the South Pacific.
Now, thirteen years later, he brings us the absorbing story of just how those plans developed in a triumphant success.  Believing that a cruise through the South Sea Islands should become a real, personal contact with the islands and their people instead of the usual over-organised tour that so often constitutes the Travel Agency's idea of Paradise, Sir Gordon developed his own, individual approach to the venture which always leaves time for the surprising and the unplanned.'