Fire and Air: A Life on the Edge
by Patty Wagstaff (1997 Nonfiction).

Within five years of earning her pilot’s license, and only three years after her first aerobatic lesson, Patty Wagstaff achieved a place on the United States aerobatic team. In less than fourteen years, she became the first woman to win the U.S. Aerobatic Championship, a feat she repeated in three consecutive years. This book chronicles Patty Wagstaff’s life, from her difficult childhood in the 1950’s and 1960’s, to her success in the demanding sport of aerobatic flying. While this autobiography is entertaining and personal, it is also highly technical in terms of the aircraft, how to fly, and the actual physics and engineering involved in making the plane perform all those maneuvers. It is a story of overcoming adversity and succeeding beyond most people’s wildest dreams and capabilities. Recommended for fans of airplanes and air shows.

Reviewed by Ginger Russell