Alaska's Skyboys: Cowboy Pilots and the Myth of the Last Frontier

Katherine Johnson Ringsmuth

Alaska's Skyboys: Cowboy Pilots and the Myth of the Last Frontier
Format
Paperback
Publisher
University of Washington Press
Country
United States
Published
1 February 2018
Pages
310
ISBN
9780295742786

Alaska’s Skyboys: Cowboy Pilots and the Myth of the Last Frontier

Katherine Johnson Ringsmuth

This fascinating account of the development of aviation in Alaska examines the daring missions of pilots who initially opened up the territory for military positioning and later for trade and tourism.

Early Alaskan military and bush pilots navigated some of the highest and most rugged terrain on earth, taking off and landing on glaciers, mudflats, and active volcanoes. Although they were consistently portrayed by industry leaders and lawmakers alike as cowboys-and their planes compared to settlers’ covered wagons-the reality was that aviation catapulted Alaska onto a modern, global stage; the federal government subsidized aviation’s growth in the territory as part of the Cold War defense against the Soviet Union. Through personal stories, industry publications, and news accounts, historian Katherine Johnson Ringsmuth uncovers the ways that Alaska’s aviation growth was downplayed in order to perpetuate the myth of the cowboy spirit and the desire to tame what many considered to be the last frontier.

This item is not currently in-stock. It can be ordered online and is expected to ship in 7-14 days

Our stock data is updated periodically, and availability may change throughout the day for in-demand items. Please call the relevant shop for the most current stock information. Prices are subject to change without notice.

Sign in or become a Readings Member to add this title to a wishlist.