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Mark Vanhoenacker
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Skyfaring: A Journey with a Pilot Hardcover – 2 April 2015

by Mark Vanhoenacker (Author)
4.1 out of 5 stars 2,320 ratings
**Sunday Times Bestseller** **Book of the Week on Radio 4** 'One of the most constantly fascinating, but consistently under-appreciated aspects of modern life is the business of flying. Mark Vanhoenacker has written the ideal book on the subject: a description of what it’s like to fly by a commercial pilot who is also a master prose stylist and a deeply sensitive human being. This is a man who is at once a technical expert – he flies 747s across continents – and a poet of the skies. This couldn’t be more highly recommended.' Alain de Botton Think back to when you first flew. When you first left the Earth, and travelled high and fast above its turning arc. When you looked down on a new world, captured simply and perfectly through a window fringed with ice. When you descended towards a city, and arrived from the sky as effortlessly as daybreak. In Skyfaring, airline pilot and flight romantic Mark Vanhoenacker shares his irrepressible love of flying, on a journey from day to night, from new ways of mapmaking and the poetry of physics to the names of winds and the nature of clouds. Here, anew, is the simple wonder that remains at the heart of an experience which modern travellers, armchair and otherwise, all too easily take for granted: the transcendent joy of motion, and the remarkable new perspectives that height and distance bestow on everything we love. **A 2015 Book of the Year – The Economist, The New York Times, GQ and more**
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  1. Print length
    352 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Chatto & Windus
  4. Publication date
    2 April 2015
  5. Dimensions
    14.1 x 3.23 x 22.2 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    0701188669
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0701188665
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  1. By one estimate, the portion of the earth’s surface on which an unclothed human could survive for twenty-four hours is about 15 per cent.
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  2. Alfred de Musset, in a sonnet dedicated to Victor Hugo, wrote that in this ‘low world’ you should love many things, in order to know at the end the thing you love best.
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  3. It’s our experience of a truth we could never have evolved to grasp easily: that the whole world, every place, is going on at once.
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Review

"Vanhoenacker is a remarkable writer. In Skyfaring he reveals his passion for flight, the mechanics of planes, the weightless, meaningful geography of the skies and the scent of the cities he flies to. He creates a still, almost poetic point in the turning, travelling world. This mesmerising book will make you view the world differently. All aboard!" -- Helen Davies ― Sunday Times

"[An] ode to the wonder of flight in the tradition of the great pioneer pilot-author Antoine de Saint Exupéry and Charles Lindbergh... flying remains a magical business" -- Charles Bremner ― The Times

"Mr Vanhoenacker, fortunately for his readers, has lost none of his sense of wonder at the miracle of flight itself... a beautifully observed collection of details, scenes, emotions and facts from the world above the world" ― The Economist

"A description of what it’s like to fly by a commercial pilot who is also a master prose stylist… This is a man who is at once a technical expert – he flies 747s across continents – and a poet of the skies. This couldn’t be more highly recommended" -- Alain de Botton

"A beauty. For so many flying has become humdrum: a bus journey to be endured then forgotten, not enjoyed and recalled. Vanhoenacker makes it wondrous again." -- David Sexton ― Evening Standard

"Beautifully... simply put. Vanhoenacker's prose has a functional eloquence that carries the reader along for the ride." -- Geoff Dyer ― The Guardian

"Reminds us of the magic of aviation... full of information that is wonderful in its simplicity" -- Erica Wagner ― The New Statesman

"[An] endlessly surprising, strikingly original book... combines intelligence and sensitivity with an "outward-looking introspection"" ― Intelligent Life

"Not since Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s classic Vol de Nuit…has there been such a fantastic book about flying… Skyfaring takes the genre to a whole new level. I found myself turning over the corners of almost every page with excitement and admiration" -- Giles Foden ― Condé Nast Traveller

"Engaging, even poetic...Vanhoenacker’s passionate and beautifully written book will remind even the most jaded traveller of the wonder of flight" -- Ian Critchley ― Sunday Times

"An elegant meditation on how flying can lift the soul" ― New York Times, Notable Books of 2015

"A longhaul airline pilot whose vision is unexpectedly poetic and romantic...what stood out for me was that sense of wonder up there...a rather lovely book" -- Libby Purves ― Radio 4

"A poet of the skies to rival St Exupéry... an author of real distinction with a genuinely poetic sensibility as well as a memorable turn of phrase... a perfect voice for a glorious subject... This really is a very good book" ― The Spectator

"...both a manual for infrequent flyers (wherein the physics and metaphysics of time and space are for once essayed in a perfectly straightforward manner) and a skilful meditation on the glories of traversing the earth at the helm of mankind's greatest technological achievement that - yes - flies from the page" -- Bill Prince ― GQ

About the Author

Mark Vanhoenacker is a commercial airline pilot and the author of the international bestseller Skyfaring and How to Land a Plane. A regular contributor to the New York Times and the Financial Times, he has also written for Wired, The Times and the Los Angeles Times. He worked in business before starting his flight training in 2001. He now flies the Boeing 787 Dreamliner from London to cities around the globe. Described as 'a poet of the skies' (Spectator), Mark changes how readers view the world.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Chatto & Windus
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 2 April 2015
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ First Edition
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0701188669
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0701188665
  • Item weight ‏ : ‎ 494 g
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 14.1 x 3.23 x 22.2 cm
  • Best Sellers Rank: 457,956 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • Customer reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 2,320 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
2,320 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers praise the book's beautiful writing style and consider it one of the best aviation books they've read. The information value receives positive feedback for its fascinating view of flying and interesting facts, while the travel content provides a new appreciation of air travel. Customers find the book enjoyable, with one noting how it captures the passion and love of aviation, and they appreciate its humor and enthusiasm. However, some customers find parts of the book boring.

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Writing styleReadabilityInformation valueEnjoymentTravel contentEnthusiasmHumorBoredom
103 customers mention ‘Writing style’84 positive19 negative

Customers praise the writing style of the book, describing it as a beautifully-written ode to the joys of aviation, with one customer noting it is written by a poet of the skies.

"Beautifully written in a way that makes it accessible to everyone whether interested aeroplanes or not...." Read more

"Very well written, factual book, even for aviation enthusiasts gives a lot of inside information and facts known only to Pilots." Read more

"Well written and interesting" Read more

"...really worth reading and in fact the description becomes, in places, poetic...." Read more

86 customers mention ‘Readability’76 positive10 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a fantastic and informative journey through aviation, with one customer noting it's particularly enjoyable for aviation enthusiasts.

"...put him (as a person) in a present day context......otherwise, a great read.... well done" Read more

"Loved this book. The writer, a pilot on 747s is clearly a romantic who loves his job and everything to do with flying...." Read more

"Amazing book - this will change your view of flying forever...." Read more

"A brilliant book with enough technical stuff to satisfy the geek and enough personal insight to satisfy the thoughtful...." Read more

80 customers mention ‘Information value’77 positive3 negative

Customers find the book fascinating and informative, providing great insight into the life of a pilot through interesting encounters and experiences.

"Whilst this is an interesting and enjoyable book, it was not the book that I was expecting...." Read more

"Interesting insight into the details of being a pilot. Whilst the prose is good, I think he overdoes the literary style" Read more

"A great, peaceful, informative and involving read. Thanks BBC for selecting this as a Book of the Week last month. Made me buy this !" Read more

"...Mark's knowledge, experience, intelligent perceptions and crystalline prose crowd each page with pleasure and cannot fail to raise your spirit high." Read more

59 customers mention ‘Enjoyment’48 positive11 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable, describing it as mesmerizing, wonderfully evocative, and appealing on many levels, with one customer noting how it captures the passion and love of aviation.

"Interesting and amusing, could confuse people who do not understand complexities of a pilots life,ie unsocial working hours, jet lag etc." Read more

"A dose of the romance of flying. I'm used to reading about that kind of experience from history, but this is bang up to date." Read more

"...hour by hour, the life of a commercial pilot, but it captures the passion and love of aviation and why Vanhoenacker became a pilot...." Read more

"...a geek's delight in the technical details, a poetic tribute to the beauties of nature, a new philosophy for man's relationship with and place in..." Read more

17 customers mention ‘Travel content’17 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the travel content of the book, appreciating its personal journey through air travel experiences, with one customer noting its detailed description of commercial flight operations and another highlighting its philosophical approach to the aviation business.

"...Part memoir, part travel journal, part introduction to aviation from the perspective of a British Airways pilot...." Read more

"...and industrial frustrations to taint the wonders and miracles of air travel which Mark describes so eloquently...." Read more

"...with a sensitivity and a compassion for the people and the world we travel...." Read more

"...I personally love to travel, savour airports, aeroplanes and that inexpressible moment when the jet liner's wheels leave solid ground and with it..." Read more

6 customers mention ‘Enthusiasm’6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the author's enthusiasm in the book, with one noting how it's contagious and another mentioning its emotional responses to flying, making it suitable for nervous flyers.

"...I’d recommend this book to armchair travellers, nervous flyers and people like me who spend a fair bit of time staring out of plane windows." Read more

"...and sophisticated, knowledgeable and literary, but this does not mask his sheer enthusiasm, his sheer joy in flying and in piloting...." Read more

"...Its funny, seat clenching, eye opening and for people with a nervous disposition to flying, probably quite reassuring!" Read more

"...of the practicalities of life as an airline pilot and the emotional responses to flying, visiting places far and wide (usually very briefly) and..." Read more

5 customers mention ‘Humor’5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book, with one mentioning the perfect comedy timing.

"...It is obviously a serious job but is also full of playful banter & humour. This book is totally devoid of either...." Read more

"...Pause ... Perfect comedy timing... Unfortunately. I dropped my coffee in my lap" Read more

"...Its funny, seat clenching, eye opening and for people with a nervous disposition to flying, probably quite reassuring!" Read more

"...Clever, at times funny, beautiful prose. I love this book so much that I've already purchased a further two copies as gifts. Highly recommended!" Read more

7 customers mention ‘Boredom’0 positive7 negative

Customers find the book boring and not engaging for very long.

"Rather verbose. In fact I have found it boring and disappointing. May finish reading this book when I have no paint drying!" Read more

"So called "lyricism" was not engaging for very long and got so bored with the waffling...." Read more

"...During these congested areas, the book becomes less engaging...." Read more

"...I found the it mostly boring and disappointing." Read more

The perfect travel companion
5 out of 5 stars
The perfect travel companion
As a retired airline pilot I thoroughly enjoyed “Skyfaring”. It is written with a sensitivity and a compassion for the people and the world we travel. A good insight for those outside the industry and a reminder for those of us who are a part of it, as to why it is so special.
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Mick Rooney
    5.0 out of 5 stars A thoroughly enjoyable read.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 December 2015
    Verified Purchase
    A thoroughly enjoyable read. This was the highlight of my 2015 Christmas AV book reads. Part memoir, part travel journal, part introduction to aviation from the perspective of a British Airways pilot. Vanhoenacker grew up in the United States, but his family origins are steeped in Europe, notably Belgium.

    Vanhoenacker weaves some magical prose when he tells us about his passion to fly and become a pilot. If you are looking for a nuts and bolts technical book about becoming a pilot and the lifestyle that goes with it; this book might not be for you. It isn't going to tell you moment by moment, hour by hour, the life of a commercial pilot, but it captures the passion and love of aviation and why Vanhoenacker became a pilot. This is a true windows of wonder on flight and what takes our career in one direction, even when we never start out at the point of that passion.

    Vanhoenacker takes you into the cockpit of small aircraft where he cut his AV teeth, the A320, and later his beloved 747. Sure, he will answer all those 'ask the pilot' questions you ever think of when you fly as a passenger or simply because you are an avid AV fan, but he goes deeper than that, and opens those AV windows of wonder.

    This is a real personal Skyfaring Journey, and Vanhoenacker, never forgets you are behind him in the jump seat. But before he explains what the APU does, he's likely to remind you of what you should also not be missing beyond the quietness of the night sky and the journey unfolding ahead.

    Vanhoenacker balances perfectly the role of pilot and scientific teacher in a blanket of literature and music.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Debbie
    4.0 out of 5 stars Something in this book for just about everyone - highly recommended
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 March 2017
    Verified Purchase
    A fascinating view of flying by a commercial pilot of a 747 who is still as much in love with it as he ever was before he started, this long book is all kinds of things at once - a hymn to man's genious for inventing what must be the most unlikely candidate for the safest form of transport, a geek's delight in the technical details, a poetic tribute to the beauties of nature, a new philosophy for man's relationship with and place in the world, a memoir of interesting encounters and experiences, an insight into the physiological effects on the life of a pilot (place lag as well as jet lag).

    I found myself taking much longer than I expected to read this book, because although it's an easy read, there is so much in there to take in that you need to digest it as you go along.

    I think it would make a great read for anyone who is afraid of flying because it provides reassurance of the huge amount of engineering and sheer brilliance that goes into flying - it's not half as random or chancy as one might think! - and equally for anyone who loves flying, because it allows you to bask in so much detail. Equally anyone who is indifferent to flying when they start reading the book should at least have more respect for planes and pilots by the time they finish.

    Highly recommended
    11 people found this helpful
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  • Jeremy Walton
    5.0 out of 5 stars The world above the world
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 November 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I bought this to read on the first transatlantic flight I'd taken in a few years, having seen it in the bookshop at Gatwick Airport. It's a beautifully-written ode to the joys, wonders and mysteries of flying, as told by the pilot of a British Airways 747. He describes how he became interested in flying when a young boy, how he would always sit by the window on any flights he took as a passenger, how he took a job as a management consultant in order to maximise his time spent in the air, and the successive levels of his training as a pilot. He provides technical detail about important matters which passengers have long taken for granted: how the pilot knows where the plane is, where it's heading and how fast; how the plane takes off and lands - indeed, how it's able to fly. But this fascinating information is imparted in language which is so graceful as to be almost poetic - as, for example, when he writes about the wings that hold the plane in flight [p112]:

    "It's right to say that wings 'soar'. They soar, and pull us up. On many planes a line drawn between the tips of the wings in flight would pass well above the fuselage, which hangs in the bow they form."

    On the same page, he notes that the wingspan of a 747 is about twice the distance of the Wright brothers' first manned flight (which I recall as the only interesting thing in the otherwise execrable I Know You Got Soul). Elsewhere, his words soar to match the beautiful strangeness of what he's seeing from the cockpit [p271]:

    "At night from a plane it is easy to see ourselves as we are: sandwiched between the celestial and terrestrial spheres, the icy ball of stars turning frictionlessly over us, a high mirror to the steady roll of the dark lands and waters and the lights of cities."

    I really can't remember reading such a well-written book - about anything - for a long time. That it comes from an author who earn his living at another trade makes it all the more remarkable. Strongly recommended.
    10 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Suzanne
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for anyone who travels through the air!
    Reviewed in Canada on 21 September 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Loved this book. What a wonderful writer to share his experience of being a pilot. I will always think of his perspective when boarding a plane.
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  • Alex A.
    5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing book!
    Reviewed in Italy on 13 November 2016
    Verified Purchase
    An amazing book! This is a very interesting as well as amazing book for inspiring pilots. Really recommended to get it
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book
    Reviewed in India on 19 June 2018
    Verified Purchase
    After reading "Airport", i was eagerly searching for a work about the pilots and their job in flight when i came across this book.. I love to watch earth from above, mountains and oceans from above and this book really took me through all those heights and distances virtually. Though a bit techinal at times, it is enjoyable for any air travel lover.
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  • oddThomas
    2.0 out of 5 stars Unexpectedly boring...
    Reviewed in France on 24 September 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Was hoping to share some insight or first hand experiences with the author about his daily life up there, instead was driven to sleep, page after page, with boring ramblings about....(well, don't even remember...)
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  • Bookman
    5.0 out of 5 stars A stunning debut - poetic, insightful, moving
    Reviewed in the United States on 2 June 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This is a truly lovely mix of memoir, observations from the sky, and technical know-how.

    Vanhoenacker writes about the personal journey that takes him to the cockpit. The passage describing flying his father to Budapest is particularly moving - 'We cross the far coast and I suddenly realise that I am flying my dad over his homeland.'

    He describes sea and ice seen from the plane in passages that are simply poetic:

    'It is routine from the cockpit to see the storms rising, and clouds forming, blistering upwards or vanishing in real time, and to see from them the fall of new rain on the roof of the ocean; or to overfly the endpoints of glaciers, where shards of the ancient snow-glass shatter in the sun and tumble into the police-light blue of northern seas.'

    Above all, he finds something majestic in an experience which we too often now regard as humdrum. Even the routine of his job can be made to sound beautiful: 'There is a majesty to the borderlands, where pilots will transfer from one set of controllers to another. 'Call now Jeddah,' the controller will say to us. 'You are released.''

    This is heartily recommended for all those interested in flight, or anyone who's after a new and wonderful perspective on our world.
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