"Grace Lafferty, an eighteen-year-old wing-walker, thrills crowds with barrel rolls and loop-the-loops in hopes of making enough money to get to the 1922 World Aviation Expo"--

Relates how the young pilot distinguished himself in World War II and subsequently became the first person to break the sonic barrier.

Introduction: Celebrating a century of conquering the air -- Experimentation takes flight -- Aviation goes to war -- Flight comes of age -- Aviation jets into the future -- Commercial aviation spreads its wings -- Aviation experiences some turbulence -- Aviation reaches for the stars -- Military aviation flies to the forefront -- Flying toward a second century.