Mark writes in a very charming way about the life of a pilot, and more importantly, the different perspective you get when your life is spent mostly at 35,000 feet, away from the day to day issues of borders, weather and time. I found myself captivated by his stories.

This is a lovely read, highly informative yet relaxed in style. Vanhoenacker's passion for aviation comes across powerfully but he never seems strident. As you can probably tell I loved it.

This beautifully written and well-constructed book gives a real insight into both the technicalities of flying a large passenger aircraft, and the life and experience of a long-haul pilot. It answers many of the questions that the international passenger might ask themselves as they experience a commercial flight, and is essential reading for anyone contemplating a career in aviation. Never too technical, never too philosophical, the author communicates his deep love of flying. If you enjoy flying, then this book will enhance your enjoyment: if you are apprehensive, this book will give you confidence in the machines and those who fly them.

Such wonderful detail and beautiful prose from Vanhoenacker, who has loved aeroplanes for as long as he can remember. His real love affair began when the vice president of Boeing helped him out with a school project - and his destination as a pilot was sketched out from that moment on. Despite many people being accustomed to plane journeys now it is still awe-inspiring to take to the skies, and Vanhoenacker has such passion for his job that it is an absolute joy to read about. I recommend this book to anybody with a love (or fascination) of flying.

Mark Vanhoenacker is an American (but living in London) who flies Boing 747s for British Airways. He is an observant, curious and literate pilot with a poet’s heart. In this very satisfying book he describes the peculiar nature of the life lived by a long-distance pilot, some of the knowledge and skills required to fly a large passenger airplane and the diverse sights he has experienced, over the years, of the Earth below and the sky with its aurora borealis, clouds and sunlight. I was impressed by his enthusiasm, his ability to explain flying for non-pilots and his flair for connecting disparate ideas and experiences. In general, the descriptions of what he has seen, in poetic terms, are quite successful. Though including many disparate topics and sub-topics, they are woven together with welcome fluidity. This is a book to help us appreciate what pilots do up forward in their inaccessible cabins and to have a richer experience in general on a plane trip.