Wilbur, Orville . . . and Simone

About the Book

In this heartwarming historical fiction story, after Wilbur saves her life, the permanently injured seagull Simone helps the Wright Brothers learn to fly. You get the expert gull’s-eye view of humans achieving what most consider impossible. Step by step, Simone guides Will and Orv from steering a kite through kiting a glider, manned glider flight, and finally, powered flight. The action is real history, and the gull-to-man dialogue is both aeronautically insightful and emotionally sensitive. As Simone says, “After all, these guys were only human.” You go, gull!

About the Author

Bill Eckert is a 1968 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. He served a thirty-year military career in the US Air Force and then served as a civilian speech writer for the first five commanders of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command. Bill has experienced hang gliding off the dunes at Kitty Hawk and knows what it’s like to land on your face in the sand. Bill and his wife, Sue, live in Colorado Springs, Colorado. You can contact Bill at billsueeckert@aol.com.