Wings Around the World: The Exhilarating Story of one Woman's Epic Flight from the North Pole to Antarctica

by Polly Vacher

Polly Vacher wanted to become the first pilot to complete a solo flight around the world via both Poles in a single-engine aircraft. Her 60,000 mile voyage would take her to every continent. She prepared meticulously for two years and had garnered multifarious sponsors.

However, as she took off, flanked by a Hurricane and a Spitfire, and waved off by her family and the Prince of Wales, she suddenly felt so alone. She had begun a remarkable expedition that would gain her three world records, but would also see her encounter extremes of weather and emotion, kindness, obstruction and also a little political intrigue.

160 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2006

Reviews

[Jen]

I had heard an interview with Polly Vacher on a podcast and was keen to learn more about what motivates a 50-year-old woman to take to the skies, to learn to fly, and ultimately to fly around the world. While I enjoyed the book, I think it was a bit plodding and focused far too much on the bureaucratic red tape issues (which I understand was a bit part of her journey, particularly with flying in the Antarctic, but not really the part of adventure writing that is the most captivating to a reader). Would have loved to know more about what she saw and thought as she explored so many incredible places.