I hope my US followers are recovering after their celebrations of yesterday's National Aviation Day. If you haven't read THE BIG HOP I think you are probably incomplete. The Wall Street Journal (@wsj.com) called it "Riveting." Who am I to argue? wwnorton.com/books/the-bi...

The Big Hop

“Riveting.… [R]estores the 1919 achievement of those two young men, Alcock and Brown, to their rightful place in aviation history.” —Julia Flynn Siler, Wall Street JournalThe ...

wwnorton.com

Just 99p on Kindle in the UK this month "a true-life thriller" observer.co.uk/culture/book...

The race across the Atlantic | The Observer

David Rooney's account of the daring pilots who competed to make "the big hop" in 1919 is a true-life thriller

observer.co.uk

UK followers: in August, The Big Hop on Kindle is just £0.99. Amazon's #1 bestseller in Aviation! It was a Sunday Times "Summer Reads" of 2025. "A glorious romp." Perfect* for the holiday flight. (*Some risk of air-sickness, as The Observer observed) www.amazon.co.uk/Big-Hop-Non-...

a storefront that looks like it was drawn by hand. even the glass seems to move. this is maison aux deux vitrines in jambes, namur, belgium, designed by belgian architect adolphe ledoux around 1908–1909.

Samson. (photo 1880?) The first locomotive to run on rails in Canada. Built in Great Britain in 1838, arriving in Nova Scotia in 1839, operating until 1883, and nearly scrapped. Displayed at the Chicago World's Fair 1893. Now resides... in the Museum of Industry, Nova Scotia.

There’s nothing like waiting 161 years to leave a bad review

This is brilliant... ✈️ www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...

Scotland fans fly 22 hours in tiny plane to World Cup match

David Smith and Fraser MacIntyre flew across the Atlantic, with stops in Iceland, Greenland and northern Canada.

bbc.co.uk

Happy paperback publication day to @rooneyvision.bsky.social for The Big Hop! The book is great and I can think of no better book on Alcock and Brown as well as the other teams that attempted to fly the Atlantic in 1919. Watch my chat with David with the Vimy here: youtu.be/5OPUSy8ndHY

Why The Big Hop Was The Most Dangerous Flight Ever Attempted

YouTube video by The Aviation Show

youtu.be

David Rooney@rooneyvision.bsky.social · 2mo ago

THE BIG HOP is now out in paperback ✈️ A Times 'Book of the Week' and a Sunday Times 'Summer Read of the Year' Read the first few pages here to see if you like it. I'm sure you will. Available wherever you get your books: print, e-reader, audiobook. www.penguin.co.uk/books/453796...

THE BIG HOP is now out in paperback ✈️ A Times 'Book of the Week' and a Sunday Times 'Summer Read of the Year' Read the first few pages here to see if you like it. I'm sure you will. Available wherever you get your books: print, e-reader, audiobook. www.penguin.co.uk/books/453796...

The Big Hop

A non-stop flight across the Atlantic might seem routine today. But it is only possible because of those who went first. ‘Vivid and compelling’ John Lancaster ‘A delectable serving of escapist nostal...

penguin.co.uk

Recently back from a week in Samarkand on assignment. Now with a sore neck from looking up in amazement all the time. Wow. What a city. And what a warm welcome there. A few pics of domes in mausoleums and madrasas, which I thought you might like to see.

Ever wonder who Brown was *before* he was part of Alcock and Brown? We hadn't, but we wish we had when we spotted @rooneyvision.bsky.social's delightful « Ted Brown's African Adventure. » It's a perfect, long-form weekend read. (📸 See ALT) | 🛩️ 🥇 | 🧵 1/2 | 🔗 rooneyvision.substack.com/p/ted-browns...

I've just sent out my latest Substack post (sorry it's been a while!) Ted Brown's African adventure How electrical engineering, the American inventive urge, and a taste for gold and diamonds made one of the world's most celebrated aviators... Please subscribe, share, and comment!

Ted Brown's African Adventure

How electrical engineering, the American inventive urge, and a taste for gold and diamonds made one of the world's most celebrated aviators

rooneyvision.substack.com

Wonderful...

BluFly 🛩@blufly.media · 5mo ago

Just when you think every microscopic detail of Amelia Earhart's life has been thoroughly examined, something new shows up. In this case, twenty-one seconds of her voice, brought to you by the great people of the indelibly magnificent @librarycongress.bsky.social. | 🛩️ 🎙️ 🥇

Brooklands flying village (shown here c.1912) was a crucible of aviation innovation. Its alumni changed the world. I'm giving a talk there on 18 Mar about The Big Hop - the first nonstop flight across the Atlantic. You'll enjoy it. See you there! www.brooklandsmuseum.com/membership/m...

Brooklands flying village (shown here c.1912) was a crucible of aviation innovation. Its alumni changed the world. I'm giving a talk there on 18 Mar about The Big Hop - the first nonstop flight across the Atlantic. You'll enjoy it. See you there! www.brooklandsmuseum.com/membership/m...

While most would remember the flights of Lindbergh and Earhart, Alcock and Brown's flight across the Atlantic was very much on the minds of the later adventurers. @rooneyvision.bsky.social, author of The Big Hop, explains the significance of their 1919 flight. Watch here: youtu.be/5OPUSy8ndHY

FARMAN, Flying school. Fixed price, all damage risks covered by the company. Aeroplane rides from 50 francs. Aircraft sales. Poster from the late 1910s, early 1920s

✈️ New Episode✈️ In 1919, the Atlantic was finally flown. Author of 'The Big Hop', @rooneyvision.bsky.social, joins me at the @sciencemuseum.org.uk to discuss Alcock and Brown's epic flight with the Vickers Vimy they made their flight in. 📺 youtu.be/5OPUSy8ndHY 🎧 pod.fo/e/3889b2 #aviation #avgeek

The Vickers Vimy That Conquered the Atlantic

In 1919, four British teams arrived in Newfoundland to attempt to be the first to fly across the Atlantic non-stop, the Big Hop, and claim the Daily Mail's £10,000 prize. Author David Rooney joins us…

youtu.be

Our fab Patreon supporters have access to our second interview filmed in the Flight Gallery at the Science Museum, where @rooneyvision.bsky.social tells the tale of Alcock and Brown, The Big Hop and their Vickers Vimy. Join us here: www.patreon.com/posts/big-ho... #aviation #avgeek #histbookchat

We had a wonderful morning yesterday at the @sciencemuseum.org.uk filming with Doug Millard and @rooneyvision.bsky.social for our next episodes. Huge thanks to the team at the Science Museum for letting us play in the Flight Gallery, home to one of the best aircraft collections in the country.

Happy Christmas everyone, from me and also from this little guy (Hanswurst als frölicher Zecher (Hanswurst as a merry drinker), Austria, about 1820, in the wonderful Vienna Clock Museum) Cheers!

Christmas Day lies dead ahead! Here are ten of our favourite history books published over the past year, with entries from @ianleslie.bsky.social, @drjoannepaul.bsky.social, @rooneyvision.bsky.social, @shafikmeghji.bsky.social, @highamnews.bsky.social and more👇 Happy Christmas, all! 🎄

Our favourite history books of 2025 - Unseen Histories

Looking for a history book this Christmas? Here's a list of our favourites.

unseenhistories.com

Still looking for gifts? No need to brave the shops. Stay in, buy a few of these ("a joy to read" said The Times), now crack on with the cheese www.amazon.co.uk/Big-Hop-Non-...

Still looking for gifts? No need to brave the shops. Stay in, buy a few of these ("a joy to read" said The Times), now crack on with the cheese www.amazon.co.uk/Big-Hop-Non-...

It's today you gorgeous people

David Rooney@rooneyvision.bsky.social · 9mo ago

🎅 Solve ALL your Xmas gifting THIS MONDAY 🎄 1. Come to my Big Hop talk at Goldsmiths Hall 2. Buy a book for everyone u know (it's a Times book of the week, they will love it) 3. I sign w/ personalised messages 4. Rest of Dec clear for parties etc 🥳 www.thegoldsmiths.co.uk/whats-on/his...

🎅 Solve ALL your Xmas gifting THIS MONDAY 🎄 1. Come to my Big Hop talk at Goldsmiths Hall 2. Buy a book for everyone u know (it's a Times book of the week, they will love it) 3. I sign w/ personalised messages 4. Rest of Dec clear for parties etc 🥳 www.thegoldsmiths.co.uk/whats-on/his...

History at The Hall – The Big Hop: Adventures in the Workshop and the Air — The Goldsmiths' Company

On the evening of Monday 8 December 2025, join writer, historian and museum curator David Rooney for History at The Hall – The Big Hop: Adventures in the Workshop and the Air.

thegoldsmiths.co.uk

I really enjoyed discussing The Big Hop with Alex and Matt... please take a look... and remember, Christmas is coming, it's the perfect gift for anyone with a taste for adventure... www.davidrooney.uk/the-big-hop

The Big Hop — David Rooney

davidrooney.uk

15-Minute Book Club@15minutebook.club · 9mo ago

We are delighted to share our launch episode with you, as @rooneyvision.bsky.social joins us to discuss the men who showed up in Newfoundland after the end of the Great War to attempt to fly the Atlantic. David, your 15 minutes begin now... 📺 youtu.be/OTIqIje5ixI 🎧 shows.acast.com/15-minute-bo...

I'm talking about The Big Hop - "a true-life thriller" according to The Observer - at the Goldsmiths' Company on Monday, December 8th. It'll be fun! I'll be signing copies afterwards. I'm told only a handful of tickets remain so you might need to hurry. www.thegoldsmiths.co.uk/whats-on/his...

History at The Hall – The Big Hop: Adventures in the Workshop and the Air — The Goldsmiths' Company

On the evening of Monday 8 December 2025, join writer, historian and museum curator David Rooney for History at The Hall – The Big Hop: Adventures in the Workshop and the Air.

thegoldsmiths.co.uk

I'm talking about The Big Hop - "a true-life thriller" according to The Observer - at the Goldsmiths' Company on Monday, December 8th. It'll be fun! I'll be signing copies afterwards. I'm told only a handful of tickets remain so you might need to hurry. www.thegoldsmiths.co.uk/whats-on/his...

History at The Hall – The Big Hop: Adventures in the Workshop and the Air — The Goldsmiths' Company

On the evening of Monday 8 December 2025, join writer, historian and museum curator David Rooney for History at The Hall – The Big Hop: Adventures in the Workshop and the Air.

thegoldsmiths.co.uk

Just finished the fantastic The Big Hop by @rooneyvision.bsky.social about the first flight over the Atlantic. It’s one of those bits of history that I had no idea about. A gripping read. I grew up near to Brooklands and had no idea about the aviation history of the place too.