One Chance for Glory

About the Book

The book is about Clyde Pangborn, a Washington-born early aviator who accomplished feats far exceeding those of persons such as Charles Lindberg but got nearly zero recognition for is deeds. The book, One Chance for Glory is a historical fiction book about Pangborn being the first to fly the 4500 miles nonstop across the Pacific in 1931. To do this, he had to jettison his landing gear into the ocean shortly after takeoff from Japan, do an in-flight repair job outside the airplane at 17,000 feet at night in frigid October weather, put the airplane into a terrifying dive down to 1400 feet over the Bering Sea to restart the engine, divert the flight path to avoid collision with Mt Rainer upon arrival in the US, and belly-land (crash land) the airplane on a landing strip cut out of the sage brush above Wenatchee, Washington.

About the Author

The book was authored by two brothers, Edward T Heikell and Robert L Heikell, born in Yakima, Washington and raised a few miles south in Wapato, Washington—about 60 miles south-west of Wenatchee, Washington, were much of this history was made. Edward T Heikell is an aeronautical engineer who spent his career with the Boeing Company. While in high school, he earned his private flying license from Charley McAllister (in Yakima, referred to in book) who sported his license signed by Orville Wright. Edward ultimately became a part owner of a Cessna 182 for about 15 years. After his retirement in 1995, he obtained his commercial license with an instrument flight rating and eventually accumulating nearly 2000 hours of flying time. Most of his reading and writing, by necessity, was technical writing. His latest was being the manager of a twelve volume, 3000 page proposal for a major program being sought by the Company. Robert L Heikell was in School administration during his career. Also a pilot, his love throughout his life included the building of remote controlled airplanes. Very accomplished in his hobby, in later years it centered on the Bellanca J-300 Long Distance Special flown by Pangborn. His models received national recognition for detail and accuracy. He inspired the book as a means of getting more recognition for the early aviator, Clyde Pangborn. In his activities, he became more and more aware of the history surrounding the Wenatchee area and the connection that the community has with its sister city, Misawa Japan.