...And Then What Happened?

Harold Harris and the Early Development of Aviation

And Then What Happened? reviews the career of Harold R. Harris that for a remarkable near-eighty years involved every aspect of aviation. An engineer, he was notable for his fearless innovations, from night flying and airport lighting to test piloting to techniques for overseeing the redesign of aircraft for cotton dusting or the transport of large heavy machinery. Harris was unique in his ability to transition between the worlds of the military (in both World Wars) and commercial aviation. A practical man, he excelled at hands-on operations. A good deal has been written about his early exploits, including the famous emergency parachute jump. Until now, however, little has been written about his administrative ability, his concern for the safety of both passengers and crew or his talent through hard work and dogged persistence at achieving the realization of a dream. Regarding Harris personal exploits, Justin H. Libby, known for publishing a series of articles covering the exploits of early aviators, observed . . .how many [people [besides Harold Harris] have ever had 26 flying records. . .as well as being inducted into probably the two most prestigious air societies: the American Institute of Astronautics and Aeronautics and the Society of Experimental Test Pilots? In the larger picture, this book is a tribute to the contribution made by one man, Harold Ross Harris, to the amazing history of powered flight in the U.S, and throughout the world.