Introduction: "Why the Birds Sing" -- Preflight -- The Icarian sea -- A new natural power -- Breakout -- Automobile of the air -- Jules Verne in a suitcase -- Filling the sky -- The race -- The tyrant -- Operation Chopper -- Last man out -- Back in the world -- Chariots of the gods -- Something to watch over me -- The great stick -- Timeline of the helicopter -- Cast of notable helicopters.