David Rooney
@rooneyvision.bsky.social
Writer and curator. THE BIG HOP (Chatto & Windus/W. W. Norton) out now.
https://www.davidrooney.uk/the-big-hop
https://www.davidrooney.uk/the-big-hop
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.
www.thegoldsmiths.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 4:49 PM
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...
Reposted by David Rooney
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.
September 23, 2025 at 5:26 PM
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.
THE BIG HOP is a Kindle Daily Deal today (at least in the UK). A mere £1.99! Well worth a punt I'd say, but you'll need to act fast...
amazon.co.uk/Big-Hop-Non-...
If you've already read it, would you care to leave an Amazon rating or review? It helps enormously!
amazon.co.uk/Big-Hop-Non-...
If you've already read it, would you care to leave an Amazon rating or review? It helps enormously!
September 12, 2025 at 9:20 AM
THE BIG HOP is a Kindle Daily Deal today (at least in the UK). A mere £1.99! Well worth a punt I'd say, but you'll need to act fast...
amazon.co.uk/Big-Hop-Non-...
If you've already read it, would you care to leave an Amazon rating or review? It helps enormously!
amazon.co.uk/Big-Hop-Non-...
If you've already read it, would you care to leave an Amazon rating or review? It helps enormously!
I've just sent out the final post in this week's aviation series. After flying the Atlantic in 1919, what next for Jack Alcock?
There's often a price to pay for being first. We owe the pioneers a great debt.
I wish you safe travels...
rooneyvision.substack.com/p/after-the-...
There's often a price to pay for being first. We owe the pioneers a great debt.
I wish you safe travels...
rooneyvision.substack.com/p/after-the-...
After the Big Hop was over – what next? 4/4
Jack Alcock – the Vickers pilot
rooneyvision.substack.com
August 29, 2025 at 11:46 AM
I've just sent out the final post in this week's aviation series. After flying the Atlantic in 1919, what next for Jack Alcock?
There's often a price to pay for being first. We owe the pioneers a great debt.
I wish you safe travels...
rooneyvision.substack.com/p/after-the-...
There's often a price to pay for being first. We owe the pioneers a great debt.
I wish you safe travels...
rooneyvision.substack.com/p/after-the-...
Reposted by David Rooney
We're 3/4 through this week's series looking at what happened next for the Big Hop competitors.
Today it's Ted Brown, the Vickers navigator.
If you haven't yet read The Big Hop, you know what to do! One of the most remarkable stories of the modern age.
rooneyvision.substack.com/p/after-the-...
Today it's Ted Brown, the Vickers navigator.
If you haven't yet read The Big Hop, you know what to do! One of the most remarkable stories of the modern age.
rooneyvision.substack.com/p/after-the-...
After the Big Hop was over – what next? 3/4
Ted Brown – the Vickers navigator
rooneyvision.substack.com
August 28, 2025 at 11:14 AM
We're 3/4 through this week's series looking at what happened next for the Big Hop competitors.
Today it's Ted Brown, the Vickers navigator.
If you haven't yet read The Big Hop, you know what to do! One of the most remarkable stories of the modern age.
rooneyvision.substack.com/p/after-the-...
Today it's Ted Brown, the Vickers navigator.
If you haven't yet read The Big Hop, you know what to do! One of the most remarkable stories of the modern age.
rooneyvision.substack.com/p/after-the-...
We're 3/4 through this week's series looking at what happened next for the Big Hop competitors.
Today it's Ted Brown, the Vickers navigator.
If you haven't yet read The Big Hop, you know what to do! One of the most remarkable stories of the modern age.
rooneyvision.substack.com/p/after-the-...
Today it's Ted Brown, the Vickers navigator.
If you haven't yet read The Big Hop, you know what to do! One of the most remarkable stories of the modern age.
rooneyvision.substack.com/p/after-the-...
After the Big Hop was over – what next? 3/4
Ted Brown – the Vickers navigator
rooneyvision.substack.com
August 28, 2025 at 11:14 AM
We're 3/4 through this week's series looking at what happened next for the Big Hop competitors.
Today it's Ted Brown, the Vickers navigator.
If you haven't yet read The Big Hop, you know what to do! One of the most remarkable stories of the modern age.
rooneyvision.substack.com/p/after-the-...
Today it's Ted Brown, the Vickers navigator.
If you haven't yet read The Big Hop, you know what to do! One of the most remarkable stories of the modern age.
rooneyvision.substack.com/p/after-the-...
Reposted by David Rooney
The second of this week's 4-part series of aviation posts has just gone out!
Finished The Big Hop and want to know what happened after the contest was over?
Today's post: Harry Hawker and Mac Grieve of Sopwith. Please like & subscribe, and so on.
rooneyvision.substack.com/p/after-the-...
Finished The Big Hop and want to know what happened after the contest was over?
Today's post: Harry Hawker and Mac Grieve of Sopwith. Please like & subscribe, and so on.
rooneyvision.substack.com/p/after-the-...
After the Big Hop was over – what next? 2/4
Mac Grieve and Harry Hawker – the Sopwith team
rooneyvision.substack.com
August 27, 2025 at 12:52 PM
The second of this week's 4-part series of aviation posts has just gone out!
Finished The Big Hop and want to know what happened after the contest was over?
Today's post: Harry Hawker and Mac Grieve of Sopwith. Please like & subscribe, and so on.
rooneyvision.substack.com/p/after-the-...
Finished The Big Hop and want to know what happened after the contest was over?
Today's post: Harry Hawker and Mac Grieve of Sopwith. Please like & subscribe, and so on.
rooneyvision.substack.com/p/after-the-...
The second of this week's 4-part series of aviation posts has just gone out!
Finished The Big Hop and want to know what happened after the contest was over?
Today's post: Harry Hawker and Mac Grieve of Sopwith. Please like & subscribe, and so on.
rooneyvision.substack.com/p/after-the-...
Finished The Big Hop and want to know what happened after the contest was over?
Today's post: Harry Hawker and Mac Grieve of Sopwith. Please like & subscribe, and so on.
rooneyvision.substack.com/p/after-the-...
After the Big Hop was over – what next? 2/4
Mac Grieve and Harry Hawker – the Sopwith team
rooneyvision.substack.com
August 27, 2025 at 12:52 PM
The second of this week's 4-part series of aviation posts has just gone out!
Finished The Big Hop and want to know what happened after the contest was over?
Today's post: Harry Hawker and Mac Grieve of Sopwith. Please like & subscribe, and so on.
rooneyvision.substack.com/p/after-the-...
Finished The Big Hop and want to know what happened after the contest was over?
Today's post: Harry Hawker and Mac Grieve of Sopwith. Please like & subscribe, and so on.
rooneyvision.substack.com/p/after-the-...
Reposted by David Rooney
It's a bumper week of aviation content on the newsletter this week!
If you completed The Big Hop and wanted to know what happened to the competitors after the contest was over, read on.
Today's post: the Martinsyde men.
Please like & subscribe, etc etc
rooneyvision.substack.com/p/after-the-...
If you completed The Big Hop and wanted to know what happened to the competitors after the contest was over, read on.
Today's post: the Martinsyde men.
Please like & subscribe, etc etc
rooneyvision.substack.com/p/after-the-...
After the Big Hop was over – what next? 1/4
Charles Morgan, Conrad Biddlecombe, and Fred Raynham – the Martinsyde team
rooneyvision.substack.com
August 26, 2025 at 11:45 AM
It's a bumper week of aviation content on the newsletter this week!
If you completed The Big Hop and wanted to know what happened to the competitors after the contest was over, read on.
Today's post: the Martinsyde men.
Please like & subscribe, etc etc
rooneyvision.substack.com/p/after-the-...
If you completed The Big Hop and wanted to know what happened to the competitors after the contest was over, read on.
Today's post: the Martinsyde men.
Please like & subscribe, etc etc
rooneyvision.substack.com/p/after-the-...
It's a bumper week of aviation content on the newsletter this week!
If you completed The Big Hop and wanted to know what happened to the competitors after the contest was over, read on.
Today's post: the Martinsyde men.
Please like & subscribe, etc etc
rooneyvision.substack.com/p/after-the-...
If you completed The Big Hop and wanted to know what happened to the competitors after the contest was over, read on.
Today's post: the Martinsyde men.
Please like & subscribe, etc etc
rooneyvision.substack.com/p/after-the-...
After the Big Hop was over – what next? 1/4
Charles Morgan, Conrad Biddlecombe, and Fred Raynham – the Martinsyde team
rooneyvision.substack.com
August 26, 2025 at 11:45 AM
It's a bumper week of aviation content on the newsletter this week!
If you completed The Big Hop and wanted to know what happened to the competitors after the contest was over, read on.
Today's post: the Martinsyde men.
Please like & subscribe, etc etc
rooneyvision.substack.com/p/after-the-...
If you completed The Big Hop and wanted to know what happened to the competitors after the contest was over, read on.
Today's post: the Martinsyde men.
Please like & subscribe, etc etc
rooneyvision.substack.com/p/after-the-...
Reposted by David Rooney
A few pics from NASMs recently reopened WW1 gallery. 1st up the Albatros D.Va, displayed outside the gallery entrance. This mid-war pursuit saw combat - bullet holes were found in it. 1/6
August 15, 2025 at 7:16 PM
A few pics from NASMs recently reopened WW1 gallery. 1st up the Albatros D.Va, displayed outside the gallery entrance. This mid-war pursuit saw combat - bullet holes were found in it. 1/6
Reposted by David Rooney
Shoutout to @rooneyvision.bsky.social whose great history of the 1919 Alcock/Brown crossing, The Big Hop, I've now finished. David, you tell this story so well; many thanks for casting your net to take in the roles of those on the Sopwith, Martinsyde & HP teams. You broadened my take on the events!
August 9, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Shoutout to @rooneyvision.bsky.social whose great history of the 1919 Alcock/Brown crossing, The Big Hop, I've now finished. David, you tell this story so well; many thanks for casting your net to take in the roles of those on the Sopwith, Martinsyde & HP teams. You broadened my take on the events!
Reposted by David Rooney
Ahoy, @rooneyvision.bsky.social, look what my terrific county librarian has lent to me (after a bit of a wait; folks have queued for it). Will get into it tonight, much looking fwd to it. Will check back in a couple of days.
August 6, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Ahoy, @rooneyvision.bsky.social, look what my terrific county librarian has lent to me (after a bit of a wait; folks have queued for it). Will get into it tonight, much looking fwd to it. Will check back in a couple of days.
Reposted by David Rooney
Stopped to take some pics of these beauties. Lad cycling by shouts ‘They’re chess pieces!’ ‘They’re lovely,’ I say. ‘Yeah,’ he agrees, speeding off to deliver some drive by art knowledge in another part of town. William Mitchell, Basildon, 1966.
August 5, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Stopped to take some pics of these beauties. Lad cycling by shouts ‘They’re chess pieces!’ ‘They’re lovely,’ I say. ‘Yeah,’ he agrees, speeding off to deliver some drive by art knowledge in another part of town. William Mitchell, Basildon, 1966.
This is the cockpit of the Vickers Vimy flown by Jack Alcock and Ted Brown over the Atlantic in 1919. Open top. Canvas skin. The tightest squeeze!
Pilots flying Boeings and Airbuses on the transatlantic routes today: how does this make you feel?!
Hats off to the lot of yers!
Pilots flying Boeings and Airbuses on the transatlantic routes today: how does this make you feel?!
Hats off to the lot of yers!
August 5, 2025 at 11:58 AM
This is the cockpit of the Vickers Vimy flown by Jack Alcock and Ted Brown over the Atlantic in 1919. Open top. Canvas skin. The tightest squeeze!
Pilots flying Boeings and Airbuses on the transatlantic routes today: how does this make you feel?!
Hats off to the lot of yers!
Pilots flying Boeings and Airbuses on the transatlantic routes today: how does this make you feel?!
Hats off to the lot of yers!
Do you fancy seeing Jack Alcock on film, flying a Pathé cameraman named Jones over London in 1919? Course you do. Here he is. What an absolute belter.
Read his story in The Big Hop. And if you liked it, care to leave a rating or comment on Amazon?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTa0...
Read his story in The Big Hop. And if you liked it, care to leave a rating or comment on Amazon?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTa0...
London From Above (1919)
YouTube video by British Pathé
www.youtube.com
August 5, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Do you fancy seeing Jack Alcock on film, flying a Pathé cameraman named Jones over London in 1919? Course you do. Here he is. What an absolute belter.
Read his story in The Big Hop. And if you liked it, care to leave a rating or comment on Amazon?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTa0...
Read his story in The Big Hop. And if you liked it, care to leave a rating or comment on Amazon?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTa0...
Do you fancy seeing Jack Alcock on film, flying a Pathé cameraman named Jones over London in 1919? Course you do. Here he is. What an absolute belter.
Read his story in The Big Hop! And if you liked it, care to leave a rating or comment on Amazon?
www.britishpathe.com/asset/58976/
Read his story in The Big Hop! And if you liked it, care to leave a rating or comment on Amazon?
www.britishpathe.com/asset/58976/
LONDON FROM ABOVE
Sir+John+Alcock+pilots+a+Pathe+cameraman+for+Aerial+pictures+of+London.
www.britishpathe.com
August 4, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Do you fancy seeing Jack Alcock on film, flying a Pathé cameraman named Jones over London in 1919? Course you do. Here he is. What an absolute belter.
Read his story in The Big Hop! And if you liked it, care to leave a rating or comment on Amazon?
www.britishpathe.com/asset/58976/
Read his story in The Big Hop! And if you liked it, care to leave a rating or comment on Amazon?
www.britishpathe.com/asset/58976/
I love bookstore staff picks. When it's THE BIG HOP it's even nicer. Unabridged Bookstore, Chicago:
"A harrowing story of bravery, adventure, the pioneering spirit, and triumph over adversity. Great for Erik Larson fans, Owen recommends!"
Thanks Owen 🙏
www.unabridgedbookstore.com/book/9781324...
"A harrowing story of bravery, adventure, the pioneering spirit, and triumph over adversity. Great for Erik Larson fans, Owen recommends!"
Thanks Owen 🙏
www.unabridgedbookstore.com/book/9781324...
www.unabridgedbookstore.com
July 18, 2025 at 7:10 AM
I love bookstore staff picks. When it's THE BIG HOP it's even nicer. Unabridged Bookstore, Chicago:
"A harrowing story of bravery, adventure, the pioneering spirit, and triumph over adversity. Great for Erik Larson fans, Owen recommends!"
Thanks Owen 🙏
www.unabridgedbookstore.com/book/9781324...
"A harrowing story of bravery, adventure, the pioneering spirit, and triumph over adversity. Great for Erik Larson fans, Owen recommends!"
Thanks Owen 🙏
www.unabridgedbookstore.com/book/9781324...
Reposted by David Rooney
A little roundup of today.
Don’t think I’ve ever walked anything like the Waskerley Way - barren and ominous, but my god is it absolutely stunning. If you have even a fleeting interest in railways and love walking/cycling, get over and do the 12 miles. You will not regret
Don’t think I’ve ever walked anything like the Waskerley Way - barren and ominous, but my god is it absolutely stunning. If you have even a fleeting interest in railways and love walking/cycling, get over and do the 12 miles. You will not regret
July 14, 2025 at 4:12 PM
A little roundup of today.
Don’t think I’ve ever walked anything like the Waskerley Way - barren and ominous, but my god is it absolutely stunning. If you have even a fleeting interest in railways and love walking/cycling, get over and do the 12 miles. You will not regret
Don’t think I’ve ever walked anything like the Waskerley Way - barren and ominous, but my god is it absolutely stunning. If you have even a fleeting interest in railways and love walking/cycling, get over and do the 12 miles. You will not regret
I'm so sorry to be spamming you with all this, but another review just came in for The Big Hop, and it made me blush...
"The Big Hop may be the finest aviation history you ever get to read"
It's a really lovely review...
www.bookreporter.com/reviews/the-...
"The Big Hop may be the finest aviation history you ever get to read"
It's a really lovely review...
www.bookreporter.com/reviews/the-...
The Big Hop: The First Nonstop Flight Across the Atlantic Ocean and Into the Future | Bookreporter.com
In 1919, in Newfoundland, four teams of aviators came from Britain to compete in “the Big Hop”: an audacious race to be the first to fly, nonstop, across the Atlantic Ocean. One pair of competitors wa...
www.bookreporter.com
July 14, 2025 at 4:12 PM
I'm so sorry to be spamming you with all this, but another review just came in for The Big Hop, and it made me blush...
"The Big Hop may be the finest aviation history you ever get to read"
It's a really lovely review...
www.bookreporter.com/reviews/the-...
"The Big Hop may be the finest aviation history you ever get to read"
It's a really lovely review...
www.bookreporter.com/reviews/the-...
Fred Raynham, a Suffolk farmers' boy, escaped the agricultural depression, moved to Brooklands, and learned to fly at 17. He became one of Britain's most accomplished aviators. Hear his story—and many others—in THE BIG HOP.
davidrooney.uk/the-big-hop
Image: Library of Congress
davidrooney.uk/the-big-hop
Image: Library of Congress
July 14, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Fred Raynham, a Suffolk farmers' boy, escaped the agricultural depression, moved to Brooklands, and learned to fly at 17. He became one of Britain's most accomplished aviators. Hear his story—and many others—in THE BIG HOP.
davidrooney.uk/the-big-hop
Image: Library of Congress
davidrooney.uk/the-big-hop
Image: Library of Congress
Reposted by David Rooney
Another review for THE BIG HOP. This time in The Observer. Wow. I'm hugely grateful to Andrew Martin!
"The Big Hop reminded me of a John Buchan novel. Rooney has Buchan’s knack for acute imagery ... and for spare, compelling action scenes."
observer.co.uk/culture/book...
"The Big Hop reminded me of a John Buchan novel. Rooney has Buchan’s knack for acute imagery ... and for spare, compelling action scenes."
observer.co.uk/culture/book...
The race across the Atlantic | The Observer
David Rooney's account of the daring pilots who competed to make
observer.co.uk
June 26, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Another review for THE BIG HOP. This time in The Observer. Wow. I'm hugely grateful to Andrew Martin!
"The Big Hop reminded me of a John Buchan novel. Rooney has Buchan’s knack for acute imagery ... and for spare, compelling action scenes."
observer.co.uk/culture/book...
"The Big Hop reminded me of a John Buchan novel. Rooney has Buchan’s knack for acute imagery ... and for spare, compelling action scenes."
observer.co.uk/culture/book...
I hugely enjoyed talking about The Big Hop with John Batchelor for CBS Eye On The World. Maybe you'd like to take a look.
johnbatchelor.substack.com/p/the-first-...
johnbatchelor.substack.com/p/the-first-...
The First Transatlantic Flight (with David Rooney)
The dramatic 1919 race between four British aviation teams competing for Lord Northcliffe's £10,000 prize to make the first nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean.
johnbatchelor.substack.com
July 11, 2025 at 9:58 AM
I hugely enjoyed talking about The Big Hop with John Batchelor for CBS Eye On The World. Maybe you'd like to take a look.
johnbatchelor.substack.com/p/the-first-...
johnbatchelor.substack.com/p/the-first-...
Reposted by David Rooney
🇺🇸 I had fun working with @wsj.com on "Five Best: Books on the Dawn of Aviation." It's in this weekend's paper.
I chose books by Alberto Santos-Dumont, Muriel Hawker, H. G. Wells, Amelia Earhart, and Orville Wright.
What do you think? Who would you add?
www.wsj.com/arts-culture...
I chose books by Alberto Santos-Dumont, Muriel Hawker, H. G. Wells, Amelia Earhart, and Orville Wright.
What do you think? Who would you add?
www.wsj.com/arts-culture...
Five Best: Books on the Dawn of Aviation
Selected by David Rooney, the author, most recently, of “The Big Hop: The First Non-stop Flight Across the Atlantic Ocean and Into the Future.”
www.wsj.com
July 5, 2025 at 11:15 AM
🇺🇸 I had fun working with @wsj.com on "Five Best: Books on the Dawn of Aviation." It's in this weekend's paper.
I chose books by Alberto Santos-Dumont, Muriel Hawker, H. G. Wells, Amelia Earhart, and Orville Wright.
What do you think? Who would you add?
www.wsj.com/arts-culture...
I chose books by Alberto Santos-Dumont, Muriel Hawker, H. G. Wells, Amelia Earhart, and Orville Wright.
What do you think? Who would you add?
www.wsj.com/arts-culture...
Reposted by David Rooney
The Sunday Times reckons you should take THE BIG HOP on holiday this summer.
"a glorious romp through an overlooked part of aviation history, stuffed full of intriguing characters and white-knuckle courage"
Who am I to argue?
www.thetimes.com/culture/book...
"a glorious romp through an overlooked part of aviation history, stuffed full of intriguing characters and white-knuckle courage"
Who am I to argue?
www.thetimes.com/culture/book...
80 best books to take on holiday this summer — chosen by the experts
From political thrillers and modern love stories to provocative memoirs and world history — we pick our favourite summer reads
www.thetimes.com
July 5, 2025 at 6:49 AM
The Sunday Times reckons you should take THE BIG HOP on holiday this summer.
"a glorious romp through an overlooked part of aviation history, stuffed full of intriguing characters and white-knuckle courage"
Who am I to argue?
www.thetimes.com/culture/book...
"a glorious romp through an overlooked part of aviation history, stuffed full of intriguing characters and white-knuckle courage"
Who am I to argue?
www.thetimes.com/culture/book...