In 1901 the Honourable Charles Stewart Rolls had already introduced the motor car to England. A contradictory personality with prophetic vision who founded the Aero Club with Vera Hedges Butler. Its members were derided by society, the press, the public and especially the Government. As a result they chose the isolated Isle of Sheppey to experiment away from public gaze. Two young brothers, Eustace and Oswald Short, possessing outstanding talent, were appointed as their engineers to manufacture, maintain balloons, and experiment with aeroplanes. To secure the Wright brothers' designs they needed their elder brother Horace to join them. He was the only engineer at that time who knew how to transpose the designs into the correct technical drawings suitable for manufacture. He had to break his contract with Sir Charles Parsons in order to do so.

The villagers were drawn into the pioneer's struggle and private lives, particularly Charles Rosewarne, the local builder, and the Cunninghams who sold and rented land to the pioneers. Underlying these events was the sad love story of Charles and Vera Hedges Butler.

Britain's weakness and indifference was a bleak contrast to Germany's strength and France's confidence in their own pioneers. When Charles Rolls and Cecil Grace were killed in separate flying accidents, the Shorts and the pioneers were once more plunged into crisis. A forged letter by a Captain Murray Sueter allowed the training of his Naval Officers in 1911. In 1912 it took a brave stunt by Frank Mclean flying through Tower Bridge, and under all the bridges along the Thames landing outside the Houses of Parliament to finally win over the critics.

The Army and Navy soon became established in Eastchurch and by 1914 all the original pioneers had left, except for Horace, who died shortly after being recommended for a knighthood which was never posthumously awarded. Eustace and Oswald's contribution to the aircraft industry was also never adequately acknowledged.

"This is a book which, once started, you will have a job to put down" - Aeroplane ****Mike Hooks

"….exciting, enjoyable and informative easy reading"- The Pennant

"You have managed to bring alive the lives of those pioneers and given them personalities......" - Air Commodore Bill Croydon CBE RAF (Retd)

"A superb account of early aviation pioneers..." - Air Marshall Sir Robert Wright KBE AFC

"A fascinating history of the earliest days of flying" - Mr. Randall Northam Journalist/Publisher

"This story certainly seems to put a more human light on the characters, not least on Rolls" - Mr. Ian Craighead Head of Corporate Heritage Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust

"I knew very little of early aviation, and was unaware of the major role Charles Rolls played in it. I found it all very fascinating and very exciting. It is miraculous what has been achieved in a mere one hundred years and poignant that the finest aero engine in service today is made by Rolls Royce." - John Kottler,  Pershore, Worcestershire