<div><p>&quot;An invaluable contribution which ranges from Aztecan myths through the civil and military histories of all Latin American countries down to the current headaches involved in stemming the drug traffic. A book for scholars and buffs alike.&quot;--<i>Aviation History</i></p><p>&quot;Especially valuable for readers interested in Latin America and the history of aviation in general.&quot;--<i>Choice</i></p><p>&quot;A highlight reel of first flights, followed by a delineation of Latin America's place in the aviation world.&quot;--Gary Kuhn, University of Wisconsin, La Crosse</p><p>Heralded by Brazilians as the &quot;Father of Flight,&quot; Alberto Santos-Dumont made the first of several spectacular flights in his lighter-than-air dirigible in France in 1901, two years before the Wright brothers' first fixed-wing flight in North Carolina. Though they are often overlooked, Santos-Dumont and others in Latin America played a key role in the development of aviation. This generously illustrated book tells their story.</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Written to complement the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum's new permanent exhibit, America by Air,<i>Conquistadors of the Sky</i> celebrates the aviation achievements of twenty-one Latin American nations over the last 100 years--making this chronicle of heroic ventures and epic flights the best reference available on the subject.</p></div>