Up There-bookcover

By: Lesley Crowther-Scott

Up There

Pages: 178 Ratings: 4.8
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Touching clouds is free, priceless and absolutely exhilarating. To do this, you have to be able to fly. This is the story of a middle-class Melbourne girl, uneducated, lonely in her own family and desperate to find something worthwhile, who eventually discovers flying.

Following a flying career spanning forty years from her first lesson at the tender age of thirty-five, fifteen countries, marriage, divorce, lovers, shootings, robberies and a crazy cast of characters, Up There is a story of how transcending difficulties can lead to amazing things.

A child of the 1940s, Lesley was removed from school against her wishes and sent to work to support her family, but she never forgot her childhood dream of becoming a pilot.

While working six days a week and looking after her own family, Lesley used her precious nights and Sundays to study and take lessons. At the age of 35, flying became her escape and her one true love. Estrangement from her husband and children was the price she paid to touch the clouds.

With a flying career spanning 40 years from her first lesson to her retirement at 73 as Australia’s oldest female pilot, in Up There, Lesley shares her bigger-than-life story with characteristic honesty and irreverence.

Lovers, friends and enemies form the amazing array of characters that populate Lesley’s life as she recounts her memories of living and flying in over 15 countries. Working for the Red Cross and United Nations in regions where war and civil unrest make daily life dangerous, she recalls her hair-raising African adventures – from being shot at mid-air in Angolan skies to fending off an attempted robbery in its streets.

A straight-shooting Australian working in a male-dominated industry, Lesley has always fought against injustice with humour, resilience and compassion. Her no-nonsense stance has occasionally cost her jobs and relationships, but she has gained a wealth of life lessons and sensational stories that will delight the next generation of pilots and adventurers alike.

Customer Reviews
4.8
6 reviews
6 reviews
  • John Slinger.

    The book is incredibly adventurous and funny!
    Reading this book I wish I had learnt to fly!!

    John Slinger,
    Noble Park Melbourne Australia.

  • Peter Williams

    The book could have been called
    “A Taste of Leslie”
    For all of us that have been touched by her presence in the cockpit
    we are the lucky ones...
    For those of you exploring and participating in Aviation this is a must read....

  • John Slinger

    Up There. This book is a complete revelation to
    those of us who have flown with her or just known her. Everyone knew that her flying was her life. But she never spoke of the places she
    had been, the danger she had faced.
    How her humour always won through.
    Hilarious, adventurous,
    and all-around Larrikin. Good read Great laugh.
    recommend to aspiring pilots.

  • Derek Scantlebury

    Those that think there may be a little fiction in this book have not met this inspirational lady. I had the privilege of her guidance during my preparation for my CPL and subsequent flight test.
    The remarkable stories and lessons from this manuscript are delivered in the author’s style. With the humour, clarity and hope of her personality. You may not personally know her but rest assured by the end of this book you will be left with the insight of her lust for flying and life.
    Enjoy!

  • Terry Roy

    up there by Lesley Crowther Scott
    A great book by one of the first woman Bush pilots from Australia. A true story about her adventures flying planes in many countries in sometimes very perilous conditions. Interesting anecdotes about people, cultures and how to interact with different and sometimes difficult personalities. All the while her positivity and sense of humour holds fast. She is the person I would want leading my flying class lessons.
    Fair, no bullshit and professional.
    Cheers

  • Suzie Lurois

    I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Leslie's exciting life as a woman pilot with it's ups and downs. So wonderful to have visited so many countries and have adventures that made my spine tingle. Also much good advice to future pilots that even a laywoman such as myself can understand. Thankyou Leslie for sharing your experience "Up there".

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