Grousing about air travel is the norm these days, what with long security lines, cramped planes, and endless fees. But even these modern inconveniences can't deter mankind's longing to take to the skies, an obsession hearkening back to the first time a human spied a bird soaring overhead. Cleared for Takeoff enthusiastically celebrates the beauty and wonder of flight with brief illustrated essays about remarkable people, places, objects, and events from aviation history, including the legendary Manfred von Richthofen ("the Red Baron"), the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle, tales of aerial reconnaissance, a short history of commercial air travel, the physics of how helicopters fly, the origins of the air cargo industry, even famous fictional pilots (we're looking at you, Maverick). Scattered throughout are "profiles" of great planes such as the P-51 Mustang and Supermarine Spitfire, plus handy instructions for skipping stones, building a water rocket, and - of course - folding the perfect paper airplane. It's a first-class gift for aviation enthusiasts aged 9 to 99!