Champions of Flight celebrates the work of Clayton Joseph Knight (1891–1969) and William John Heaslip (1898–1970), the two preeminent American aviation artists of their time, as they chronicled the golden age of aviation—from Charles Lindbergh's epochal transatlantic flight through the most devastating war in world history (1927–1945). Knight and Heaslip were experienced military men and formally trained artists who, combining an authenticity of experience and an artistic mastery of illustration, produced powerful artwork that influenced a generation of Americans, creating air-minded adults and youngsters, many of whom flocked to US military service after Pearl Harbor.

Aviation became deeply embedded into America’s culture during the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. Americans became fascinated by aviation celebrities, watched air spectacles, aviation movies and newsreels, and devoured books, aviation industry ads, magazine articles, and Sunday comics featuring pilot heroes. Artists Knight and Heaslip—both of whom were adept as draftsmen, painters and printmakers—fueled the imagination of these Americans through prolific illustrations and artwork that appeared in many diverse publications of the time. Over a period of almost twenty years, Clayton Knight and William Heaslip championed their love of flight through their art, and they did so with enthusiasm, integrity, and generosity. This book, featuring over 400 illustrations and photos, is a tribute to their legacy.

Introduction by Dom Pisano, PhD, Curator Emeritus of Aviation and Popular Culture, Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum
Chapter One: Clayton Knight: The Formative Years
Chapter Two: William Heaslip: The Formative Years
Chapter Three: Boom, Bust, and Recovery
Chapter Four: Aviation Fine Art
Chapter Five: Aviation Art for America’s Youth
Chapter Six: U.S. Military and Commercial Aviation 1926-1939
Chapter Seven: A New World War on a Distant Shore
Chapter Eight: All-Out Support for the War Effort
Chapter Nine: For God and Country
Appendix

"This beautiful new large-format book is a colorful, engaging and visually amazing account of military and civilian aviation’s golden age from Charles Lindbergh’s solo transatlantic flight at age 25 in 1927 through the crucible of WWII. It’s part biography, part art history and part cultural touchstone of a pivotal period."

"Anyone with an interest in aviation’s golden age will recognize and appreciate the role these brush-wielding flyboys played, through their personal involvement and by perpetuating that interest among their successors. This beautiful volume is a fitting tribute to their contributions."

"The book’s 400-plus finely reproduced illustrations -- gathered from the Knight and Heaslip families, private collections and archival sources -- show that Clayton Knight and William Heaslip earned noteworthy commissions, portraying civilian and military aviation subjects for the rest of their lives...recommended very highly."

"At the end of the day, this book will wrap you in a warm glow as you leaf through the stupendous range of art. It truly is inspirational stuff."

‘'The text reads well and is genuinely informative and interesting.''