Chapters 1-9 Summary and Analysis

Chapter 1: the story begins with Richard Bach waiting for an unnamed female. The author is sitting in the cockpit of his biplane in a rented a field in Russell, Iowa. It is autumn. There are nearly 60 cars surrounding the hayfield and Bach hopes that the woman will be in the crowd. The crowd is there to see a show and Bach takes his plane through a series of maneuvers designed to wow the crowd.

The author describes his maneuvers, designed to look like he is in a tailspin.

The crowd is offered an opportunity to go up into the biplane with Bach. While Bach talks to a woman eager to fly with him he is secretly disappointed that he does not see his soulmate.

Bach recalls meeting Donald Shimoda, the retired Messiah, two years before, after both had landed...