Nevil Shute Norway Foundation

Flying Summary: NO HIGHWAY

TITLE NO HIGHWAY Remarks
Published: 1948  
Setting: 1950+  
Story: A weird Boffin at RAE Farnborough predicts metal fatigue in the tail of the latest Transatlantic Airliner. Whilst en-route to investigate an earlier crash in Labrador he discovers that the aircraft he is flying-in has a similar number of critical flying hours. He disables the aircraft at Gander by selecting undercarriage-up. The story is embellished by a glamorous film-star passenger and an air hostess. The resolution of the problem is assisted by the psychic powers of the boffin’s young daughter.  
Locations: RAE Farnborough and Farnham
Heathrow - Gander by air
Labrador
 
Main Characters: Theodore Honey and daughter Elspeth
Dr Scott (narrator) his boss at RAE Farnborough
Captain Samuelson, CATO pilot
Monica Teasdale (film-star) &
Marjorie Corder CATO stewardess
 
Flying Episodes: Scientific investigation of metal-fatigue
Flying in an aircraft that may be doomed
Locating the crashed aircraft
 
Aircraft: CATO Reindeer –transatlantic airliner
Assegai – latest supersonic fighter
 
Flying Characters: Capt. Samuelson & First Off. Dobson
Stewardess: Marjorie Corder
Passenger/Film Star: Monica Teasdale
 
Aviation Location(s): North Atlantic
Gander
Labrador
 
Aviation Activities RAE Farnborough, Structures Research
Transatlantic Flight
Gander Airport
Labrador Crash Site
 
Additional Comments: The plot conveys Shute's own belief in mysticism. The final chapter confirms his inclination towards on-going supersonic research.