The next-to-last laugh

At Rook Field, experimental aircraft are given a chance to prove themselves—and test pilots risk their lives finding out whether inventors are right. When Eric Burnson presents his compact duraluminum “Gull,” experienced pilot Joe Curtis refuses to fly it, warning that its design may be dangerously unstable. Their sharp exchange ends with a bitter promise: Curtis intends to have the next-to-last laugh.

The assignment then falls to Al, a seasoned pilot who trusts his instincts as much as his training. Although the Gull’s inventor insists he has already flown it successfully, a first serious test remains a gamble, especially with tensions rising around the field. As Al prepares to take the mysterious little plane into the air, he must determine whether it is a genuine breakthrough—or a cleverly disguised death trap. This brisk aviation adventure combines high-stakes flying, prickly personalities, and the unsettling question of who will be laughing when the testing begins.