Tom Swift and His Airship, or, The Stirring Cruise of the Red Cloud, is Volume 3 in the original Tom Swift novel series

The young inventor builds an airship, makes a trial trip, and experiences a smash-up in midair.

Reprint of the adventure novel originally released in 1912.

The Stratemeyer syndicate used the pseudonym Victor Appleton when writing several series for boys including Tom Swift. Edward Stratemeyer did the original outlines for the series, which was published between 1910 and 1941. Tom Swift was a genius inventor. He specialized in technology especially related to transportation. Later the series was followed by the Tom Swift Jr. series. Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout: or, The Speediest Car on the Road was published in 1910. Tom enters a race with his prototype of an electric car. Days before the race Tom discovers a plot that would bankrupt not only his family, but also everyone else that relies on the local bank. Tom must solve the mystery before he can compete in the 200 mile race against some of the best cars in the United States.

This popular juvenile adventure series provided an escape, particularly this story set during the War in which Tom invents a huge airship designed for military use with a mechanism to deal with recoil of heavy weaponry.

"Tom Swift enters an upcoming race with his specially-designed prototype electric race car. But as he makes the final preparations and adjustments, days before the race, he discovers a plot that would bankrupt not only his family, but also everyone else that relies on the local bank (which is the target of a nefarious bank-run scheme). Tom must solve the mystery and stop the criminals behind the plot before he'll test himself on a 500 mile race against some of the best electric cars and skilled drivers in the United States."--Librivox.

Despite the setbacks Tom endures at the hands of his enemies he succeeds in preserving his entrepreneurial spirit and keeps his family's company running.