About the book: 1972 / The action of the novel develops in the 50s of the 18th century during the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna. Dmitry Rakitin, a highly educated man, a talented student of Lomonosov, invents an aircraft within the walls of a prison cell, the lifting force of which is provided by hot air. This book tells about the difficult fate of Dmitry Rakitin, his hardships and joys.