Books

If you eat, sleep and breathe aviation — especially its history — then you will enjoy “50 Aircraft That Changed the World,” a coffee-table book from Ron Dick and Dan Patterson. It chronicles some of the technological marvels of aviation, starting with the Wright brothers’ 1905 Flyer, through the two World Wars, through the development […]

There comes a time in every pilot’s life when he or she has the urge to fly — and later buys — an aircraft with retractable landing gear. The pilot who is serious about the experience would do well to read “Flying the Light Retractables,” by LeRoy Cook. The 130-page book contains information about a […]

To many, the name Rich Stowell is synonymous with aircraft upset training, which should really be called “What To Do When Your World Turns Upside Down.” Stowell, author of the recently published “Stall/Spin Awareness,” was the National Flight Instructor of the Year in 2006 and the first CFI to become a Master Flight Instructor of […]

In 2002, Clinton Frederick returned to his grandparents’ house for a family wedding. Remembering from his childhood that the attic contained Japanese swords, a parachute and other World War II memorabilia, he decided to look around up there. In an old trunk he found more than 100 letters written by his father, Capt. George Frederick, […]

“The Few, The American Knights of the Air Who Risked Everything to Fight in the Battle of Britain,” by Alex Kershaw, details the exploits of American pilots who risked criminal prosecution, not to mention their lives, to fight in the Battle of Britain. At the time America was neutral, and those who joined in the […]

“The Story of the Boeing Company,” by Bill Yenne, is a massive book, nearly a foot square and weighing an impressive four pounds, which tells the story not only of Boeing itself, but of the many other firms that have combined to become the world’s largest aerospace company. Its 35 chapters are supplemented by helpful […]

“Wings of Paradise, Hawaii’s Incomparable Airlines,” by Peter N. Forman is a fascinating tale of the human courage, underhanded plots, dirty politics, brilliant imagination, chicanery and other intriguing elements that went into the formation and operation of the airlines serving the Hawaiian Islands. Most of the book is devoted to airlines that were born, grew […]

You are on the grounds at AirVenture — or any other air show — and trying to impress your traveling companion with your aircraft knowledge. Your companion points to a particular aircraft and asks what it is. You have no idea. You can avoid this particularly nasty form of aviation embarrassment by carrying “A Field […]

“Things My Flight Instructor Never Told Me” is filled with excellent advice, delivered with humor. “Experience is what you get when you don’t get what you want.” Author Michael Leighton says that summarizes his personal experience with general aviation. This rather slim volume is filled with excellent advice, developed from just such “experience” during a […]