Book reviews: Helicopters, Principles of Flight etc
If you are just interested in the general theory, and not in designing specifically for the US army, the UK military equivalent is Def-Stan 00-970 part 2, which is very similar.
UK Def-Stans (Defence Standards) are all available online for free, there's a link on the sticky on the "tech-log" forum.
Mind you, by the time you've paid ISP charges for downloading most of Def-Stan 00-970, you may have spent almost $300 anyway !
G
UK Def-Stans (Defence Standards) are all available online for free, there's a link on the sticky on the "tech-log" forum.
Mind you, by the time you've paid ISP charges for downloading most of Def-Stan 00-970, you may have spent almost $300 anyway !
G
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Helo books
I know there are a few therads on this already, so sorry in advance.
I've merged the various threads for easy reference. Heliport
Making a list for Christmas book list and could do with some advice.
Mainly looking for theory and design books. I have nearly finished a degree in Space sciences, so the maths isnt to much of a problem, as long as the assumed knowledge isnt to great.
Im settled on the three Ray Prouty books, however would like some more. The others are,
1)Helicopter Theory, Wayne Johnson
2)Principles of Helicopter Aerodynamics, J. Gordon Leishman
I was also thinking about getting Shawn Coyles book as well.
Are all these books going to overlap alot, or do they offer extra information.
Any other books that someone feels like recomending would be appreciated.
Im also looking for information on the S-69 ABC. If anyone knows of books or papers on this helo, and where I can purchase them it would be much appreciated.
I've merged the various threads for easy reference. Heliport
Making a list for Christmas book list and could do with some advice.
Mainly looking for theory and design books. I have nearly finished a degree in Space sciences, so the maths isnt to much of a problem, as long as the assumed knowledge isnt to great.
Im settled on the three Ray Prouty books, however would like some more. The others are,
1)Helicopter Theory, Wayne Johnson
2)Principles of Helicopter Aerodynamics, J. Gordon Leishman
I was also thinking about getting Shawn Coyles book as well.
Are all these books going to overlap alot, or do they offer extra information.
Any other books that someone feels like recomending would be appreciated.
Im also looking for information on the S-69 ABC. If anyone knows of books or papers on this helo, and where I can purchase them it would be much appreciated.
Last edited by Heliport; 8th Dec 2003 at 15:52.
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Spaced,
Re the Sikorsky ABC:
The American Helicopter Society can supply at least 11 reports, of presentations that were made on the ABC in the 70's. I think they are $15 each for members and $20 each for non-members. There is some duplication of information in these reports.
If you want a cursory overview, you might find Coaxial - Sikorsky ~ S-69 (XH-59) ABC of value. At the least, it's free.
Re the Sikorsky ABC:
The American Helicopter Society can supply at least 11 reports, of presentations that were made on the ABC in the 70's. I think they are $15 each for members and $20 each for non-members. There is some duplication of information in these reports.
If you want a cursory overview, you might find Coaxial - Sikorsky ~ S-69 (XH-59) ABC of value. At the least, it's free.
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Bought Wayne Johnson's Helicopter Theory on recent trip to San Francisco, very technical with lots of long equations.Haven't built up to reading it yet but will hopefully in New Year. See it as a must have reference book in ones library.
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Has anyone bought the Ray Prouty book from helo books? On the site it says its a reprint of articles in rotor and wing. If it is a reprint of all three books its cheap at $60, at Barnes and noble, though they dont have any copies, their price is $200 per book, leaving me confused.
Could anyone who has purchased please let me know if it is a reprint of the volumes, or a reprint of the articles from rotor and wing.
Thanx again
Could anyone who has purchased please let me know if it is a reprint of the volumes, or a reprint of the articles from rotor and wing.
Thanx again
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The two 'must have' books are Shawn Coyle's Cyclic & Collective (excellent and much discussed previously on PPRuNe) and newly published, Fatal Traps for Helicopter Pilots by Greg Whyte.
Fatal Traps is a thorough analysis of all types of rotary accidents. Mine has just arrived and looks a very useful read. You can order it direct from www.fataltraps.com. Good service and it was with me in about a week from NZ.
Fatal Traps is a thorough analysis of all types of rotary accidents. Mine has just arrived and looks a very useful read. You can order it direct from www.fataltraps.com. Good service and it was with me in about a week from NZ.
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There is mention on page 1 of this thread about the deer hunting in NZ. I've seen a video/doco about this and that was brilliant. It certainly made for some interesting flying particularly late on in the piece when they were having to do it in the dark with minimal lighting as they were now poaching!!!
Anyone know where to find it?
Anyone know where to find it?
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Ray Prouty's books will be back in print very soon. First three volumes of his columns from Rotor and Wing will be in one book. see www.helobooks.com for more details.
We're pretty pleased to get them back in print. Thanks to Rotor and Wing for being so easy to get along with.
We're pretty pleased to get them back in print. Thanks to Rotor and Wing for being so easy to get along with.
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Hi Nervy
I am an HAI grad and FAA & JAA CFII. As Charlie said, princiles of flight is very good, I would further recomend helicopter aerodynamics by R prouty (quite expensive, but the best) and for a starting place the FAA's own book "helicopter flying handbook" which is a much easier book for the beginer. It's like all government books ienot always right, but any answer from there can't be questioned by the examiner, cos it's approved material. You will find that if you read several books, you get slightly different answers to the same question. Personaly I wouldn't waste your pre departure time learning the ASA prepware, as the written tests can be learnt & taken over a long weekend and cheaper at HAI than in the UK. The writtens are easy, but that is not the emphasis here. It's all about the oral exam before the flight test. These can be lengthy and you do need to know your subject to be able to talk convincingly about it.
Hope that helps
Swampy
I am an HAI grad and FAA & JAA CFII. As Charlie said, princiles of flight is very good, I would further recomend helicopter aerodynamics by R prouty (quite expensive, but the best) and for a starting place the FAA's own book "helicopter flying handbook" which is a much easier book for the beginer. It's like all government books ienot always right, but any answer from there can't be questioned by the examiner, cos it's approved material. You will find that if you read several books, you get slightly different answers to the same question. Personaly I wouldn't waste your pre departure time learning the ASA prepware, as the written tests can be learnt & taken over a long weekend and cheaper at HAI than in the UK. The writtens are easy, but that is not the emphasis here. It's all about the oral exam before the flight test. These can be lengthy and you do need to know your subject to be able to talk convincingly about it.
Hope that helps
Swampy
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These four books will give you a world of study material:
Rotorcraft Flying Handbook - FAA
- read this first, simple concepts and descriptions of manuvers
Private Pilot's Handbook - Ron Machado
- the best and most interesting overview of the world of aviation - don't be put off by a seeming airplane bias, 90% of the book is for all pilots.
Cyclic & Collective - Shawn Coyle
- goes in-depth through the world of helicopter flight. It might be a bit deep at first...
Principles of Helicopter Flight - W. J. Wagtendonk
- fairly technical, cut and dried, but if you are going through to CFI, you'll need the info in this book.
Rotorcraft Flying Handbook - FAA
- read this first, simple concepts and descriptions of manuvers
Private Pilot's Handbook - Ron Machado
- the best and most interesting overview of the world of aviation - don't be put off by a seeming airplane bias, 90% of the book is for all pilots.
Cyclic & Collective - Shawn Coyle
- goes in-depth through the world of helicopter flight. It might be a bit deep at first...
Principles of Helicopter Flight - W. J. Wagtendonk
- fairly technical, cut and dried, but if you are going through to CFI, you'll need the info in this book.
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I know that Shawn Coyle is a regular on Rotorheads and I just want to give him a pat on the back for his book, Cyclic & Collective. For sure one of the most readable books on helicopter theory and easy reading for anyone in the helicopter game regardless of time in the industry. The only problem for me now is that the copy I am reading is out of the work library and will have to fork out some cash for my own copy...
Purple Pitot...
"Chickenhawk" is a decent book so long as you ignore the fact that Mason borrowed the majority of his account from the experiences of others in his unit. I have a very close friend who shared the cockpit with Mason on more than a few flights as Mason's Aircraft Commander and he has very little good to say about him.
Other excellent books are "BlackHawk Down!", "We were soldiers once and young", "The Ravens", "Shooting at the Moon","Dispatches", "A Soldier Reports", "About Face", "Hamburger Hill"....lots of others....
"Chickenhawk" is a decent book so long as you ignore the fact that Mason borrowed the majority of his account from the experiences of others in his unit. I have a very close friend who shared the cockpit with Mason on more than a few flights as Mason's Aircraft Commander and he has very little good to say about him.
Other excellent books are "BlackHawk Down!", "We were soldiers once and young", "The Ravens", "Shooting at the Moon","Dispatches", "A Soldier Reports", "About Face", "Hamburger Hill"....lots of others....
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Blimey.. I haven't used this moniker for yonks - 4 years flash to bang (I'm even two stone heavier!) Thanks for the info SAS - I always suspected he was a bit of a wide boy when I read the about the drugs bust...
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Chickenhawk
I never read the sequel which presumably gives the story behind Mason's drug bust. What's it called and how does it compare to Chickenhawk?
Another good Vietnam / choppers book is "Low Level Hell" (can't remember the author's name) - by a Hughes pilot if I remember right.
Another good Vietnam / choppers book is "Low Level Hell" (can't remember the author's name) - by a Hughes pilot if I remember right.
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There are quite any number of personal histories written by Vietnam helicopter pilots, most quite readable. But, in my opinion there are three which stand out, because they are so well-written. In other words, besides having a great story to tell, the author is a great story-teller.
They are: "Chickenhawk" by Bob Mason, as mentioned; "Maverick" by Dennis Marvicsin, and "CW2" by Layne Heath. The last two authors use a totally different style of writing to Mason, but the results are equally fantastic. Very highly recommended.
BTW, Shwawn's book is outstanding, and for those wishing to delve a little deeper into helicopter aerodynamics without a lot of formulae, W. Wagtendonk's "Principles of Helicopter Flight" is very hard to beat.
Edited for finger trouble.
They are: "Chickenhawk" by Bob Mason, as mentioned; "Maverick" by Dennis Marvicsin, and "CW2" by Layne Heath. The last two authors use a totally different style of writing to Mason, but the results are equally fantastic. Very highly recommended.
BTW, Shwawn's book is outstanding, and for those wishing to delve a little deeper into helicopter aerodynamics without a lot of formulae, W. Wagtendonk's "Principles of Helicopter Flight" is very hard to beat.
Edited for finger trouble.
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The sequel to Chickenhawk is 'Chickenhawk - Back in the World' and it's as bad as Chickenhawk was good.
He got caught with a boatload of dope and did time. There's a lot of self-serving maundering about the vicissitudes of life.
Anyone can have my copy if they're prepared to pay the postage. (It's a doorstopper).
He got caught with a boatload of dope and did time. There's a lot of self-serving maundering about the vicissitudes of life.
Anyone can have my copy if they're prepared to pay the postage. (It's a doorstopper).
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For those who didn't know, Ray's first three books are back in print as a single volume. (www.helobooks.com)
The next volume will have all the rest of his columns (1992-2000) from Rotor and Wing, plus the columns he's done for Vertiflite. Due later this year.
The next volume will have all the rest of his columns (1992-2000) from Rotor and Wing, plus the columns he's done for Vertiflite. Due later this year.
Life's too short for ironing
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Heli Flying for Dummies
or some such title - is there a good "how to" and "why does it fly" book for a fixed wing person who's interested in learning? Preferably accessable in the US, but not a necessity.
Thank you
Thank you