With your background in mathematics almost any textbook on aerodynamics will be accessible. However, similar to physics, aerodynamics is a general term covering a wide spectrum of studies. Any single text will not be able to adequately cover the whole field. That said, then Aero for Squids (Naval aviators) is a decent overview, the limitations being that it is a rather dated text, first appearing in 1965 with no significant changes following. Additionally, as the title implies, Hurt’s book deals predominantly with military aircraft, id est zoom climbs and such. The author does not delve into the more theoretical or recondite aspects of flight, such as the Kutta condition, and there are sadly no differential equations. My preference for a general overview would be Aircraft Flight by Barnard and Philpott, published by Longman Scientific & Technical (ISBN 0582236568).
I still haven’t really answered your question about Kermode’s book Flight without formulae. The University library has a copy and I will take a look sometime this week, and compare said book with others I have read. Of course as a research scientist you know that our observations are ultimately guided by our experiences and the methods we employ, what I consider apocryphal and desultory, others may find relevant and enlightening, Aero for Squids is case in point.
Last edited by '%MAC'; 31st March 2002 at 17:54.