Good Private Pilot - Experiences Books?

[vabsie]

Hi ..

Was wondering if anyone can recommend a good reading (non fiction) book or two which tells about private pilot experiences / and or training?

I just read a book called: For love of flying by Harle Whitehead which is about a Kiwi guy taking up flying lessons at the age of 55 and his experiences once he gained his license - Probably a bit old now but I thought it was an excellent read and can recommend it.

For Love of Flying by Harle Whitehead (9780958299312) - All - The Nile NZ (http://www.thenile.co.nz/books/Harle-Whitehead/For-Love-of-Flying/9780958299312/)

Cheers

Vabsie

[IO540]

If you want something funny, read Propellerhead.

It is the story of a city bloke who got a microlight PPL in the hope of pulling birds, but he was less than successful trying to do it with a Thruster :)

[vabsie]

sounds good IO540 thanks .. think I'll get it.

[J.A.F.O.]

I agree with IO, Propellorhead is great.

A Sunday Flyer by Maurice Brett is PPL stuff, mainly sixties and seventies.

Flight of the Gin Fizz by Henry Kisor is a terrific story of a deaf pilot flying across the States

Flight of Passage by Rinker Buck is two teenage lads crossing the States in the sixties and is a real favourite of mine.

No Visible Horizon by Joshua Cooper Ramo is about training for competition aerobatics.

Airymouse and Cloud Cuckooland by Harald Penrose are both sublime.

Down The Runway by Samuel Hawkins is set in the US just before (and partly during) WW2 but some of the flying descriptions are fantastic.

Border Pilot by Maurice Bourne is a great story of cropdusting and a life focussed almost entirely on flying.

Rabbit In The Air by David Garnett is a wonderful evocation of learning to fly in the UK between the wars.

Just some of my favourites, all PPL stuff.

[Heliplane]

There's a whole series called "I learned about flying from that" that is both entertaining and educational.

[Whiskey Kilo Wanderer]

To add to some of the titles mentioned above:

Fly Yellow Side Up / Pie in the Sky / Derry Air - all by Garth Wallace about flying instruction and other things in Canada.

You Want to Build and Fly a WHAT? – Dick Starks – American high school teacher learns to fly in a Cessna 120 he’s bought, then builds a WW1 replica aircraft.

Blue Confessions – David Bedard - Collected stories

A Gift of Wings – Richard Bach – Collected stories, some factual, some fanciful.

Cannibal Queen – Stephen Coonts – Biplane across America.

There have been various ‘What’s Your Favourite Aviation Book?’ threads in the past, a search might offer more ideas.

Safe Flying,
Richard W.

[Blueskyrich]

I can recommend The Killing Zone: How & Why Pilots Die by Paul Craig

Grim I know but a very enlightening experience none the less. A very good analysis of causes leading to fatal incidents that we all, private or professional, should be aware of.

[IO540]

The stats in TKZ are a bit dodgy though...

[flybymike]

It is the story of a city bloke who got a microlight PPL in the hope of pulling birds, but he was less than successful trying to do it with a Thruster

He should have stuck to the microlight instead.

[Mariner9]

Not a book, but well worth reading Leia Fee's excellent website (http://leiafee.wordpress.com/) describing her PPL experiences.

[POBJOY]

Two Tiger Club books by Bengy, full of actual real stories of the best of post war private flying and air shows before the regs started.

[Bilbo Bagover]

For private or commercial pilots alike. Ernest Gann's Fate is the Hunter will inspire and terrify. Just read the reviews on amazon. Brilliant read.

Fate is the Hunter: Amazon.co.uk: Ernest K. Gann: Books

Bilbo

[Dawdler]

If you want someting interesting as well as informative, you could do worse that read the trip reports on this site. Aviation (http://www.peter2000.co.uk/aviation/)

[vabsie]

Fantastic .. thanks for all the replies!

Vabsie

[flybymike]

If you want someting interesting as well as informative, you could do worse that read the trip reports on this site. Aviation

The author seems familiar....

[18greens]

There was also that one about two young chaps flying across america in a cub at the age of 18. Ernest Ganns effort was remarkable. Try also Chuck Yeagers biograbphy - gobsmacking

But the most stirring words i've ever read about flying was in a young glider pilots log book. The comments line read- '1st solo K7, entered thunderstorm - aircraft broke up - parachuted to safety'. Cool as a cat...