Good aircraft books- what are you reading?
I really enjoyed Stick and Rudder (Wolfgang Langeweische)
Fate is the Hunter.
I agree with Old Akro about Aerobatics and Flight Unlimited. Neil Williams' books were regular bedtime reading.
Flight Fantastic by Annette Carson.
Better Aerobatics by Alan Cassidy.
Stall/Spin Awareness by Rich Stowell.
Aerobatics: Principle and Practice by David Robson.
Three Points: Flying a Tailwheel Aircraft by David Robson.
1 Fate is the Hunter - Ernest Gann; Engrossing true flying events that happened to the author where fate dictated the outcome, not only the best flying book IMO, it's the best book I've ever read.
2 Chickenhawk - Robert Mason; A fascinating book about flying helicopter (Hueys) during the Vietnam war with a very sad ending.
3 The Sky My Canvas - Miles King; the story of the authors war time flying and the founding and development of Rex Aviation the largest Cessna distributorship outside of the USA.
4 Typhoon Pilot - Desmond Scott; the author was the youngest Group Captain in the Allied Air Force during WWII. The book covers the invasion of Europe by the Allies and the defeat of Germany and the role played in these events by the Typhoons.
5 Spitfire, A Test Pilots Story - Jeffrey Quill, The story of the development of the Supermarine Spitfire right from the first days through to the last Mks built as seen through the eyes of the Chief test pilot. A very interesting insight into what is probably the most remarkable fighter of WWII with the many different variants that were built to fulfil many various roles.
2 Chickenhawk - Robert Mason; A fascinating book about flying helicopter (Hueys) during the Vietnam war with a very sad ending.
3 The Sky My Canvas - Miles King; the story of the authors war time flying and the founding and development of Rex Aviation the largest Cessna distributorship outside of the USA.
4 Typhoon Pilot - Desmond Scott; the author was the youngest Group Captain in the Allied Air Force during WWII. The book covers the invasion of Europe by the Allies and the defeat of Germany and the role played in these events by the Typhoons.
5 Spitfire, A Test Pilots Story - Jeffrey Quill, The story of the development of the Supermarine Spitfire right from the first days through to the last Mks built as seen through the eyes of the Chief test pilot. A very interesting insight into what is probably the most remarkable fighter of WWII with the many different variants that were built to fulfil many various roles.
Up Above - Down Under by Elva Rush. Stories of Australian Women in Aviation. Elva was in my area a few weeks ago, & we caught up for a chat.
DF.
DF.
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'The Rogue Pilot.' Forgotten the author tho
If you're going to read that make sure you read Redefining Airmanship first. Kern also wrote Flight Discipline which is a good read also (slots in between the other two) although it is a little heavier going.
Unfortunately most of my reading these days alternates between Dora the Explorer and Angelina Ballerina.............
The Flying Doctor by Clyde Fenton
Best book I have read hands down. Better than fate is the hunter and gives a gripping account of flying in the territory in the pre war years and the larikens who survived there.
Got to love the cheek of Clyde. An aviation pioneer, a celebrity in his time, and a true Australian.
Get it!
Best book I have read hands down. Better than fate is the hunter and gives a gripping account of flying in the territory in the pre war years and the larikens who survived there.
Got to love the cheek of Clyde. An aviation pioneer, a celebrity in his time, and a true Australian.
Get it!
Plow King,
This is also an excellent book on HF (not the radio type
) in aviation.
The Naked Pilot: The Human Factor in Aircraft Accidents.
I read it a number of years ago, and found it really useful.
Cool names.
This is also an excellent book on HF (not the radio type
) in aviation.The Naked Pilot: The Human Factor in Aircraft Accidents.
I read it a number of years ago, and found it really useful.
Cool names.
Originally Posted by big buddah
Chickenhawk
It's a must! You have to read this book from cover to cover! Twice!!
It's a must! You have to read this book from cover to cover! Twice!!
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"The Cannibal Queen: A Flight into the heartland of America."
by Stephen Coonts
Written about +20 years ago when he flew a Boeing Stearman, to every one of the lower 48 states of the USA.
He also wrote "Flight of the Intruder".
A good read and a must if you have, or would love to have a go of the Stearman.
Available also on Kindle.
"North Star over my Shoulder".
by Bob Buck
He died about 10 years ago at +90 years old. This book is about his life as a pilot starting as a DC2 Co-pilot till he retired as a TWA B747 Captain.
Very interesting book.
Available on Kindle.
He also wrote "Weather Flying".
"Sagittarius Rising".
by Cecil Lewis
The life of a WW1 pilot. What struck me was the experience level of this pilot. About -3 hours to solo, -10 hours to full pilots licence, -50 hours to go into battle (earlier pilots were expected to be fully ready for operational flights at 10 hours!). No instruction given to fly IFR or at night; all self taught on very, very limited panel.
"Flight of Passage".
by Rinker Buck (no relation to Bob Buck above)
1966 two brothers restored an old Piper Cub themselves and then at ages 15 and 17 flew it across the USA (self taught navigation, no radios etc).
Makes you want to go back in time and do it yourself!
"Aircraft Command Techniques".
by Sal J Fallucco
Quite simply one of the best CRM type books available and highly recommended for all pilots.
Enjoy!
by Stephen Coonts
Written about +20 years ago when he flew a Boeing Stearman, to every one of the lower 48 states of the USA.
He also wrote "Flight of the Intruder".
A good read and a must if you have, or would love to have a go of the Stearman.
Available also on Kindle.
"North Star over my Shoulder".
by Bob Buck
He died about 10 years ago at +90 years old. This book is about his life as a pilot starting as a DC2 Co-pilot till he retired as a TWA B747 Captain.
Very interesting book.
Available on Kindle.
He also wrote "Weather Flying".
"Sagittarius Rising".
by Cecil Lewis
The life of a WW1 pilot. What struck me was the experience level of this pilot. About -3 hours to solo, -10 hours to full pilots licence, -50 hours to go into battle (earlier pilots were expected to be fully ready for operational flights at 10 hours!). No instruction given to fly IFR or at night; all self taught on very, very limited panel.
"Flight of Passage".
by Rinker Buck (no relation to Bob Buck above)
1966 two brothers restored an old Piper Cub themselves and then at ages 15 and 17 flew it across the USA (self taught navigation, no radios etc).
Makes you want to go back in time and do it yourself!
"Aircraft Command Techniques".
by Sal J Fallucco
Quite simply one of the best CRM type books available and highly recommended for all pilots.
Enjoy!
Last edited by Martin VanNostrum; 11th Jul 2011 at 04:05.
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Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand.
Dittos on Chickenhawk.
Winging it by Jack Jefford.
MIG Pilot by John Barron.
Handling the Big Jets by Davies.
Wager With the Wind: The Don Sheldon Story by Greiner.
Dittos on Chickenhawk.
Winging it by Jack Jefford.
MIG Pilot by John Barron.
Handling the Big Jets by Davies.
Wager With the Wind: The Don Sheldon Story by Greiner.
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Not an aircraft book as such...
A fantastic read nonetheless is A Man on the Moon by Andrew Chaikin.
It's about the Apollo program and is a real eye opener on how far we haven't come in manned space exploration. They bred them tough in those days!
It's about the Apollo program and is a real eye opener on how far we haven't come in manned space exploration. They bred them tough in those days!
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The Naked Pilot: The Human Factor in Aircraft Accidents
You can also get the boxed set of The Proficient Pilot (Schiff) for a reasonable price at the moment on Amazon.
Another one I've got on my shelves is Piloting for Maximum Performance - haven't read it for a long time, but I don't remember thinking it was a waste of time like some other things I've read so it can't be all that bad.
Also, the trap for young players, don't confuse Handling the Big Jets with Flying the Big Jets!
And of course don't forget
"Jet-Age Test Pilot"
by Tex Johnston
Started flying in the 1930s. In the 1940s was testing the grand-daddy of all modern airliners, the B-47 Stratojet. Later was the chief test pilot for the Boeing 707 prototype and was the PF who did the famous barrel roll over Lake Washington, Seattle.
"The Wrong Stuff"
by Cdr. John Moore, USN Ret.
Great account of carrier-based operations with early jets and various (and sometimes bizarre) experiments.
"Fighter Pilot's Heaven (Flight testing the early jets)"
by Donald Lopez.
Testing Shooting Stars and Sabre jets in the 1940s/50s.
Later, he become the Deputy Director of the Smithsonian Institute's National Air and Space Museum
And something different....
"Red Star in Orbit"
by James Oberg
Fascinating account by a former US Airforce and NASA engineer of the cold war Soviet space programme with all of its internal machinations, deadly politics and intrigues.
Also endorse previous recommendations for Bob Hoover and Ben Rich (Skunk Works).
by Tex Johnston
Started flying in the 1930s. In the 1940s was testing the grand-daddy of all modern airliners, the B-47 Stratojet. Later was the chief test pilot for the Boeing 707 prototype and was the PF who did the famous barrel roll over Lake Washington, Seattle.
"The Wrong Stuff"
by Cdr. John Moore, USN Ret.
Great account of carrier-based operations with early jets and various (and sometimes bizarre) experiments.
"Fighter Pilot's Heaven (Flight testing the early jets)"
by Donald Lopez.
Testing Shooting Stars and Sabre jets in the 1940s/50s.
Later, he become the Deputy Director of the Smithsonian Institute's National Air and Space Museum
And something different....
"Red Star in Orbit"
by James Oberg
Fascinating account by a former US Airforce and NASA engineer of the cold war Soviet space programme with all of its internal machinations, deadly politics and intrigues.
Also endorse previous recommendations for Bob Hoover and Ben Rich (Skunk Works).