Met book recommendations
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 349
Likes: 0
From: UK
Met book recommendations
This may have been covered recently but I have the memory of a goldfish and searches didn't help.
I'm looking for a good common sense book on meteorology. All the heavyweight text books I've read are too heavy and scientific. To give you an idea, Irv Lee's articles in Flyer are pitched just right.
Someone recommended Brian Cosgrove's Pilots Weather but it seems aimed directly at Microlighters and before I stick another £14 in Amazons coffers, I want to hear what others think.
-bcfc
I'm looking for a good common sense book on meteorology. All the heavyweight text books I've read are too heavy and scientific. To give you an idea, Irv Lee's articles in Flyer are pitched just right.
Someone recommended Brian Cosgrove's Pilots Weather but it seems aimed directly at Microlighters and before I stick another £14 in Amazons coffers, I want to hear what others think.
-bcfc
The Original Whirly
Joined: Feb 1999
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 4,327
Likes: 2
From: Belper, Derbyshire, UK
I'd second the recommendation for Brian Cosgrove's "Pilot's Weather". It's aimed at anyone who flies, not just microlighters. Easy to understand, practical, has all the stuff you need - and bits you probably don't but might like to know, but in a dirrerent colour. Well worth the 14 quid or whatever it is. 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,547
Likes: 0
From: Dublin
bcfc,
Not sure if you want the book for exams, or simply to help with your understanding.
I found Alan Watt's book "The Weather Handbook" excellent for my understanding, and forecasts. Having said that, it's not aimed at aviation, and not particularly suited to exams.
dp
Not sure if you want the book for exams, or simply to help with your understanding.
I found Alan Watt's book "The Weather Handbook" excellent for my understanding, and forecasts. Having said that, it's not aimed at aviation, and not particularly suited to exams.
dp
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 14,480
Likes: 178
From: UK
I'll third the Cosgrove book.
Brian's a microlight man, but it's not a microlight book - equally it is a book for qualified pilots, it's not aimed at passing any particular exam.
G
Brian's a microlight man, but it's not a microlight book - equally it is a book for qualified pilots, it's not aimed at passing any particular exam.
G
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 486
Likes: 0
From: Belgium
Not really a book, but I very much liked the CDROM 'Aviation Meteorology' from Oxford Aviation Training.
There are two kinds of people: 'readers' and 'listeners'.
A reader can take a book and absorb whatever useful information it contains, a 'listener' falls asleep after a couple pages.
On the other hand a 'listener' will clearly remember any oral explanation in fine detail many years afterwards, while the reader will vaguely remember in which book to find the explanation.
I recently helped a 'listener' friend pass his written IR test, apart from me reading him the whole book, the only thing that worked is a CDROM with pictures and sound.
This CDROM is a miracle for 'listeners'.
There are two kinds of people: 'readers' and 'listeners'.
A reader can take a book and absorb whatever useful information it contains, a 'listener' falls asleep after a couple pages.
On the other hand a 'listener' will clearly remember any oral explanation in fine detail many years afterwards, while the reader will vaguely remember in which book to find the explanation.
I recently helped a 'listener' friend pass his written IR test, apart from me reading him the whole book, the only thing that worked is a CDROM with pictures and sound.
This CDROM is a miracle for 'listeners'.
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 255
Likes: 0
From: UK
I have a copy of Tom Bradbury's 'Meteorology and Flight' 1996 edition.
Quote from the introduction
'This book is chiefly for those who fly for enjoyment and would rather look at the view than concentrate on the instrument panel. It is not intended as a text book on Meteorology, but as a guide to some interesting features of the weather that affect flying'
Just my 2 silver groats worth.
Quote from the introduction
'This book is chiefly for those who fly for enjoyment and would rather look at the view than concentrate on the instrument panel. It is not intended as a text book on Meteorology, but as a guide to some interesting features of the weather that affect flying'
Just my 2 silver groats worth.
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 284
Likes: 0
From: UK
For a good theory book; Handbook of Aviation Meteorology Met O 630 (AP3340). The original RAF Met Reference book.
For a good practical book, Pilot's Weather by Brian Cosgrove is about as good as you will find anywhere. As well as being a microlight pilot, he was a Flying Met Observer during the war.
For a good practical book, Pilot's Weather by Brian Cosgrove is about as good as you will find anywhere. As well as being a microlight pilot, he was a Flying Met Observer during the war.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 349
Likes: 0
From: UK
Arclite01 - just for general interest.
The Cosgrove book seems worth a try. I enjoy Irv Lee's Weather Watch articles and basically looking for this level of explaination in a book. Irv - if you're reading this, ever thought of getting Flyer to consolidating them all & publish them?
The Cosgrove book seems worth a try. I enjoy Irv Lee's Weather Watch articles and basically looking for this level of explaination in a book. Irv - if you're reading this, ever thought of getting Flyer to consolidating them all & publish them?
