What's your favorite aviation book?

[Bob Axsom]

I just finished Robert S. Johnson's Book "Thunderbolt." My age must be catching up with me - I'm glad I read it - I learned many things that I did not know before - I'm glad I'm done with it. Even though the book is written in first person it does not consistently give me the feeling that the words are coming from Mr. Johnson. There are times when co-author Martin Caidin comes across very strongly in artistic descriptions - kind of artificial actually.

Bob Axsom

[fodrv7]

Bob,
You are obviously more perceptive the I. I do not remember picking that when reading it, though it is 3 years since I read it. Maybe it's my rough, indiscriminate Australian approach.

I do remember being severely impressed with the Thunderbolt, which I had previously written of as an obese tank.
As he points out, it could not stay with the Spit in a climb or an FW190 in a turn, but what an indestructible fighting machine.

Maybe time to hunt for another PG Taylor book.
All of these are poetry.

Bird of the islands: The story of a flying boat in the South Seas
Call to the winds
Forgotton island
Frigate Bird
Pacific flight: The story of the Lady Southern Cross
Sopwith Scout 7309
The Sky Beyond
VH-UXX: The story of an aeroplane

Pete.

[eric_marsh]

I just got Stick and Rudder for Christmas. I must say that it's a great book. Easy to read and understand. I see why it's still popular almost seventy years after it was written.

[Bob Axsom]

Originally Posted by eric_marsh

I just got Stick and Rudder for Christmas. I must say that it's a great book. Easy to read and understand. I see why it's still popular almost seventy years after it was written.

I've heard about the book for decades but I have never actually even seen a copy. I don't usually like "How To" books but this may be an exception. I got the novel "Piece of Cake", also recommended here, for Christmas. Have to read it first. I better order "Stick and Rudder" now or I will rationalize it is not for me again by the time I finish "Piece of Cake".

Bob Axsom

[David Paule]

"27 Years of the AVator" is great!

I'd held off buying it because I thought it would include all the first flight articles and the travel logs and things like that. I was wrong. It turns out that the book is simply building tips, how-to articles, discussions of options and some of the pitfalls that can grab you. It's well organized by topic

The only gripe I've got is that it covers 1980 through 2006, and some of the topics are slightly dated.

This is sort of a general book, and if I'd known of it a while ago I'd have gotten a copy for a Xenos-building friend.

If you have the Bingelis books, add this to the bookshelf. It's a good one.

[Slow Mover]

Just finished Riding Rockets by Mike Mullane. A compelling account of his experience as a space shuttle astronaut. Very well written, many humorous stories and insider details. It makes being an astronaut sound even better than I thought it would be.

[Bob Axsom]

The start is so bad I would never have read beyond the first ten pages if it were not for the recommendations here. As it is, it is tough reading about totally irresponsible people - hope it gets better.

Bob Axsom

[lucky]

Originally Posted by Bob Axsom

The start is so bad I would never have read beyond the first ten pages if it were not for the recommendations here. As it is, it is tough reading about totally irresponsible people - hope it gets better.

Bob Axsom

That book is awesome. Suck it up! Remember, it's a satire, fiction, loosely based on history....it had me in stitches and was much better than the awesome BBC mini-series based on the book.

[kevinh]

Stick and Rudder

My favorite part: The appendix where he talks about how these new fangled tri-gear planes are the future/so much better than tail draggers.

(I love tailwheels also - but it was funny)

[Peterk]

Originally Posted by eric_marsh

I just got Stick and Rudder for Christmas. I must say that it's a great book. Easy to read and understand. I see why it's still popular almost seventy years after it was written.

His son has written several books. "Aloft," just recently made available in the U.S. (???) is a great collection of several aviation articles that he wrote over the years for Atlantic, Outside and others. The ValueJet story is amazing as is the one with the details about the corporate jet/B737 collision over the Amazon.