Stick and Rudder

An Explanation of the Art of Flying

By: Wolfgang Langewiesche

Narrated by: Jason Leikam

What's in Stick and Rudder:

• The invisible secret of all heavier-than-air flight: the angle of attack. What it is, and why it can't be seen. How lift is made, and what the pilot has to do with it.
• Why airplanes stall - how do you know you're about to stall
• The landing approach - how the pilot's eye functions in judging the approach
• The visual clues by which an experienced pilot unconsciously judges - how you can quickly learn to use them
• The spot that does not move - this is the first statement of this phenomenon - a foolproof method of making a landing approach across pole lines and trees
• The elevator and the throttle - one controls the speed, the other controls climb and descent - which is which
• The paradox of the glide - by pointing the nose down less steeply, you descend more steeply - by pointing the nose down more steeply, you can glide further.
• What's the rudder for - the rudder does not turn the airplane the way a boat's rudder turns the boat - then what does it do
• How a turn is flown - the role of ailerons, rudder, and elevator in making a turn.
• The landing - how it's made - the visual clues that tell you where the ground is.
• The "tail-dragger" landing gear and what's tricky about it - this is probably the only analysis of tail-draggers now available to those who want to fly one
• The tricycle landing gear and what's so good about it - a strong advocacy of the tricycle gear written at a time when almost all civil airplanes were taildraggers
• Why the airplane doesn't feel the wind
• Why the airplane usually flies a little sidewise
• Plus: a chapter on air accidents by Leighton Collins, founder and editor of Air Facts. His analyses of aviation's safety problems have deeply influenced pilots and aeronautical engineers and have contributed to the benign characteristics of today's airplane

Stick and Rudder is the first exact analysis of the art of flying ever attempted. It has been continuously in print for 33 years. It shows precisely what the pilot does when he flies, just how he does it, and why.

Because the basics are largely unchanging, the book therefore is applicable to large airplanes and small, old airplanes and new, and is of interest not only to the learner but also to the accomplished pilot and to the instructor himself.

When Stick and Rudder first came out, some of its contents were considered highly controversial. In recent years its formulations have become widely accepted. Pilots and flight instructors have found that the book works.

Today several excellent manuals offer the pilot accurate and valuable technical information. But Stick and Rudder remains the leading think-book on the art of flying. One thorough listening of it is the equivalent of many hours of practice.

©1944, 1972 Wolfgang Langewiesche (P)2021 Upfront Books

Must listen for pilots of any experience

I absolutely appreciated the depth of insight in this book. After getting my Private Pilot Certificate a few weeks ago, I wished I had listened to this earlier. It helped to make sure I had correct ideas about flying in my head and that I could understand them clearly. This book sparked really interesting conversations with my instructor. Nonetheless I’m glad I listened to it now. I’m sure the knowledge will help me through my aviation career. Absolutely recommend.

Must read for all pilots

Details the art of flying perfectly, highly recommend for all pilots. The books was highly recommended to me by many other CFIs

THE BEST AVIATION BOOK FOR BEGINNERS

Nothing to add to my headline. I read it many times and loved it every time

If you read this you will be a better pilot.

The value of this book for any pilot or person who wishes to be a pilot is completely evident even in the first chapter. If you want to be a safer pilot, read this book. If you want to understand the function of your airplane more thoroughly, read this book. If you want to understand the science behind flying, read this book. There is nothing in this book that is not valuable so please read it. The narrator did great. His pronunciation of much of the aviation vocabulary was spot on. 5 stars. I recommend this book to any pilot or student pilot, and wholeheartedly believe it should be required reading at every flight school.

Simply beautiful

Wonderful read for new and experienced pilots alike. It is clear that it is a great book written by a pilot for pilots. Has already taught me a lot and made me a safer wiser pilot.

It is a must for pilots

I am a CFI, CFIG and keep listening it back and forth. The best explanations of the basics.

Must listen

Very informative. Required listening for all pilots. Easy to understand the concepts and information conveyed.

An excellent explanation of the things that really matter when piloting an airplane

The author did a wonderful job of explaining the purpose of all of the control surfaces and how the airplane responds to them in different speeds and attitudes. He talked extensively about proper use of the rudder, particularly. I think this is a must listen for any general aviation pilot. He also covers other topics such as judging your approaches, flying at high altitude, and engine efficiency under different conditions. Listening to this book will undoubtably make you a better equipped and safer pilot.

Great info, easy read, but a bit repetitive

I learned a lot by reading this book that I didn't learn in my private pilot license training. Even it was written a long time ago, it still applies today.
I would highly recommend it to any pilot.
My only complain is that some points are repeated way too much, making the read a little tedious at times.

Excellent content and narration!

I highly recommend this book and audio to any fixed wing pilot. This is an outstanding book