Showing titles in Aviation

In October of 1910, only four years before the outbreak of World War I, nobody knew whether planes, dirigibles, or balloons would prevail. Within a period of 17 days, this question was on prime display, as the dirigible America tried to cross the Atlantic; huge crowds gathered at horse-racing tracks to watch airplanes race around overhead; and ballooning teams from around the world took off from St. Louis in pursuit of the Bennett International Balloon Cup, given to the balloon that traveled the farthest.

The fourth book in the series tells the amazing story of the two most famous fighters in World War II. The Spitfire, the much-loved aircraft of the British nation and the RAF, became a symbol of British strength, hope, and defiance during WWII. The Mustang was unquestionably the finest of all the USAF fighters.

In Full Upright and Locked Position, former FAA chief counsel and senior aviation policy official Mark Gerchick unravels the unseen forces and little-known facts that have reshaped our air travel experience since September 11, 2001. With wry humor and unique insight, Gerchick takes us past the jargon, technicalities, and all-is-well platitudes to expose the new normal of air travel: from the packed planes and myriad hassles of everyday flying to the alchemy of air fares, the airlines' endless nickel-and-diming, and the elusive hope of escape from steerage.

The First Space Race reveals the inside story of an epic adventure with world-altering stakes. From 1955 to 1958, American and Soviet engineers battled to capture the world's imagination by successfully launching the world's first satellite. The race to orbit featured two American teams led by rival services - the US Army and the Navy - and a Soviet effort so secret that few even knew it existed. This race ushered in the Space Age with a saga of science, politics, technology, engineering, and human dreams.

A cocky, green pilot flies an old Cessna 150 across the United States in 1994. The "Kid" and his gonzo passenger Doc take to the skies in an unforgettable misadventure. From Scottsdale Airport, the "Canary" takes off and attempts to cross the "hump" on its passage eastward.

Life is an adventure; life in the sky, exponentially so. Airline pilot-author-blogger Eric "Cap'n Aux" Auxier has done it all. For the first time, enjoy a collection of Captain Auxier's stories from such publications as Airways magazine, Plane & Pilot, NYCAviation.com and his own blog (capnaux.com). Also included are several unpublished works, guest stories from fellow pilot-authors and other gems.

George Churchill Kenney (1889-1977) was a United States Army Air Force general during World War II. Kenney's work narrates the remarkable life of Paul Irvin “Pappy” Gunn and his exploits during the Second World War. Gunn was an integral part of the war effort in the Pacific during WWII. Besides being a brilliant pilot, he was a formidable aviation engineer, a mechanical genius who could rebuild anything from an electric razor to an airplane engine or any of the plane’s hundreds of accessories.

The history of the Guinea Pig Club, the band of airmen who were seriously burned in aeroplane fires, is a truly inspiring, spine-tingling tale. Plastic surgery was in its infancy before the Second World War. The most rudimentary techniques were known only to a few surgeons worldwide. The Allies were tremendously fortunate in having maverick surgeon Archibald McIndoe - nicknamed ‘the Boss’, or ‘the Maestro’ - operating at a small hospital in East Grinstead in the south of England. McIndoe constructed a medical infrastructure from scratch.

Nowadays, people always use airplanes to get to their destinations. Instead of spending several days taking the bus or train, they prefer a flight that will take three hours at most. In an era when every minute of our day is precious, we can’t afford to waste time on ground transportation. But how did planes first came into being? Who came up with the idea of sticking some wings to a frame to make them fly? How did they manage to fly in the first place? There are so many questions that we want answered – which is exactly what this book is planning to do for you. Here, you will discover:...

A series of short stories that illustrate the life and work for an American Bush Pilot flying for a Humanitarian organization in remote and rustic Southern Guyana. Plenty of humor. Some gritty reality.

When Churchill's top secret Special Operations Executive needed to destroy the Gestapo HQ in the centre of downtown Copenhagen to prevent a devastating Nazi last stand that might prolong the war for many months, there was only one machine for the job - the Mosquito. This is the story of that legendary aircraft told through that one impossible mission.

Being James Bond is dedicated to learning and exploring all we need to know so that we can experience life the way James Bond does. It's a 'how-to' guide, on anything James Bond can do or has done. If James Bond can do it, we can do it!

Squawk 7700 is a first-hand account of author Peter Buffington's experiences as a commercial airline pilot and the journey he took to reach his childhood dream. Buckle your seatbelt and prepare for an eye-opening, turbulent ride into the world of aviation from the pilot's seat. From student pilot at age 15, to flight instructor, to nighttime cargo pilot, and finally as first officer aboard the ATR 72 turboprop airliners island hopping the Caribbean, Squawk 7700 is a riveting aviation adventure.

Why Planes Crash Case Files: 2003 follows 11 aircraft disasters from 2003, detailing how the accidents happened and how they might have been avoided. This "CSI for aviation enthusiasts" series examines both the history and the current climate of aviation to unravel the instigating events that led to these catastrophes.

Air travel is one of the safest modes of travel when we take into account the distances and freedom that it allows us. And yet, we still remain obsessed with aviation disasters. What caused these accidents? Whose fault was it? In her series of books Why Planes Crash, Sylvia Wrigley investigates the worst aviation disasters of the 21st century.

On an icy night in October 1984, a Piper Navajo commuter plane carrying nine passengers crashed in the remote wilderness of Northern Alberta, killing five people. Four survived: the rookie pilot, a prominent politician, a cop, and the criminal he was escorting to face charges. Despite the poor weather, Erik Vogel, the 24-year-old pilot, was under intense pressure to fly - a situation not uncommon to pilots working for small airlines. Overworked and exhausted, he feared losing his job if he refused to fly.

An insiders view of the untold story of when the airlines started to hire women pilots. In this entertaining and informative story you follow the lives of six of the early women pilots. Theirs is the inspiring story of determination, courage, and sometimes heartbreak. Listen about women pilots from all over the world who were first in their airline’s cockpit, perhaps someone from your home country. There are two chapters about the first African-and international women pilots.

When veteran flight attendant Steven Slater told off his startled passengers and slid down the emergency escape slide of a JetBlue airplane on a sunny summer's day at New York's Kennedy Airport in 2010, he said good-bye to the world as he knew it. Overnight, Slater became a media sensation and working class hero. Now, for the first time, Slater writes in his own words about what really happened that fateful day at JFK and shares his experiences of the surreal whirlwind that is overnight celebrity. But behind the splashy headlines, Slater fought battles no one knew anything about.

The birth of the Royal Air Force marked a pivotal moment in military history. World War I was frozen in the bloody stalemate of trench warfare, which gave strategic urgency to any means of directly attacking enemy resources and morale. The new technologies of air power held promise, and by 1917 German bombers had begun attacking British cities.

We Have a No Crash Policy tells the story from a pilot’s point of view. The sometimes scary and often humorous adventures experienced in the course, gaining over 5000 hours of flying, provides a window into the amazing world of aviation.