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Post by herkpilot on Sept 24, 2010 18:18:29 GMT -5
Not much action in this "corner" recently, so I'd like to suggest that we start a permanent list of aviation related books. There have been a few sporadic postings on this topic over the years but most seem to have vanished. For starters here are some of my favorites:
"Fate is the Hunter" ( and everything else) by Ernie Gann. No comments needed.
"Northstar Over My Shoulder" by Bob Buck . The autobiography of a great TWA pilot, DC-2s to 747s. A contemporary of Gann.
"The Pilots Burden" by Bob Buck. Safety issues and conflicts arising out of new aviation technology from the pilots view.
"Come Fly With Me-Props" and "Come Fly With Me- jets" by Johnny Sadiq. Worth searching out, two volumes of autobiography of a 37 year career pilot with Pakistani International (PIA). Some hair raising tales of mountain flying and typhoons in DC-3s, F-27s,Tridents, DC-10s and 747s , plus the intrigues of third world politics. Hard to put down.
"Wings of Paradise" by Peter Forman. The aviation story of Hawaii. Of current US airlines, only NW was older than Hawaiian (founded in 1929 as Inter-Island), and now NW is gone. Covered are the political battles, airline battles, WWII, Statehood and the fall of Aloha. Interesting tales of S-38s and S-43s and why Kahalui, Maui has OGG as the identifier.
"Flying the Old Planes" by Frank Tallman. First person Pilot reports on Spads and Triplanes, DC-3s, B-17s and many more by one of the greatest movie pilots.
That should get you started. I know there are many more out there of interest to this community, so lets hear about them. The good and the bad. No reason not to include movies as well.
Hy
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Post by Tom/CalClassic on Sept 25, 2010 9:44:30 GMT -5
My favorite is TWA and Howard Hughes, by Robert Rummel. He was head of engineering at TWA for many years, and in charge of new aircraft evaluation. Fascinating account of how TWA bought its aircraft and its tumultuous time with Howard.
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Post by sunny9850 on Sept 25, 2010 10:31:29 GMT -5
From a pure pilot training perspective I think two books are must reads for anyone slipping the surly bonds virtually or in real life.
Barry Shiff : The proficient pilot
and of course
Wolfgang Langewiesche : Stick and Rudder
Stefan
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Post by jesse on Sept 25, 2010 16:45:30 GMT -5
In my personal library I have quite a few good aviation related books. However, my favorite of all is "The Wings of Man", the story of Eastern Airlines and its late Chief Pilot, Captain D I C K Merrill.
The book was authored by Jack King who has long since retired as a Corporate Pilot; A WWII B-25 Pilot and a Post war Test Pilot for Martin Aircraft in Baltimore. Jack was one of the primary test pilots on the Martin 202 and 404 program.
If you want his book you can email him at: Jackannking@verizon.net
Just tell him that Jesse sent you. ;D ;D
I also have Black Sheep by Pappy Boyington, and Sole Survivor by Ensign Gay of Torpedo Squadron Eight. And I must not forget Tex Hill and Flying Tigers along with God is My Co-Pilot authored by my old Commanding Officer Colonel Robert L. Scott, Jr. who later became a Brigadier General.
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Post by Tom/CalClassic on Sept 26, 2010 9:52:39 GMT -5
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Post by jesse on Sept 27, 2010 8:29:11 GMT -5
:DI no longer have to contend with Thingy. I found that by putting a space between each letter, i.e. D i c k. It comes out as it should. I wonder who in proboards came up with that feature. ;D When we fly, we do not sit in the Thingypit.
Jesse
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Post by Tom/CalClassic on Sept 27, 2010 9:27:10 GMT -5
I forgot that... Edited with a space.
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Post by skir4d on Sept 27, 2010 11:19:37 GMT -5
"Spirit of St Louis" by Charles Lindbergh, "Weather Flying" by Bob Buck
Both good reads, the second one being instructional but also interesting from an understanding point of view.
Jack
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Post by chris_c on Sept 27, 2010 16:38:22 GMT -5
Three titles out of my library, with brief reviews of each.
The Road to the 707 by William H. Cook. The author was an engineer with Boeing for many years, project manager for the Boeing High Speed Wind Tunnel and he worked on both the XB-47 and Dash 80. Interesting read on why certain engineering solutions came to be that starts with the Wright Flyer and continues through to the introduction of the turbo-fan.
Fly with the Stars: British South American Airways, The Rise and Controversial Fall of a Long-Haul Trailblazer by Susan and Ian Ottaway. Flawed and profoundly biased, this book also provides some valuable insights into post-war commercial aviation in the UK. The uncritical hero-worship of BSAA chief executive Air Vice-Marshall Donald Bennett grows tiresome after a bit as do the repeated unsubstantiated allegations of some unspecified and invisible dark force sabotaging the Corporation. Rather one can detect that the real problems with BSAA were far more prosaic even if the evidence is found unintentionally between the lines. For all that however, very readable and interesting nonetheless.
Broken Arrow: America's First Lost Nuclear Weapon by Norman Leach Mr. Leach tells the story of the crash of B-36A Ship 2075 in the mountains of British Columbia on a stormy February 13th 1950. Far from being an anti-nuclear tirade that one might expect from the title, the book deals with SAC and the troubled B-36 with a very even hand. The crash, subsequent cover up and USAF intrusion into Canadian sovereign territory is placed into context of the Cold War and for such potentially serious event, the author is remarkably non-judgmental. Many aspects of early B-36 operations out of Carswell AFB make this a valuable account for those interested in the era.
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Post by herkpilot on Feb 21, 2011 23:34:18 GMT -5
"Daring Young Men" by Richard Reeves.
A new book about the Berlin Airlift, full of interviews with many of the participants, both aircrew and Berliners. In between the stories is a very good look at the politics and behind the scene manuvering to force the allies out of Berlin. The British (and Empire) participation is also well covered. It really puts the Airlift into perspective as the opening shot of the cold war. After reading this, I had to dig out and re-read my old copy of:
"Over the Hump" by General William H Tunner, the mastermind of of military airlift. A large portion of this book is devoted to the Berlin Airlift and the internal battles within the Air Force for control. Often it seemed that the combat Air Force was working against the Airlift Operation. The sections covering the Hump and Korea are also enlightening.
Hy
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Post by emfrat on Feb 22, 2011 2:22:13 GMT -5
I don't 'do' heroes - apart from the grandkids - but if I did, "Bill" Taylor would certainly be very high on the list. adbonline.anu.edu.au/biogs/A120204b.htmOf his eight books, I have the first six, have read 'Bird of the Islands' but not bought it (yet), and am on the lookout for his last work, 'Sopwith Scout 7309'. All are old, some have seen hard times, but they are all intact and readable, and that's what counts. If you can only get one, make it "The Sky Beyond". It is Taylor's autobiography and has chapters covering in summary each of the full length books. ATB MikeW
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Post by dave mcqueen on Feb 22, 2011 4:04:36 GMT -5
I used to see Pappy Boyington under a tent at the Livermore Air Show selling his books but, dummy that I am, never bought one. He was pretty ill by then.
Anyway, in my Library:
Anything by Ernest K. Gann
Stick and Rudder, Wolfgang Langewiesche, the "angle of attack" book. I read and reread that book when I was taking my private pilot lessons.
God is My Co-Pilot, Colonel Robert L. Scott, Jr. I loved the 40s black and white movie with Dennis Morgan and I've read most of Col. Scott's books.
By Dead Reckoning, Ralph Lewis ----- Ralph was a navigator on Transocean's DC-4s in the 40s and 50s. He was also the "Unofficial official photographer" for that airline. It is a wonderful book, extremely well written.
We, Charles Lindbergh My autographed (#85 of 1000) copy. Nothing anyone can add that hasn't been said before
I Could Never be so Lucky Again, Jimmy Doolittle His autobiography completed a few years before his death.
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Post by simondix on Feb 22, 2011 10:25:08 GMT -5
I have just ordered Flight to Everywhere by Ivan Dmitri. About US Transport flights in WW2
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Post by ross on Feb 23, 2011 7:50:51 GMT -5
My shelf includes......Wind,Sand and Stars......Antoine de St. Exupery and
Song of the Sky........Guy Murchie
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Post by qxtoolman on Feb 23, 2011 11:05:09 GMT -5
I have just ordered Flight to Everywhere by Ivan Dmitri. About US Transport flights in WW2 If You like that one you might enjoy one I have titled "Warplanes to Alaska" by Blake W. Smith. It's all about the flights of Lend-Lease aircraft to Nome and on to Russia, starting in Great Falls MT. The awful weather, bad landing strips along the way, across Alberta, British Columbia, NW Territories, & the Yukon. It was riveting reading.. I too have all the Ernest Gann, plus Chuck Yeager. I too love reading about the early NASA Years, it was just amazing that we ever got to the moon. Those Guys really had guts or as Chuck Yeager says the "Right Stuff"....
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