September 2008

Instrument Procedures Tutorial by David Howarth (ASA, 2008, ISBN: 9781560277132). This interactive software tool graphically illustrates the practical application of instrument concepts. A complete how-to system on instrument flight, navigation, procedures, emergencies and more, theprogram offers a four-hour software tutorial and a full-color manual.

Around The World With LBJ: My Wild Ride As Air Force One Pilot, White House Aide, And Personal Confidant by James U. Cross (University of Texas Press, 2008, ISBN: 9780292717688). As LBJ’s hand-picked pilot, top military assistant and personal confidant, Cross enjoyed around-the-clock access to the 36th president during one of America’s most turbulent decades. In this book, he offers a behind-the-scenes look at the complex, dynamic and larger-than-life man.

Gathering of Mustangs & Legends Commemorative DVD (The Gathering Foundation Inc., 2008). This stunning DVD offers footage from the historic four-day air show held in Columbus, Ohio, September 27-30, 2007. Relive the memories and power of this historic air show, which featured the largest number of P-51 Mustangs in one location since World War II.

Cockpit Procedures: Effective Routines for Pilots and Virtual Aviators by Chris Burger (ASA, 2008, ISBN: 9781560277217). Using step-by-step descriptions of a thorough preflight inspection, startup, taxi, takeoff, cruise, approach, landing and after-landing actions, this authoritative guide places particular emphasis on what a pilot should actually be doing while in the pilot seat. Indispensable for active pilots and trainees, the manual is equally valuable for virtual aviators who are interested in adding a level of realism to their flight simulations.

The God Machine: From Boomerangs to Black Hawks: The Story of the Helicopter by James R. Chiles (Bantam, 2008, ISBN: 9780553383522). Blending pop science and pop culture, Chiles focuses on a vehicle that evolved from an unstable machine into a sturdy, poised aircraft—the helicopter. Chiles explores its role in history and culture, from its beginnings to its critical role in Vietnam, to its multifaceted role as a traffic-monitoring, news-reporting and emergency/disaster-response vehicle.

May 2008

Flight Attendants by Alix Browne and Brian Finke (powerHouse, 2008, ISBN: 9781576874271). Flying the friendly skies, Brian Finke began photographing flight attendants as he crisscrossed the country on the airlines. In London, he visited a flight attendant school, complete with emergency rafts and billowing smoke. For the grand finale of his two-year trip, Finke traveled the illustrious Icelandair. The result is this vibrant document of those adventurous souls who choose to work at 40,000 feet. With an eye for the iconic as well as the absurd, Finke seamlessly blends the glamorous with the casual, offering a memorable look at the men and women of air travel.

Spinning Through Clouds: Tales from an Early Hoosier Aviator by Max E. Knight (Indiana Historical Society Press, 2008, ISBN: 9780871952561). 1930s aviators flew by the seat of their pants, climbing into open cockpits, braving the elements and sitting in narrow flimsy cabins. Knight began flying in 1936, at age 10, and met and learned to fly from many of Indiana’s aviation pioneers. This book is intended not just for experienced aviators, but also for young adults who are just getting into the sky.

Fly the Engine by Kas Thomas (ASA, 2008, PN 13-05395). Back in print for the first time in over a decade, the ultimate book on aircraft engine operation has been fully revised and updated for 2008. Fly the Engine takes you through all phases of engine operation, showing you how to spot engine discrepancies on preflight; how to troubleshoot a rough runup; how to recognize valve sticking; and much more. Hailed as a modern-day classic when it first appeared in 1993, this book is essential reading for any pilot, of any skill level.

Glenn Curtiss: Pioneer of Aviation by Alden Hatch (The Lyons Press, 2007, ISBN: 9781599211459). Viewed by many as the most important figure in the development of aviation, Glenn Curtiss was a thrill seeker and mechanical genius. Starting his career as a bicycle maker, he became the world’s leading manufacturer of high-performance motorcycles. Curtiss then began to build lightweight aeronautical motors and propellers. In 1909 he defeated the greatest flyers in the world and won the first airplane race in history. Curtiss convinced the U.S. Navy of the importance of naval aviation, and his planes performed the first landing on and takeoff from the deck of a ship. His “Jenny” set the standard for WWI aircraft, and his NC-4 “Flying Boat” crossed the Atlantic eight years before Lindbergh.

Fly Utah! A Pilot’s Guide to Exploration and Discovery in the Red Rock Country by Galen L. Hanselman (Q.E.I. Publishing, 2007, ISBN: 9781884915079). This is a treasure trove of information on Utah’s backcountry and recreational airstrips. There aren’t many asphalt-covered trails and cutesy little signs here: The Red Rock Country is vast and largely unexplored. Hanselman gives pilots the tools to plan dozens of exciting adventures, safely. Each airstrip is photographed to aid identification from overhead. This two-volume book comes in a slipcase and features a total of 950 pages with 83 airstrips (57 previously uncharted), 332 color illustrations, 172 color photos, a Relative Hazard Index (RHI), color Terrain Elevation Models (TEMs) and Runway Elevation Profiles (REPs).

October 2008

Flying the SR-71 Blackbird: In the Cockpit on a Secret Operational Mission by Richard H. Graham (Zenith, 2008, ISBN: 9780760332399). Able to fly at three times the speed of sound and at altitudes above 80,000 feet, the SR-71 is among the most technologically advanced aircraft ever produced. Retired SR-71 pilot and squadron leader Graham writes about a top-secret mission in the famed spy plane.

Magnificent Disaster: The Failure of Market Garden, the Arnhem Operation, September 1944 by David Bennett (Casemate, 2008, ISBN: 9781932033854). Market Garden involved three paratrooper divisions dropping behind enemy lines to join armored columns that were attempting to circumvent the Third Reich’s heartland and end WWII. Bennett chronicles this spectacular (and disastrous) Allied offensive.

Damian DelGaizo’s Tailwheel: 101 DVD (Barnstormer Pictures, 2008, ISBN: 9780615223322). Renowned tailwheel instructor Damian DelGaizo, of the Andover Flight Academy in Andover, N.J., presents his first instructional DVD, covering all aspects of the tailwheel endorsement. Place your order at www.tailwheel101.com.

Images Of Aviation: LaGuardia Airport by Joshua Stoff (Arcadia, 2008, ISBN: 9780738557991). Written by the curator of the Cradle of Aviation Museum on Long Island, this book covers one of the busiest airports in America. LaGuardia was conceived in the mid-1930s when Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia realized the need for a great airport in New York City. At the time of its 1939 opening, it was the largest and most advanced commercial airport in the world.

Avro Lancaster: The Bomber that Won the War by Peter C. Smith (Midland, 2008, ISBN: 9781857803051). The Lancaster, an RAF heavy bomber, had its first mission in 1942, and the aircraft was an instant success. By the end of WWII, it had carried out 156,000 missions and dropped over 600,000 tons of high-explosive bombs and more than 51 million incendiary bombs. Featuring a stunning collection of photographs, this book depicts the legendary Lancaster.

November 2008

Sporty’s Instrument Proficiency Check DVD [Sporty’s, 2008, ID# D551A] Completely updated and revised, this DVD includes, among other things, expanded coverage of WAAS technology. With information on preflight and aircraft systems, navigation, approaches, emergencies and weather reports and forecasts, this DVD covers everything from initial IFR flying down to the latest regulation changes. Order at www.sportys.com.

The Airplane: How Ideas Gave Us Wings by Jay Spenser (Collins, 2008, ISBN: 9780061259199). Spenser, an aviation author and historian, delivers an accessible history of the jetliner. He introduces readers to pioneers across continents and centuries who eventually gave the world wings. From wings to flight controls to fuselages and landing gear, the book follows the airplane’s evolution over the years.

Flyabout DVD [Mighty Ity, 2006, ISBN: 9687308590]. Flyabout is the heartfelt story of a young woman who gets a pilot’s license and inspires her father to do the same. Together, they fly an aircraft around the Australian continent. Her introduction to the Aboriginal Walkabout brings on the realization that piloting the plane won’t be the hardest part of the trip. Order at www.flyaboutmovie.com.

Jetpack Dreams: One Man’s Up and Down (But Mostly Down) Search for the Greatest Invention That Never Was by Mac Montandon (Da Capo, 2008, ISBN: 9780306815287). This book examines the history of the human jetpack—from its roots in a science-fiction story to those who are still attempting to realize the dream. Among other things, Montandon attends the first “International Rocketbelt Convention” and unearths a true story behind a bizarre mid-1990s case of kidnapping and murder—all for the sake of a jetpack.

Professional Pilot: Proven Tactics and PIC Strategies, Third Edition by John Lowery (ASA, 2008, ISBN: 9781560277095). The new edition of ASA’s popular title offers real-world applications of knowledge based on a veteran aviator’s vast experience. Updated with recent advancements in communications and navigation equipment, the book now includes FITS (FAA/Industry Training Standards) and prepares pilots for state-of-the-art TAA and VLJs. Order at www.asa2fly.com.

Flying The Light Retractables: A Guided Tour Through The Most Popular Complex Single-Engine Airplanes by LeRoy Cook (ASA, 2007, 9781560276074). As the author states in his introduction, “It is for the prospective buyer!that this book was written.” The small 180/200 hp four-seat light retractables are the most popular class of GA airplane, and Cook offers a unique prospective on ergonomics, control feel and other features that may or may not work for pilots and passengers. Prospective buyers will appreciate the book’s attention to performance features and economic trade-offs, with balanced discussions that stack technical detail against economic factors.

A Mighty Fortress by Chuck Alling (Casemate, 2006, ISBN: 1932033599). This is a personal account of the captain and crew of a lead bomber in the enormous formation raids made by the 8th Airforce during the last 10 months of World War II. The narrative demonstrates the courage and bravery of the crew of one B17 Flying Fortress. Flying 27 missions before the war’s end in May 1945, Alling provides a unique insight into the lives of a crew that flew the War to its end.