The Complete Idiot's Guide to Flying and Gliding

The chapter in this book on JFK Jr.'s crash last summer had me reading from paragraph to paragraph like I was locked into a suspense novel. Oh sure, we all know the awful conclusion, but what is so riveting is how author Bill Lane walks you through all the details of the fateful flight, and adds in logical, well-explained theories about what may have happened -- down to how the red and green lights from the control panel of JFK's craft may have been reflecting off the inside of the windows, further reducing visibility that foggy night. Reading each detail, I got goosebumps, and felt like I was right there with JFK and the Bessettes, getting more and more tense as more and more things went wrong on their trip to Cape Cod. I haven't been a big fan of things flight-oriented. But this book is written in a way that makes you realize that deep down somewhere on some hidden level, you have all these questions about flying that you didn't even know where there. Oh yes -- it had me saying to myself -- I guess I have wondered what demographic it is that ends up crashing their own planes most, and oh yes, I have wondered what physical phenomenon it is that makes pilots become so disoriented when flying at night. This book puts you in touch with that curiosity, then cheerfully answers the questions for you. Complete Idiot's Guide to Flying and Gliding is written in a tone that's very familiar and explanatory. Thankfully, it never talks over your head leaving you confused -- but it doesn't condescend, either. It really hits the spot for people who are curious about the ins and outs of flight -- from actual aerodynamics, to the psychology of pilots -- but have been too afraid to ask about it all. What keeps planes in the air? Do acrobatic pilots ever pass out from all that pressure when they turn upside down? What's "get-there-itis"? What's "nose art"? What does it feel like when a small plane hits the water at a 5,000-per-minute descent?You have to pick up the book and find out!

A very readable, friendly introduction to aviation. The perfect gift for anyone considering getting a pilot's license.

Airborne Express is most definitely a company that has a lot of aircraft. During the course of the day as I work there a lot of terms get thrown about on the subject of aircraft and flying. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Flying and Gliding has helped me to bring those terms from the heavens and made them a little more down to earth. The Guide takes you from the history of flight to how the aircraft flies and on into the cockpit itself. A book that should be on the self of even the most experienced flyer. Ohio the birthplace of aviation.