The Wrong Stuff?: Attempts at Flight Before (& After) the Wright Brothers

Even if you're not an airplane buff, you can't help but get a kick out of "The Wrong Stuff." What at first blush appears to be a perverse look at aviation's flakier moments is really a homage to these none-too-successful aircraft. Some of the planes -- especially the pre-Wright Brothers attemps -- look absurd through 21st century eyes. But in many instances, these aircraft actually solved important aeronautical problems, and helped the Wrights and other successful flyers. And many of the post-Wright planes were "failures" for economic or political reasons rather than technical ones. Cases in point were some of the cutting-edge WWII planes that saw limited production only because they were developed too late in the war. Or, the thinking behind the planes was sound, but the builders were too far ahead of their time to have access to the technology to make their designs a reality.If nothing else, "The Wrong Stuff" will give the reader a smile. With lots of pictures, it's an easy book to read. At most, the reader will come away with a renewed respect for successful pioneers such as the Wrights, and all those who take risks in designing and flying new aircraft.

The writing was crisp, entertaining and informative, full of humour with a wry smile and a cutting edge. Scott really brought the little-known tales of would-be flights and fliers to life.

As a part-time flight instructor, I think that teaching at least some of the history of aviation along with the skills and knowledge required to fly an airplane makes for a well-rounded pilot. Not unlike his other two books, 'On the Shoulders of Giants' and 'Pioneers of Flight,' Phil Scott's latest book, "The Wrong Stuff," is a veritable compendium of aviation history and information that is a must-have for every aviation enthusiast and pilot . Wonderfully written, easy to read, and hard to put down, "The Wrong Stuff" is a wonderful, warm, and humorous account of all the things that went wrong leading up to the Wright Brothers' first flight, and some of the attempts made at flight by others afterward. Scott introduces these history-making people to the reader in such a way that he or she will come to know and befriend them; the reader will empathetically share the frustrations of failure-and the joys of success-as encountered by the characters in this book. I would recommend this book to anyone with even the slightest inkling of an interest in aviation; in particular, I'd recommend the book to anyone getting onto an airplane for a transcontinental flight.I would also recommend Phil's other books: "On the Shoulders of Giants" and "Pioneers of Flight."