The Best Air Travel Books of All Time

The untold, almost unbelievable, story of the daring pilots who risked their lives in an unprecedented air race in 1919―and put American aviation on the map. Years before Charles Lindbergh’s flight from New York to Paris electrified the nation, a group of daredevil pilots, most of them veterans of the World War I, brought aviation to the masses by competing in the sensational transcontinental air race of 1919. The contest awakened Americans to the practical possibilities of flight, yet despite its significance, it has until now been all but forgotten.

In The Great Air Race, journalist and amateur pilot John Lancaster finally reclaims this landmark event and the unheralded aviators who competed to be the fastest man in America. His thrilling chronicle opens with the race’s impresario, Brigadier General Billy Mitchell, who believed the nation’s future was in the skies. Mitchell’s contest―critics called it a stunt―was a risky undertaking, given that the DH-4s and Fokkers the contestants flew were almost comically ill-suited for long-distance travel: engines caught fire in flight; crude flight instruments were of little help in clouds and fog; and the brakeless planes were prone to nosing over on landing. Yet the aviators possessed an almost inhuman disregard for their own safety, braving blizzards and mechanical failure as they landed in remote cornfields or at the edges of cliffs. Among the most talented were Belvin “The Flying Parson” Maynard, whose dog, Trixie, shared the rear cockpit with his mechanic, and John Donaldson, a war hero who twice escaped German imprisonment. Jockeying reporters made much of their rivalries, and the crowds along the race’s route exploded, with everyday Americans eager to catch their first glimpse of airplanes and the mythic “birdmen” who flew them. The race was a test of endurance that many pilots didn’t finish: some dropped out from sheer exhaustion, while others, betrayed by their engines or their instincts, perished. For all its tragedy, Lancaster argues, the race galvanized the nation to embrace the technology of flight. A thrilling tale of men and their machines, The Great Air Race offers a new origin point for commercial aviation in the United States, even as it greatly expands our pantheon of aviation heroes. 8 pages of black-and-white illustrations and 10 images throughout.

ASA has built a reputation for providing the aviation community with the most accurate and reliable FAR/AIM products available. The 2024 FAR/AIM book continues this tradition, containing complete and up-to-date information from Titles 14 and 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 and 49 CFR) pertinent to general aviation, pilots, flight instructors, and unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operators, combined with the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), and a free email subscription service for you to receive updated information as it is released by the FAA. Convenient handbook-sized 6" x 9" format includes:.

Title 14 Parts 1, 43, 48, 61, 67, 68, 71, 73, 89, 91, 97, 103, 105, 107, 110, 119, 136, 137, 141, 142; Title 49 NTSB 830 and TSA 1552 Unabridged text of AIM, including full-color graphics Pilot/Controller Glossary The Pilot’s Bill of RightsAdditional features:. FREE updates available online and via email subscription service for instant access to regulation changes as they are released throughout the one-year book lifecycle (sign up on ASA’s website) Changes and updates since last edition clearly marked Suggested regulation study list for each certificate and rating Tabs printed in page margins for quick reference Comprehensive FAR and AIM indexASA’s FAR/AIM books have been the standard regulatory reference of the industry for more than 80 years. ASA consolidates the FAA regulations and procedures into easy-to-use reference books full of information pertinent to pilots, flight crew, and aviation mechanics.

Aviation Supplies & Academics, Inc. has been the industry’s trusted source for official FAA publications for over 80 years. Look for the ASA wings to ensure you’re purchasing the latest authentic FAA release. This handbook FAA-H-8083-25C is current in 2024. Providing basic knowledge essential for all pilots, from beginning students through to the advanced certificates, this Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) publication introduces readers to the broad spectrum of knowledge required as they progress through pilot training.

Studying this book, pilots gain the required knowledge to earn a certificate and understand the aerodynamic theory associated with flight. Written for the pilot preparing for a Remote, Sport, Recreational, Private, Commercial, or Flight Instructor Pilot Certificate, it is a key reference containing all the information necessary to operate an aircraft and to pass the FAA Knowledge Exam and Practical Test (checkride). This invaluable learning tool begins with a basic introduction to flying and a history of flight and then explores the role of the FAA, the criteria for earning the various pilot certificates, how to select a flight school and instructor, and the tests associated with earning a pilot certificate. Topics covered include aeronautical decision-making, aircraft construction, principles of flight, aerodynamics of flight, flight controls, aircraft systems, flight instruments, flight manuals and other documents, weight and balance, aircraft performance, weather theory, aviation weather services, airport operations, airspace, navigation, and aeromedical factors. Appendices provide additional support including acronyms, abbreviations, NOTAM contractions, airport signs and markings, a glossary, and an index. This 2023 edition reflects the latest aviation industry procedures, equipment, techniques, regulations, and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendations and presents an up-to-date resource for the FAA Airman Certification Standards (ACS). Changes include updates to drugs and their impact on flight, nontowered airport operations, and attitude indicator pitch and bank limitations. Complete with chapter summaries and illustrated throughout with detailed, full-color drawings and photographs, this handbook functions like an “aviation encyclopedia” to expand pilot knowledge.