It was used on the eve of the second world war to prepare pilot recruits and conscripts before they were called for service, and as such it was read religiously by thousands of young men, some as young as 17, and directly impacted on the British war effort.
This beautiful new printing of the book captures all of the feelings of that extraordinary time - it's nostalgic, understated, inspiring and very British indeed, warning young pilots, amongst other things, not to feel 'too discouraged' in the event of a crash landing.
Technology has changed hugely, but the principles of aviation as they were in the middle of the twentieth century are perfectly summarized in this lovely book. Get hold of the right vehicle, and it really can teach you to fly.
What happens when you're up there, however, is your responsibility.
I won this book in a recent Goodreads First Reads giveaways.
This appears to be a very informative book, with several illustrations. It will make interesting reading for those interested. I shall be passing this book on to my son-in-law, who will enjoy reading this book more than I.
Brevity is the soul of wit and also of flying, it seems. A+ read for CFI prep (with the exception of the two chapters XC-flying & WWII RAF roles… which are both interesting but outdated). “Per ardua ad astra.” 🫡
Mr. Tangye begins early on with his disclaimer found on pages 8 - 9 of the introduction: "The title, "Teach Yourself to Fly", I do not intend to be taken literally. However confident the reader may feel when he has reached the last page, it will not be advisable for him to go to an aerodome and jump into a waiting airplane in the belief that he may be able to fly it."
His book is a bit outdated (published in 1938) but all the basic essentials are there. Flight controls, flight instruments, manuevers, landings, how centrifugal and centripetal forces affect blood to the vital organs...
"When he becomes a pilot, a man enters an element which is unfamiliar - he knows land and water, but not air." ~Herr Rudolph Lochner