The Flying Book: Everything You've Ever Wondered About Flying On Airplanes

by David Blatner

Whether you fear, thrill at, or, like many, have never bothered to stop and think about the wonder of commercial flight, The Flying Book will inform, surprise, reassure, and entertain. David Blatner takes readers from the cockpit to the runway, the control tower, the baggage and security systems, the airplane manufacturing plant, and beyond, explaining the many factors that make airline travel possible. There are stops along the way to examine airplane maintenance, pilot training, the effects of weather, safety statistics, tips for staying healthy, oddball aviation inventions such as the air car, and what aerodynamicists have learned from birds and bugs.

With a brief history of aviation just to put it all in perspective, as well as minibiographies of some of history's great aviators, The Flying Book is a treasure trove of fascinating aviation facts. A delight for travelers-business, pleasure, or armchair-or any readers who like to indulge their sense of curiosity, The Flying Book captures the spirit, illuminates the science, and reveals the magic of flight.

Genres: Aviation, Nonfiction, Engineering, Aeroplanes

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

David Blatner is the author of 15 books, translated into 14 languages with over a half-million copies in print, including Spectrums, The Joy of Pi, and The Flying Book. As an expert on digital publishing, he has lectured in five continents over the past two decades. He and his wife and two sons live, explore, and write outside Seattle, Washington.

Reviews

[Rex Y · Rating 5 out of 5]

I strongly recommend this book! Haven't read nonfictions in a while, this book definitely rebooted me into the mode of knowledge-bombs dropping. I have been interested in the topic of flight, airplanes, aviation, airports, and so on. This book gave me a great understanding of comprehensive information on the technical aspects of flying that we civilians do not get to explore, like what is inside a cockpit for example. In fact, one thing I would suggest to the author David Blatner is to make your book look nicer. The interior pages could be more formal rather than having textboxes of geometric shapes. Most importantly, the cover really could be more colorful and aesthetically appealing, in case your naughty readers judge the book by its cover :P

[J.T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente livro para quem tem medo de voar de avião e sofre de ansiedade nos dias que antecedem uma viagem. O autor descreve todas as áreas ligadas à indústria da aviação. Conhecer como a indústria funciona e principalmente como um avião funciona ajuda a reduzir a ansiedade.

[Jenna Kallio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erinomainen kirja lentämisestä kiinnostuneille tai lentämistä pelkääville. On toki parikymmentä vuotta vanha jo, mutta suurilta osin ihan ajantasainen. Paljon asiaa, mielenkiintoisesti ja jutustelevasti kerrottuna.

[Fabienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sehr informativ, wenn auch nicht mehr auf dem neuesten Stand, weil von Anfang der 2000er. Ob ich jetzt beim Fliegen weniger Angst haben werde, wird sich zeigen. Ich bezweifle es leider :-(

[Merlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good and informative! I enjoyed reading this a lot.

[Bill Streever · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking for something to read on an airplane? This is the book. I have no idea why this book is not prominently displayed in the window of every airport bookstore. Entertaining, educational, and comforting, this book has everything from how a plane flies to salaries of flight attendants to the meaning behind all those disconcerting bumps, jerks, and noises that accompany every flight. Plus, there are lots of pictures. Many thanks to David Blatner to make flying just a touch less insufferable.

[Air Transport · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has everything! It should be a University text book.

[Mendi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am totally fascinated by flying - how planes work, air traffic control, the underground world of luggage logistics, etc. - this book answered it all. Made me more determined than ever to get my pilot's license.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never fly on an airplane without this book. It explains a lot of things about airplanes and makes you feel safer in one.

[Celia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel better about flying!

[C.Y. Chong · Rating 4 out of 5]

a thoroughly enjoyable read - everything very clearly explained!

[Air Transport]

An excellent book which should be a university text book. Beautifully written and laid out.