Understanding Flight

by David F. Anderson

The simplest, most intuitive book on the toughest lessons of flight--addresses the science of flying in terms, explanations, and illustrations that make sense to those who most need to understand: those who fly. Debunks long-rooted misconceptions and offers a clear, minimal-math presentation that starts with how airplanes fly and goes on to clarify a diverse range of topics, such as design, propulsion, performance, high-speed flight, and flight testing. Not-to-be missed insights for pilots, instructors, flight students, aeronautical engineering students, and flight enthusiasts.

Genres: Science, Engineering, Nonfiction, Physics, Aviation

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Reviews

[Skyler Friedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although Understanding Flight is a "textbook", it delivers the fundamental concepts behind why things fly. It is a non-fiction book that is great for readers with a love of learning how things work. First off, it uses simple diagrams and real life situations to convey the ideas of learning. This creates a more easy-to-read for the reader while still being able to be an informational book. Inside the book, you'll find the concepts involved in pressure differences, forces, laws, and situations in which looks are deceiving. All in all, the book is a great source of information for the mechanically-inclined and interested reader.

[Josiah · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable introduction to aerodynamics. While I appreciated the hard work and thought that went into all the charts, diagrams, and explanations - I feel like with more care and detail to the writing I might have understood more of the concepts. And certainly grasped them more quickly and with less rereading. Its not that it was bad, but I feel like portions could have been done better. OR maybe it really is that complicated and if people aren't going to sit down and do the actual math or perform the wind tunnel tests, a book can only get you do far.

[DianeKerouac · Rating 4 out of 5]

标记中文版。对于机翼升力的产生原因并非伯努利原理而伯努利原理只是气流偏转的结果这一争议性问题的观点非常有趣。

[Saurabh · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best popular science books I've read. Comprehensive, yet easy to read and understand for an educated, interested layman. Some background in the sciences is probably necessary. The authors treat the reader as interested and reasonably intelligent, which is as it should be. There is no hard math, but no talking down either. Good pictures and explanations. Even the side boxes never fail to be interesting. There are a few cases where I thought a better picture, or a picture at all, would have helped. Also the index is not well done (eg. autorotation should be its own entry instead of being under helicopter). But these are minor niggles. This book should be a model for how popular science/math books are written.

[Vignesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aerodynamically superb !

[Shayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative, great matter-of-fact explanations, lots of figures and photos. Good for anyone looking for Aeronautics 101 in book form.

[Darshana Unnikrishnan · Rating 2 out of 5]

simple explanations. good for basic understanding of aerodynamics.

[Djallel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learned a lot from this book about flight, planes, aerodynamics .... even without a particular background.

[David Avetisyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Advise to young and curious wannabe engineers.
Quite technical, so might not suit everybody, but not too technical.