Celebrating a Century of Flight

The book begins with the prehistory of flight--with information dating back to 3500 B.C., and continues with stories of balloon flights, the first parachute jump, the "invention" of wings, and the earliest flying machines of Sir George Cayley, Otto Lilienthal, and Octave Chanute. It covers the work of Samuel P. Langley, who flew the first powered aerodrome models, a detailed history of Orville and Wilbur Wright, the fragile airplanes of World War I, the "Flying Aces," the evolution of airmail, the story of NACA (the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, precursor to NASA), and much, much more. Each section has stories and details of the events and achievements that made history.

This is an incredible book for pilots; aircraft, rocket, missile, and space historians; and flight enthusiasts of all ages. Page after page has fascinating information about hundreds and hundreds of unusual flying machines and the people who invented and flew them. (It's perfect for teachers as well, and there's also plenty of references for additional reading.) This is a valuable and important reference resource for the professional (and experimental) pilot, rocket scientist, engineer, technician, historian, and space enthusiast.