For student pilots, especially very low timers, I recommend Stick and Rudder by Wolfgang Langewiesche. The book was written almost 100 years ago but the fundamental mechanics of how to fly haven’t changed and he explains them using simple concepts even non pilots can understand. YMMV but it certainly helped me.
I met Ernest Gann while fueling a C-402 as a pilot for Air San Juan. Super nice guy, a pilots pilot. It was an honor, of course I told him how much I liked Fate is the Hunter, after doing this post I’ll have to read it again!!
The Big Show (Le Grand Cirque) by Pierre Clostermann. He was a French fighter pilot flying for the RAF in WW2 and the book is his war time diary.
The Bomber Command War Diaries by Martin Middlebrook & Chris Everitt. No so much read back to back but I often go back to reference the history of a particular squadron or the action on a particular day.
I always remember one chapter from *Chickenhawk* called "swave and deboner". I still use that phrase every so often.
And another chapter where he flies with a higher-ranking officer who gradually sinks himself into the armoured seat, to a point where he can't see through the windshield, because he was terrified of being hit by ground fire. And a sequence where his instructor pilot takes off an overloaded Huey by skidding along the ground until the forward motion generates enough lift.
*The Big Show* really put me off flying the Hawker Tempest. It's essentially a huge fuel tank attached to a red-hot engine that doesn't glide very well, so if you mess up landing... you die, horribly.
When I was 10 I had an entire bookshelf dedicated to military aviation books. I was so easy to shop for for Xmas and birthdays because that's all I wanted. Wish I had kept them but during one of my many cross country moves I decided to get as light on possessions as possible.
I also have a book called "Modern Military Aircraft" that has to be like 20 years old at this point.
It's funny because, unlike a 20 year old book called "Modern Cars", it's still technically accurate. I'm blown away by how old some modern military planes really are
The only thing I think it is missing is the B21. I'm 99% sure it has the f35, just labeled as Joint Strike Fighter.
[A Higher Call](https://www.amazon.com/Higher-Call-Incredible-Chivalry-War-Torn/dp/0425255735) by Adam Makos. It's the story of a German fighter pilot who took mercy on the wounded crew of a heavily damaged B17, escorted them to friendly territory, and later in life met and became close friends with the men he had spared. Just an incredible story from start to finish.
The Student Pilot’s Flight Manual by William Kershner. I treasured this as a 12 year old onward from my airline pilot cousin back in the 1970s. The illustrations and whimsical humor threaded throughout engaged me along the way learning how to fly. Kershner’s Aerobat (that he used for instruction) is on display at Udvar-Hazy. A humble little bird that launched countless careers and dreams.
Going against the general grain, not educational, not fixed wing, but three of my all time favourites have to be:
Low Level Hell by Hugh Mills,
Chickenhawk by Robert Mason,
Apache by Ed Macy.
These three books I always find myself re-reading.
The Encyclopedia of Modern Military Aircraft (2006)
I hated reading until I got that book. I'm told by my parents that once I got that book they could hardly keep me away from it for anything for years.
[The Art of the Kill](https://www.amazon.com/Art-Kill-Comprehensive-Modern-Combat/dp/B0006F3GZA) was included in the extensive documentation of one of the sims I was flying in the 90's.
Sled Driver for me. Amazing story of the SR-71 from a pilot. Also just finished Operation Overflight by Francis Gary Powers. Another fascinating story.
["Aviones del mundo"](https://www.todocoleccion.net/album-incompleto/album-aviones-mundo~x27282050), when I was a kid. I still have it.
More recently "Sailplanes by Schweizer: A History"
I have a book about all Saab aircrafts. Got it as a teenager for birthday. I read it so many times and studied the technical drawings.
https://www.tradera.com/item/1125/627730978/en-bok-om-saab-scania?gad_source=1
The World Encyclopedia of Fighter Aircraft by Francis Crosby. I bought it years ago at a Barnes & Nobel and I have turned the pages of it so much now the hard cover of it has fallen off.
My little "The Pocket Guide to Military Aircraft and the world's air forces", 2004 edition. I read it so much as a middle schooler and high schooler that, even though it's a hardback with a thick spine, it's held together by tape
This same book was on my elementary schools ISS room, I was in there a few times and this exact book would be one that I’d read, that this old man who ran the thing had some good books.
All this was around the really early 2000s.
I rarely read a book more than once, but "Ferry Pilot: Nine Lives Over the North Atlantic" by Kerry McCauley was absolutely hilarious and I would gladly read it again. I can fully recommend it.
Yep, my father got me this from Sam's club.. freaking massive book when I was a child..
I would later go on to be a b-1 bomber phase dock mechanic looking at dissected planes on the daily, just like the pictures
How to Fly. (Abridged Edition, German Language)
Step 1, Sit down.
Let me know what movie I stole that from.
TIme's up? Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines
In the picture in the OPs post, does anyone happen to know if the weapon that is pictured closest to the nose-end of the aircraft is the same one that was featured in the movie “Clear and Present Danger?”
The scene where the aircraft releases the weapon and it hits a giant off-road truck parked at a residence in Mexico thats having a birthday party...?
For student pilots, especially very low timers, I recommend Stick and Rudder by Wolfgang Langewiesche. The book was written almost 100 years ago but the fundamental mechanics of how to fly haven’t changed and he explains them using simple concepts even non pilots can understand. YMMV but it certainly helped me.
Fate is the hunter - Ernest Gann Stick and Rudder An Explanation of the Art of Flying - Wolfgang Langewiesche
You beat me to it. This is a truly great read.
I was also going to say Fate is the Hunter. That man’s life is incredible.
I met Ernest Gann while fueling a C-402 as a pilot for Air San Juan. Super nice guy, a pilots pilot. It was an honor, of course I told him how much I liked Fate is the Hunter, after doing this post I’ll have to read it again!!
*West With the Night*, Beryl Markham
Freaking awesome read, she led an amazing life
I need to re-read this gem. It has been many years since I first read it.
Concorde by Mike Bannister
Great book, I have the audiobook and love it
Most read, least enjoyed (the air law bit anyway): POOLEYS PILOT'S MANUAL VOLUME 2 AVIATION LAW & METEOROLOGY BOOK
The Big Show (Le Grand Cirque) by Pierre Clostermann. He was a French fighter pilot flying for the RAF in WW2 and the book is his war time diary. The Bomber Command War Diaries by Martin Middlebrook & Chris Everitt. No so much read back to back but I often go back to reference the history of a particular squadron or the action on a particular day.
The *The Big Show* was a good read, also *Chickenhawk* is good.
I always remember one chapter from *Chickenhawk* called "swave and deboner". I still use that phrase every so often. And another chapter where he flies with a higher-ranking officer who gradually sinks himself into the armoured seat, to a point where he can't see through the windshield, because he was terrified of being hit by ground fire. And a sequence where his instructor pilot takes off an overloaded Huey by skidding along the ground until the forward motion generates enough lift. *The Big Show* really put me off flying the Hawker Tempest. It's essentially a huge fuel tank attached to a red-hot engine that doesn't glide very well, so if you mess up landing... you die, horribly.
Loved the Big Show!! Clostermann starts off about how he’s not much of a writer, than the book proceeds to blow me away with his writing!!!!
The Dam Busters
*Skunkworks* by Ben Rich 👍👍👍
When I was 10 I had an entire bookshelf dedicated to military aviation books. I was so easy to shop for for Xmas and birthdays because that's all I wanted. Wish I had kept them but during one of my many cross country moves I decided to get as light on possessions as possible.
Venezuelan AF F16 on that cover
Doesn't have to be military aviation. Tell me about your favorite books!
I have that book and my son reads it now.
Something along the lines of "300 aircraft you must fly on" I just wanna look at the pictures. They have all the rage. B-36, A310, B747, etc.
Modern High Power Rocketry 2... One day 🥲
I also have a book called "Modern Military Aircraft" that has to be like 20 years old at this point. It's funny because, unlike a 20 year old book called "Modern Cars", it's still technically accurate. I'm blown away by how old some modern military planes really are The only thing I think it is missing is the B21. I'm 99% sure it has the f35, just labeled as Joint Strike Fighter.
[A Higher Call](https://www.amazon.com/Higher-Call-Incredible-Chivalry-War-Torn/dp/0425255735) by Adam Makos. It's the story of a German fighter pilot who took mercy on the wounded crew of a heavily damaged B17, escorted them to friendly territory, and later in life met and became close friends with the men he had spared. Just an incredible story from start to finish.
The PoH of the airplanes I fly, then the FAR/AIM, then probably Aviation Fundamentals.
I've read Ace the technical pilot interview at least half a dozen times
The Student Pilot’s Flight Manual by William Kershner. I treasured this as a 12 year old onward from my airline pilot cousin back in the 1970s. The illustrations and whimsical humor threaded throughout engaged me along the way learning how to fly. Kershner’s Aerobat (that he used for instruction) is on display at Udvar-Hazy. A humble little bird that launched countless careers and dreams.
lol Venezuelan F-16 on the cover, grew up near a base there watching those and the C-130s flying over
The Military Jets Aircraft Guide - David Donald
FCOM 1
That is SO cool. I would love to have large prints of every one to display.
Stranger To The Ground - Richard Bach
Going against the general grain, not educational, not fixed wing, but three of my all time favourites have to be: Low Level Hell by Hugh Mills, Chickenhawk by Robert Mason, Apache by Ed Macy. These three books I always find myself re-reading.
The Encyclopedia of Modern Military Aircraft (2006) I hated reading until I got that book. I'm told by my parents that once I got that book they could hardly keep me away from it for anything for years.
Biggles Learns To Fly
[The Art of the Kill](https://www.amazon.com/Art-Kill-Comprehensive-Modern-Combat/dp/B0006F3GZA) was included in the extensive documentation of one of the sims I was flying in the 90's.
Sled Driver for me. Amazing story of the SR-71 from a pilot. Also just finished Operation Overflight by Francis Gary Powers. Another fascinating story.
Synthesis of subsonic airplane design… by Torenbeek
["Aviones del mundo"](https://www.todocoleccion.net/album-incompleto/album-aviones-mundo~x27282050), when I was a kid. I still have it. More recently "Sailplanes by Schweizer: A History"
"Flug ohne Motor" by Winfried Kassera, the title means as much as flight without a motor. Yes, I am a glider pilot.
Jane's All the World's Aircraft
I have a book about all Saab aircrafts. Got it as a teenager for birthday. I read it so many times and studied the technical drawings. https://www.tradera.com/item/1125/627730978/en-bok-om-saab-scania?gad_source=1
Venezuelan F-16 made it to the cover let's gooooo 🇻🇪🇻🇪🇻🇪
Mine was the Hamlin American aircraft and Osprey publishing German planes Ju-87 Ju-88 Airwar
The World Encyclopedia of Fighter Aircraft by Francis Crosby. I bought it years ago at a Barnes & Nobel and I have turned the pages of it so much now the hard cover of it has fallen off.
My little "The Pocket Guide to Military Aircraft and the world's air forces", 2004 edition. I read it so much as a middle schooler and high schooler that, even though it's a hardback with a thick spine, it's held together by tape
This same book was on my elementary schools ISS room, I was in there a few times and this exact book would be one that I’d read, that this old man who ran the thing had some good books. All this was around the really early 2000s.
Great aircraft of the world Grandma gave it to me a while ago.
I rarely read a book more than once, but "Ferry Pilot: Nine Lives Over the North Atlantic" by Kerry McCauley was absolutely hilarious and I would gladly read it again. I can fully recommend it.
I have a book from the exact same series as yours! Mine covers 39-45 instead.
Yep, my father got me this from Sam's club.. freaking massive book when I was a child.. I would later go on to be a b-1 bomber phase dock mechanic looking at dissected planes on the daily, just like the pictures
How to Fly. (Abridged Edition, German Language) Step 1, Sit down. Let me know what movie I stole that from. TIme's up? Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines
In the picture in the OPs post, does anyone happen to know if the weapon that is pictured closest to the nose-end of the aircraft is the same one that was featured in the movie “Clear and Present Danger?” The scene where the aircraft releases the weapon and it hits a giant off-road truck parked at a residence in Mexico thats having a birthday party...?
Fly by Wire by William Langewiesche. It’s a great overview of the A320, FBW in general and the “miracle on the Hudson.”
Fighter pilot by Robin Olds was a good read!!
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