Balloons, Bleriots and Barnstormers

Author: Alastair Goodrum
Publisher: Tempus
ISBN: 9780752445168
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
Since time immemorial ordinary people have flocked to gaze upon daring feats in the hope of witnessing some death-defying or even death-inducing act. Aeronautics was turned into a public spectacle and exploited financially from its very beginning and thus it has remained ever since. The book sets out to elaborate upon those concepts in the East Midlands, and demonstrates that the region is truly representative of the progress of general aviation in this country as a whole over two centuries. The history covers balloons for shows and sports, the pre-First World War period, women aviators, Sir Alan Cobham, through to private and small air taxi flying operations, Amy Johnson, and continuing up to the present day. Balloons, Bleriots and Barnstormers enables the reader to feel the euphoria and frustrations of the flyers, and experience the same excitement as the people who actually witnessed their efforts.

They Spread Their Wings

Author: Alastair Goodrum
Publisher: The History Press
ISBN: 0752492179
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 331

Book Description
What turns an ordinary man into an extraordinary one? The answer lies in the stories of six teenage volunteers for Second World War aircrew who exchanged school uniform for Air Force Blue and took a giant step into the unknown. Based on original research from flying log books, diaries and family archives, this collection of true tales describes the men's training for those coveted 'Wings'; the nervous excitement of that first sortie over enemy territory; and flying into the hell of an enemy flak barrage and fighters. From the skies over Europe to jungles and deserts, all endured hardship, adventure and danger. They experienced action under enemy fire, wounds, burns and crash-landings, escape and evasion in occupied territory, and the privations of life as a POW. Seventy years on and these brushes with death are by any measure hair-raising encounters that turned adolescents into men – some of whom survived the war, while others paid the ultimate price.

No Place for Chivalry

Author: Alastair Goodrum
Publisher: Grub Street Publishing
ISBN: 1909166529
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 210

Book Description
Fly shotgun with the pilots and crews of both sides who fought in the air at night over England during World War I and World War II. In two world wars, a corridor from The Wash to Birmingham was turned into a fierce battleground. The air route from Germany and the occupied countries through this corridor, to targets right across the industrial heartland of England, became a three-dimensional combat zone that proved to be as grim a killing ground by night as anywhere else in the land. No Place for Chivalry encapsulates the story of the air defense of England against attack by night. By taking the area covered by RAF Wittering and Digby sectors, looking at the action of night fighter squadrons operating from those stations and their satellite airfields, the way the battle developed, its timeline of events, the events themselves and the organization of those involved, a coherent picture of how the night air defense of Britain evolved is formed. The narrative is pitched at a level of detail and with such human-interest content that it enables readers not only to grasp what is happening and why but also to feel the tensions, frustrations and euphoria of success that the aircrews felt at the time. The reader gets a view from the cockpit or gun turret, to “meet” and “fly” with the men of both sides who fought in the air at night—men whose moral standards on the ground were above reproach but, when fighting in the night sky, gave no quarter.

They Spread Their Wings

Author: Alastair Goodrum
Publisher: The History Press
ISBN: 0752492179
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 320

Book Description
What turns an ordinary man into an extraordinary one? The answer lies in the stories of six teenage volunteers for Second World War aircrew who exchanged school uniform for Air Force Blue and took a giant step into the unknown. Based on original research from flying log books, diaries and family archives, this collection of true tales describes the men’s training for those coveted ‘Wings’; the nervous excitement of that first sortie over enemy territory; and flying into the hell of an enemy flak barrage and fighters. From the skies over Europe to jungles and deserts, all endured hardship, adventure and danger. They experienced action under enemy fire, wounds, burns and crash-landings, escape and evasion in occupied territory, and the privations of life as a POW. Seventy years on and these brushes with death are by any measure hair-raising encounters that turned adolescents into men – some of whom survived the war, while others paid the ultimate price.

The Story of American Aviation

Author: Jim Ray
Publisher: Good Press
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 171

Book Description
This book traces the history of aviation in America, from its early days to post-World War II. The book covers a range of topics, including the first transatlantic flight, the birth of precision bombing, the development of the first aircraft carrier, and the growth of commercial air travel. It also provides a detailed account of key events and innovations in American aviation and the impact of aviation on modern society.

Stratonauts

Author: Manfred "Dutch" von Ehrenfired
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3319029010
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 240

Book Description
Just what does it take to be a stratonaut, soaring to higher and higher altitudes of Earth's atmosphere? Brave men and women have reached extreme heights in balloons, aircraft and rocket ships over the past two centuries, from the first untethered balloon flight to the first flights in the newly defined stratosphere, through to the present flights that continue to set new records. This book defines the altitudes related to the stratosphere, how it changes with latitude and the effects on ascending aviators. Also described is how over time technology enabled aircraft and balloons to achieve higher altitudes. The book shows the clear influence of the military on designs that initially focused on speed and maneuverability, but only later on reaching new altitudes. The early flights into the troposphere and eventually the mid to upper reaches of the stratosphere are chronicled, with great emphasis on flight operations. This includes decompression, bailouts, inertia coupling, ejections, catastrophic disintegration, crashes and deaths. Although the book highlights major altitude attempts and records, it also focuses on the life-threatening problems confronting the would-be stratonaut and the causes of many of their deaths. In doing so, it tries to define just what it takes to be a stratonaut.

Zero Error Margin

Author: Des Barker
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 344

Book Description

Ballooning

Author: S.L. Kotar
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 0786449411
Category : Transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 304

Book Description
The hot air balloon has a fascinating history of much trial and error, scientific research and bold adventure. This book chronicles the development and advances in the endeavor and also provides insights into the people who developed the sport--many of whom lost their lives in the process. The book traces the history of ballooning from the Montgolfier brothers' first experiments with a paper balloon in Annonay, France, in 1782, through the next several decades, when the sport's waning novelty forced aeronauts to develop bigger, better and more dangerous tricks. It concludes at the beginning of the 20th century, when the age of the airplane rendered hot air balloons all but obsolete.

Horizons Unlimited

Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Aeronautics
Languages : en
Pages : 300

Book Description
To build a firm foundation for [the readers'] aerospace education and start [them on their] trek through space, [the authors] have developed this textbook.... It contains the basic information [the readers] need to start on [their] journey. -Intro.

EXPLORE FLIGHT!

Author: Anita Yasuda
Publisher: Nomad Press
ISBN: 1619301784
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
Languages : en
Pages : 179

Book Description
Who invented the airplane? When were airplanes invented? And why do planes have wings if the wings don’t flap? Kids can answer these questions and more by jumping into the cockpit and soaring into Explore Flight! With 25 Great Projects, where they’ll learn about the history of our human obsession to conquer the feat of flying. For kids ages 6-9, Explore Flight! With 25 Great Projects introduces them to the dreamers, inventors, aviation pioneers, and record breakers. They will read about the myths and legends of flying and about the wondrous flying machines of the past, present and future. They will learn that in the 15th century Leonardo da Vinci drew sketches of airplanes, helicopters and other flying machines, and that the first passengers in a hot air balloon were a sheep, a rooster, and a duck. Along the way, they will develop a better understanding of the rich history of aviation, investigate what causes flight, and learn about the science of aerodynamics. Projects and experiments range from making a paper airplane to building an airfoil. All the projects in this book are easy to follow, require little adult supervision, and use commonly found household products, many from the recycling.