Vision is the dominant sense used by pilots and visual misperception has been identified as the primary contributing factor in numerous aviation mishaps, resulting in hundreds of fatalities and major resource loss. Despite physiological limitations for sensing and perceiving their aviation environment, pilots can often make the required visual judgments with a high degree of accuracy and precision. At the same time, however, visual illusions and misjudgments have been cited as the probable...

Air travel is one of the safest modes of travel when we take into account the distances and freedom that it allows us. And yet, we still remain obsessed with aviation disasters. What caused these accidents? Whose fault was it? In her series of books, Why Planes Crash, Sylvia Wrigley investigates the worst aviation disasters of the twenty first century.Why Planes Crash: 2001 is the first of the series. Wrigley has put together eleven of the most interesting inciden...

"One of the most mesmerizing and exhilarating, yet alarming modern technology books…an extraordinary tale." —Gillian Tett, Financial TimesPinpoint tells the fascinating story of a hidden system that touches nearly every aspect of modern life. Tracking the development of GPS from its origins as a bomb guidance system to its present ubiquity, Greg Milner examines the technology’s double-edged effect on the way we live, work, and travel. Savvy and or...

Redefining Airmanship offers the first concrete model of the abstract ideal of "airmanship," and gives the reader step-by-step guidance for self-appraisal and improvement in the areas of flight proficiency, teamwork, and good judgment in crisis situations. The author, Major Anthony Kern, draws on his extensive flight and crew-training experience in the US Air Force, but his model is invaluable for all pilots, whether military, recreational, or commercial. "Kern's work is a breakthrough, an...

Was it fun to do a space walk? How squashed were you in the capsule on the way back? What were your feelings as you looked down on Earth for the first time? Were you ever scared? Where to next -- the Moon, Mars, or beyond?Based on his historic mission to the International Space Station, Ask an Astronaut is Tim Peake's guide to life in space, and his answers to the thousands of questions he has been asked since his return to Earth. With explanations ranging from the mundane -- how do...

If your dream is to be an airline pilot, or you would like to know what it takes, this book reflects the experiences, thoughts and findings of a trainee pilot throughout the journey that took him into the right-hand seat of a jet airliner. The book covers everything that you need to consider before and during the training process, including where to train and how to raise funds. The flying course structure and ground school subjects are detailed, and many sample exam questions are included...

What is a Space Shuttle?How can something that can't fly go into space?Do spiders spin webs in space?Do astronauts get space sick?This book answers all these questions and more, plus everybody's favorite: How do astronauts go to the toilet?This book was written in 2007, prior to the end of the space shuttle program in 2011. While the Space Shuttle program no longer exists, the information in this book is still interesting for learning about the program th...

This book is designed to accompany my NRA Defensive Pistol course. I start with the basics, because much of what people know is false. I describe tactics and techniques for self-defense with the pistol. This is not a target shooting book though marksmanship is covered. Competence with the pistol is a survival skill as is swimming or first aid. So, we take a serious tone and go into detail.

For anyone with the will to become a U.S. naval aviator, the future begins now. Marine fighter pilot and combat veteran Jay Stout shows us just what it takes to be a U.S. naval aviator in the twenty-first century, conducting us through every step of training as these dedicated, everyday heroes prepare for tomorrow's threats while taking the fight to the enemy today. Throughout, Stout offers behind-the-scenes perspectives on the community of naval aviators, with profiles of the men and wome...

Discover how planes get--and stay--airborneNow you can truly master an understanding of the phenomenon of flight. This practical guide is the most intuitive introduction to basic flight mechanics available. Understanding Flight, Second Edition, explains the principles of aeronautics in terms, descriptions, and illustrations that make sense--without complicated mathematics. Updated to include helicopter flight fundamentals and aircraft structures, this avia...

A definitive technical guide to the Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk, the world's first operational, stealth interdictor.Developed by the legendary Lockheed 'Skunk Works,' the F-117 Nighthawk was a phenomenal technical achievement. Featuring cutaways, detail plates and battlescene artwork, this book tells the incredible story of the design of the machine, from the revolutionary materials used to the highly advanced computer technology that was employed to make the Stealth...

A comprehensive guide to helicopter flying and flight training for aspiring private or professional helicopter pilots--updated for the first time in 20 years!Extensively revised to cover the latest industry advances, Learning to Fly Helicopters, Second Edition, provides details on the technical and practical aspects of rotarywing flight, guiding you from preflight preparation through postflight procedures and everything in between. Written in a conversational style, the ...