Read any good books lately?

[barnstorm2]

If you have not read Paul Abbott's review of 'From Autogiro To Gyroplane' in the latest PRA mag then here is the news:

This book is really REALLY great! I just finished it tonight. I can not recommend it enough to everyone.

If you did read the review and you still have not purchased the book SHAME! Amazon could not get it to me within the week so I ordered from barnsandnoble.com and had it 3 days later.

From Autogiro to Gyroplane, by Bruce H. Charnov

ISBN 1-56720-503-8

Hardbound. Note the spelling of Autogiro ( not Autogyro )

[ToddP]

That one is on my list of books to read. There are some really great aviation books.

I just recently read "North Star over My Shoulder - A Flying Life" by Bob Buck. It was a very interesting book. He started out as a co-pilot flying DC-2's during the very beginning of aviation transport. He retired as a captain on the 747.

Another book that anyone who flies should read is:
"Stick and Rudder: An Explanation of the Art of Flying" by Wolfgang Langewiesche. Originally published in 1944, this book is probably the best I've ever read to help one understand the "flying machine".

[barnstorm2]

I am a fan of Langewiesche. Good recommendation. I will have to look up 'a flying life'.

Another book I liked on a avaition life story is 'Chicken Hawk'. This follows the life of a helicopter pilot in Vietnam from training through end of service.

[GyroRon]

I only read magazines and only while on the throne, so I can't add to the book discussion here. But I can say a cool older movie worth renting is - Flight of the Phoenix - It was before my time but I enjoyed it.

[GeorgeHedinger]

Great movie, Ron...but with a sad ending in real life.
Don't know if you knew, but the movie people actually
built the Phoenix from the wreck of the Boxcar.
Famous movie stunt man Paul Mantz was the pilot. He
said that something looked 'wrong' with the plane the
first time he saw it, but flew it anyway. One it's third
flight for the cameras, it broke in half behind the cockpit
and crashed, killing him instantly.
The movie has a tribute to him at the beginning.

George