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Title: Illustrated Guide to Aerodynamics by Hubert Smith, H.C. "Skip" Smith ISBN: 0-8306-3901-2 Publisher: McGraw-Hill Professional Publishing Pub. Date: 01 December, 1991 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $39.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.33 (3 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: The Basics and More
Comment: This book will be very helpful to pilots who want an "intuitive" understanding of aerodynamics. It will allow them to apply the information that is only touched on in other beginning piloting texts. I am considering using it as a textbook for a community college pilot technology curriculum. His explanation of wing lift does not emphasize Newton enough and seems to over emphasize Bernoulli, but this is not intended as a highly technical or mathematical approach. It is real world information for the pilot.
Rating: 5
Summary: An excellent reference for pilots and aircraft homebuilders
Comment: I found Skip Smith's book to be an excellent layman's introduction to aerodynamics. Fluid mechanics does not usually make for interesting, easily comprehensible reading, but Dr. Smith's book is clearly the exception. I'm constantly irritated by the very inaccurate descriptions of aerodynamics given in many flying magazines and instructional books. This book has none of those common errors. Reading this book should greatly increase the average pilot's knowledge of how his plane flies and what huge design constraints aeronatical engineers have to live with. Highly recommended reading for all those who are interested in learning more about the principles of flight.
Rating: 4
Summary: Comprehensive, simple and comprehensible
Comment: Unless one has considerable experience interpreting mathematical formulae, it may be worth their while to consider a book such as this before reading a university level aerodynamics textbook. The textbook will be made somewhat more comprehensible knowing the basic principlew which a more descriptive book, such as this one, can teach simply. Most textbooks in the subject, even those meant as introductory, give a painfully mathematical and theoretical treatment with insufficient verbal explanation. They are meant for complete school courses, where a teacher can qualitatively describe the physical principles.
Without the benefit of professors, a book like Smith's isrequired to provide the intuitive capacity which then makes the textbooks useful. The Illustrated Guide to Aerodynamics was not prepared as a university textbook, hence its semi-quantitative, largely practical, explanation of aerodynamics principles, but students will still find it valuable in reducing the effort needed when they turn to their textbooks. The important concepts are all covered and explained well, along with aerodynamics terms and design considerations. Use this book to help you understand, the others to help your grade point average. Smith's book would also be understandable to those who are not students, but do want to know about the physical principles involved in aircraft flight. Many diagrams and graphs explain the subject matter in pictures. A knowledge of basic mechanics and basic fluid mechanics is required, however.
My only complaint is the author's use of English units on an SI continent. English units are somewhat forgiveable however, since aerodynamics and fluid mechanics are areas which continue to resist complete conversion to SI. In any case, the formulae in the book are meant mainly to illustrate cause and effect relationships. Though the book was for the topic of flight, some basics in materials and structures would have been welcome too.
Thank you, "Skip", for writing a comprehensive book on aerodynamics which is enjoyable and comprehensible. You have taught us to read aerodynamics.
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Title: The Simple Science of Flight: From Insects to Jumbo Jets by Henk Tennekes ISBN: 0262700654 Publisher: MIT Press Pub. Date: 16 May, 1997 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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Title: Understanding Flight by David F. Anderson, Scott Eberhardt ISBN: 0071363777 Publisher: McGraw-Hill Professional Publishing Pub. Date: 06 December, 2000 List Price(USD): $34.95 |
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Title: Stop Abusing Bernoulli!: How Airplanes Really Fly by Gale M. Craig ISBN: 0964680629 Publisher: Regenerative Press Pub. Date: 01 January, 1998 List Price(USD): $17.00 |
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Title: Aerodynamics for Naval Aviators (reprint ed)/ 676-T by Federal Aviation Administration ISBN: 156027140X Publisher: Aviation Supplies & Academics Pub. Date: 01 July, 1992 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: Theory of Wing Sections by I. H. Abbott ISBN: 0486605868 Publisher: Dover Publications Pub. Date: 01 March, 1980 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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