Aviation Year By Year

by Bill Gunston (Editor), Sharon Lucas (Editor)

Revised and updated to incorporate the latest developments in the world of aviation, this richly illustrated reference chronicles some five hundred years in the history of flight, featuring hundreds of captioned photographs and illustrations, along with concise, newspaper-style articles, that document key events and technological innovations in military and commercial aviation.

Genres: History

964 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Bill Gunston was a British aviation and military author. He flew with Britain's Royal Air Force from 1945 to 1948, and after pilot training became a flying instructor. He spent most of his adult life doing research and writing on aircraft and aviation. He was the author of over 350 books and articles. His work included many books published by Salamander Books.

Reviews

[Joan]

A comprehensive record of aviation history from man’s earliest attempts at flight through the end of the twentieth century. Filled with photographs, illustrations, facts, and figures, this inclusive account of technological, social, and military aviation events highlights the courage, imagination, and ambition of those involved in each event. Timelines and annual photo-galleries underscore significant aircraft and developments in technology as well as important flight records. And an encyclopedic cross-reference system links relevant articles.

Begin in 1500 with dreams of flight inspired by birds and myths and with Leonardo da Vinci’s designs and ingenious experimental flying machines. Fly with Montgolfier brothers in their historic 1781 balloon flight and with the Wright brothers in the “Flyer” at Kitty Hawk in 1903. Research by year . . . 1937: the Hindenburg explodes at Lakehurst, New Jersey; Amelia Earhart is lost over the Pacific; Howard Hughes sets a new transcontinental speed record from Los Angeles to Newark. 1957: B52s fly non-stop around the world; the Boeing 707 makes its first flight; Joseph Kittinger flies to a record 96,000 feet in the balloon “Man High 1.”

Research an aviation pioneer, a specific aircraft, a specific event, a specific year. From aviation pioneer Jimmy Doolittle to test pilot Scott Crossfield to test pilot/fighter pilot/astronaut Neil Armstrong walking on the moon and setting business jet records, this treasure-trove of flight puts the world of aviation at the reader’s fingertips.

Highly recommended.

[Sahin]

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