Aviation Century: The Early Years [Hardcover]

Ron Dick (Author), Dan Patterson (Photographer), Amanda Wright Lane (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 4, 2003

The illustrated history of the 20th century's most compelling invention.

Powered flight freed humanity from earthly constraints and revolutionized the world in countless ways -- technologically, militarily, sociologically, economically and politically.

Aviation Century The Early Years covers the period from 1900 to 1939, exploring the eternal fascination with flight, the events surrounding the Wright brothers' and other flying pioneers' adventurous first flights, the dramatic development of military aviation brought about by the First World War, and the rise of commercial aviation. This volume of the Aviation Century series also looks at the great individuals who created the world's aviation industries, including Santos-Dumont, Farman, Bleriot, Caproni, Curtiss, and AV Roe.

Top aviation photographer Dan Patterson's photographs of preserved and restored aircraft in museum and private collections combine with rare archival photographs to make this the best book on early aviation available anywhere.

(20031214)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

This first in a projected five-volume series is a photographic treasure for aerial aficionados; in addition, the text is written by a knowledgeable retired vice marshal of Britain's Royal Air Force. The work analyzes as much as it describes why aviation development proceeded in one direction rather than another. Dick's appraisal of the Wright brothers' epic achievement typifies his approach; not content to detail their invention of wing warping, for example, Dick explains it as the consequence of their belief--unique among their rivals a century ago--that a craft could be inherently unstable and still be controllable in flight. Photographer Patterson's imagery evocatively supports the prose, with two-page layouts of the original Wright Flyer and associated memorabilia. This design plan--photographs of historic airplanes as they appear in museums and in flight--also encompasses the legendary planes of World War I up to the creative commercial designs of the 1920s and 1930s. Infused by the author's piloting outlook, this high-quality album will extend its appeal beyond browsers to flyers themselves. Gilbert Taylor
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

Excellent and knowledgeable narrative is matched by a truly exceptional collection and arrangement of art... excellent general history of aviation. (Jim Agee American Reference Books Annual, Volume 35 2004)

An excellent reference book... If you enjoy ogling airplanes, this book is sure to satisfy. (Garth Eichel Aviator Magazine 200311)

A nicely written, superbly illustrated story... abounds in fascinating text and vivid pictures... a splendid Christmas gift for any aviator. (Bob Merrick COPA [Canadian Owners and Pilots Association] 200311)

Elegant. (Rebecca Wigod Victoria Times-Colonist 20030928)

Engagingly written... the book tells a great story... complex and rich in technical detail... a fine piece of work. (Mary O'Dea E-Streams 20040201)

Both Dick and Patterson are extremely knowledgeable about aviation history... extraordinary care taken in the research effort... intelligent collaboration. (Walter J. Boyne Aviation History 200412)

Sweeps across the history of powered flight... Ron Dick writes grandly but without hyperbole. (Rebecca Wigod Vancouver Sun )

A photographic treasure for aerial aficionados... Infused by the author's piloting outlook, this high-quality album will extend... to flyers themselves. (Gilbert Taylor Booklist / RBB )

A gallery of aviation greats. (Ann Lloyd Merriman Richmond Times-Dispatch )

Expertly written... heavily illustrated... you'll find plenty of fascinating text and photography to pique your interest. (EAA Sports Aviation )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Boston Mills Press (October 4, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1550464078
• ISBN-13: 978-1550464078
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 9.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #312,875 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best I've read on the subject ......, October 29, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Aviation Century: The Early Years (Hardcover)

The speed of technological change most people are familiar with today is related to computing. I am old enough to remember doing math calculations with a slide rule and am now writing on a laptop computer connected wirelessly to the internet! What I never appreciated was the similar speed with which aircraft changed the world once the Wright brothers solved the problem of controlled flight. Did you know they flew their first short hops in 1903, that the first plane took off from a ship in 1912, that the Capronis had multi-engined aircraft less than 10 years after the Wrights first flew and that the 12 passenger Goliath (looking more like a glorified railway car inside than an airliner) was flying as early as 1919? The text of this book, written by Air Vice Marshal Ron Dick, is an easy and informative read full of facts but sprinkled with human interest stories about the inventors, engineers and pilots that makes it a well balanced and enjoyable narrative. The book covers the early inventors and barnstormers, the First World War, commercial aviation (air mail and early airliners) and concludes with a section on great names in aviation history.

Dan Patterson's spectacular color photographs of the aircraft and collections of period memorabilia from flying history collections around the world combined with historical photographs and paintings make this book a visual feast - there are beautiful illustrations and photographs on almost every page. Since "The Early Years" is the first in a series of five volumes that will cover the full aviation century, this collection promises to be the definitive work on the subject and I recommend it to everyone interested in the history of aviation.

This partnership has also written several other books and was commissioned to write the history of the US Air Force on the occasion of its 50th anniversary - see also "American Eagles".

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get this one!, October 13, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Aviation Century: The Early Years (Hardcover)

Of all the 100 year anniversary of aviation books out there - this is the one to get...
Lots of large color photographs on nearly every page, authoritative and interesting text - a good read for anyone who enjoys aviation and good value for a book of this size with so many color photos of early aircraft from around the world. Also "The Early Years" is volume 1 of 5 that will complete "The Aviation Century" so if you get it as a gift for someone who loves this stuff, you're set for the next four gifts as well!