A Century of Triumph: The History of Aviation [Hardcover]

Christopher Chant (Author), John Batchelor (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 29, 2002

In December 1903, on the windswept beaches of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Orville Wright piloted the world's first powered flight and within a few years, aeroplanes of various designs were lifting into the air over Europe and America. Soon, the entire world was caught up in the fevered advance of flight, and aeroplanes, Zeppelins, autogyros and helicopters were making the world a much smaller place. This comprehensively researched and copiously illustrated volume celebrates 100 years of aviation. From the early experiments of gliderman Otto Lilienthal to the moon walk of Neil Armstrong, it has been an enormous leap in technology for both the fliers and their machines. The book includes vintage posters of pre-World War I aviation races and a treasure trove of photographs. The text combines histories of the planes with biographical pieces on some of the great figures of the 20th century: the Barnstormers, Igor Sikorsky, Amelia Earhart, among others. Special photo essays focus on the German Luftwaffe, the strangest planes of World War II, the early age of jets and the fighter jets of the 1960s.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Chant, a veteran of over 70 reference histories, and Batchelor, who has designed postage stamps for more than 40 countries, have produced the best overview to date of aviation's first century. From 19th-century experiments to stealth technologies, each illustration-heavy chapter includes explanations of the various aerodynamic and practical problems that were encountered and overcome by a variety of innovations and developments, such as the slotted wing, used to prevent stalling of an aircraft. Milestone events-Bleriot crossing the English Channel in 1909, Lindbergh crossing the Atlantic and Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier, for example-are nicely balanced with such less well-known but equally important ones, as the first use of aircraft in wartime by the Italians during their conflict with Turkey in Libya in 1911. The color illustrations of aircraft, including X-ray-like views of intricate engines and other workings, are meticulously accurate and aesthetically sharp (and certainly up to the high standards demanded by modelers and buffs); they often complement the narrative by illustrating lesser known aircraft not specifically mentioned in the text but adequately described in captions. Chant's familiarity with the subject is evident in the ease of narrative flow, and he passes over very little in recounting the history of manned flight during the 20th century. Even the most knowledgeable aviation enthusiast will find this book enjoyable to page through and most likely will learn something new.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

It started on December 17, 1903, when Orville and Wilbur Wright made their 12-second flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. With more than 200 illustrations, this sumptuous book celebrates 100 years of flying. The vintage black-and-white photographs are particularly appealing: sacks being loaded at night into an early airmail plane and a British flying boat with a bevy of bathing beauties standing on its wings and pontoons, for example. After a lengthy prologue focusing on the Wright brothers, Chant covers every aspect of aviation history: early biplanes, the age of the Zeppelins, the birth of civil aviation, and the beginning of airmail service. He also chronicles the race for speed and distance, World War I and World War II fighters and bombers, commercial air travel, the invention and uses of helicopters, the jet age, and what Chant describes as the modern age of flight with its huge airliners and stealth warplanes. Chant's text, combined with Batchelor's illustrations, offers a vivid history. George Cohen
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 388 pages
• Publisher: Free Press; 1st edition (October 29, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743234790
• ISBN-13: 978-0743234795
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 10.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,126,373 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #13 in Books > Professional & Technical > Transportation > Aviation > Pictorial

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a coffee-table book for your library, October 29, 2002

By 

Daniel Ford (at danford dot net) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Century of Triumph: The History of Aviation (Hardcover)

I don't often praise big, handsome, expensive books that were so obviously designed for Christmas giving. But here's an exception. Chant is a British writer who's done lots of good aviation histories, for Osprey and such, so he knows what he's writing about. Batchelor is a marvelous artist, whether he's painting combat scenes or doing meticulous "x-ray" drawings of a plane's inner workings. What they've created here is a reference book for the aviation library--one that just happens to be a nice coffee-table display as well. It really is "a history of aviation," as the sub-title promises. Five stars! -- Dan Ford

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stellar illustrations, great overview of aviation, December 17, 2002

By 

C. Beiderbecke (Moline, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Century of Triumph: The History of Aviation (Hardcover)

This book is well produced, lavishly illustrated, and full of interesting facts touching on the highlights of aviation's first century, from daring or crazy men strapping wings to their arms and launching off hills, to the stealth fighter, Mach 3 jets, and beyond.
The illustrations are marvels in themselves, and depict aircraft in stunning detail. The "peel away" graphics showing the inner construction of some aircraft are particularly well done and interesting.
This is a lavish book, and of top quality. It would be a perfect book or gift for a person that has an interest in aviation, and military aviation history in particular. It's extensive without being overly dry or laden with dense text.
I particularly enjoyed the extensive coverage of World War One aircraft from all of the combatant countries.
It lays out the design advances in a logical order so the reader can follow the historical development of the airplane from pre-Wright Bros. to current military and commercial jets.

Also, I particularly enjoyed the many odd-ball aircraft that are illustrated and captioned. It shows the mind boggling array of ideas and designs that have been tried at one time or another.

A great book for an adult, or even for a child interested in planes, though the text level is perhaps better suited for post-elementary age.

All in all, a very well designed, written, and illustrated book sure to be enjoyed by any fan of planes, jets, or aviation in general.