The Paths of Soaring Flight [Hardcover]

F. G. Irving (Author), Frank Irving (Author), Irving (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1860940552 | ISBN-13: 978-1860940552 | Publication Date: August 1998 | Edition: First American Edition

This book is concerned with the sport of soaring, and mainly with the mathematical basis of sailplane design and operation. It does not tell the beginner how to fly, but it will give an experienced pilot some background, with historical notes showing how ideas have evolved and could develop in the future. Some of the material is taken from OSTIV (Organisation Scientifique et Technique Internationale de Vol a Viole) publications and from "Technical Soaring", neither of which is readily available to the general public, including papers by the author and others. Extensive references are provided in each chapter.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 200 pages
• Publisher: World Scientific Publishing Company; First American Edition edition (August 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1860940552
• ISBN-13: 978-1860940552
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,377,875 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The paths of soaring flight, February 15, 2000

By 

B SILKE (Ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Paths of Soaring Flight (Hardcover)

Most gliding readers will find this heavy going. More a reference book than a great read! Nice little titbits and packed with insights. However only for those of a mathematical bent - lots of formula requiring advanced A level knowledge of calculus. I would have written it differently with the text in plain English and the maths as a supplement for those requiring more detailed understanding. I regret that my maths is far too limited to have a true understanding of how some of the concepts are derived. A pity as I suspect that I am in the majority and reasonably intelligent, if mathematically no Einstein. I suspect that most readers will be put off my the text. It fails my Noddy test - reduce advanced concepts into simple terms that any gnome can understand. It could have been done but was not!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, but heavy slogging, October 3, 2001

By 

Eric B. Norris (Santa Clara, California USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Paths of Soaring Flight (Hardcover)

I'm a glider pilot but no math whiz. Although Paths of Soaring Flight explains things like Reynolds Number and Pressure Distribution, it sounds so arcane to my ear that I have trouble wrapping my mind around the material. Maybe if I was more mathematical this book would be more fun. But even my ignorant tail-feathers learned a few things, and you might, too.