Ultralight Flight: The Pilot's Handbook of Ultralight Knowledge (Ultralight Aviation Series) [Paperback]

Michael A. Markowski (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Ultralight aviation series | Publication Date: October 1, 1984

A THOROUGH KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOWS AND WHYS OF ULTRALIGHT FLIGHT---the kind that transcends basic piloting techniques---IS AN ABSOLUTE REQUIREMENT OF THE COMPLETE AVIATOR. For those who want to be the most competent pilot possible, this authoritative book unravels the mysteries of low speed flight in an easily understood, fun-to-read style. SECTION ONE---INTRODUCTION TO ULTRALIGHTS---presents the complete ultralight vocabulary and includes a fascinating review of the intriguing early days of ultralight flight, never before published. SECTION TWO---ULTRALIGHT AERODYNAMICS--- once and for all, reveals the truth about low speed flight. It begins with a discussion on the nature of the atmosphere and its vital importance to flight. Once air begins to move, it changes character and gives rise to THE FORCE---the only reason flight exists! The study of airflow will enlighten you to the mechanisms of the stall. Pilots argue how lift is generated---ULTRALIGHT FLIGHT tells it like it is. Learn the importance of streamlining. A special chapter vividly describes the amazing ultrlaight wing and how it works. SECTION THREE---ULTRALIGHT HANDLING QUALITIES---delves into the specialties of ultralight aircraft manners, including stability and control, as well as trim. It will impress upon you the vital importance of proper CG location. It tells why ultralights fly the way they do and allows you to predict how any ultralight should handle. A chapter is then devoted to the peculiarities of canards and flying wings. SECTION FOUR---ULTRALIGHT PERFORMANCE---deals with power and speed. It starts with a chapter on the four main forces of flight and their relationship during climb, cruise and glide. A typical ultralight is then investigated for its various performance characteristics and how they change with altitude, ,power, wingspan, bank angle, propeller size, drag, flaps, ground effect, and such. Finally, operational performance is reviewed and criteria extablished to determine qualities desirable in a good ultralight design. The information presented in ULTRALIGHT FLIGHT should be second nature to anyone who intends to be the best pilot he or she possibly can. ULTRALIGHT FLIGHT is your key to unlocking the mysteries of flight---your guide to INTELLIGENCE IN THE SKY. ULTRALIGHT FLIGHT will help you be the best and safest pilot you can be, giving yuo more peace of mind, while enabling you to have more fun flying.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Mike Markowski has written the definitive book... the kind Wilbur Wright might have written... there is no higher praise! --Luis Marden, Chief of the Foreign Staff (Ret.) National Geographic Society, and friend of Orville Wright

A lively writing style; Markowski clearly explains difficult subjects as airfoil design, the behavior of boundary layers, the effects of turbulence on lift, and much more. Aeronautical engineering becomes almost a pleasure for Markowski's readers, and if they are not inspired to design and build their own planes, they will finish this book wiser in the mysteries of technology. --Malcolm W. Browne, Senior Editor, Discover Magazine

I have yet to see in so few pages, a pilot handbook so thorough in its breath and understanding of the basic concepts of flight. It is practical reading in its description of the concept the author is discussing, followed by practical application of the iodea to the everyday flying situation. Markowski's text is so informative that I recommend this book not only to ultralight pilots who want to perform as safe and well-informed aviators, but to pilots of ALL aircraft, be they helicopters or Boeing 747s. ULTRALIGHT FLIGHT should be required reading in any beginning flight training course. --Stephen Smith, Air Progress Ultralights

About the Author

Mike Markowski is an aerospace engineer, pilot, publisher and writer. After working in the aerospace industry for four years, he went out on his own and co-founded the first two hang glider manufacturing companies on the east coast, promoting the sport in the press and on national primetime television. Transitioning to ultralights, he has written and published more books and magazine articles on ultralights than anyone else in the world, and has shared the sport with millions, elping it become what it is today. Mike is also an inductee of the presitgious Experimental Aircraft Association Hall of Fame, and is well-known in the ultalight aviation world for promoting safety through education.

Product Details

• Paperback: 204 pages
• Publisher: Ultralight Publications; 1st edition (October 1, 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0938716069
• ISBN-13: 978-0938716068
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,127,897 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not At All What I Expected!!, March 18, 2003

By 

An Ultralight Enthusiast (Pittsburgh, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ultralight Flight: The Pilot's Handbook of Ultralight Knowledge (Ultralight Aviation Series) (Paperback)

I built and flew an ultralight (Challenger I) in the early '90s and I'm interested in getting back into this hobby. This book, titled "Ultralight Flight", and subtitled "The Pilot's Handbook of Ultralight Knowledge", would be better titled as "A Primer on Aeronautical Engineering". There is nothing in this book that is instructional about how to join the ultralight community or how to master the joy of ultralight flight.
Fully 1/3 of the book is devoted to the history of flight, beginning with da Vinci. I wasn't looking for a history book! The bibliography is a "Who's Who" of technical (and historical) aeronautical reference material, such as "Theory of Wing Sections", "An introduction to Fluid Dynamics", "Aeroelasticity", and "Aerodynamics, Aeronautics, and Flight Mechanics". These references give you a sense of the book's almost exclusive technical content. This material is supposed to encourage me to enjoy wind-in-your-face fun at low altitudes?
There were no previous reviews when I bought this book, so I didn't have much with which to judge it when I purchased it. If you're an aviation engineer who wants to study graphs of "Breakdown of typical ultralight longitudinal stability" or "How camber affects lift characteristics of an ultralight stall Reynolds Number of 700,000" (I could go on ad infinitum) for your Master's thesis, this book is for you. It's just not what I expected from the title. And I returned it the same day it arrived.

3.0 out of 5 stars Johnghawk, September 20, 2011

By 

johnghawk - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ultralight Flight: The Pilot's Handbook of Ultralight Knowledge (Ultralight Aviation Series) (Paperback)

The book is way to technical to be a good student reference material andI was hoping for more from the author. Since the FAA has done away with ultralight instructors I was looking for a good reference material to help student ultralight pilots.. Bottom line, this is not the one.

2.0 out of 5 stars Great For Would-Be Engineers. Not So Much For UL Pilots., August 17, 2011

By 

N. Kline (Ohio) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ultralight Flight: The Pilot's Handbook of Ultralight Knowledge (Ultralight Aviation Series) (Paperback)

This book is a well-thought-out, well-written and well-edited volume if you're interested in ultralight engineering and aeronautical theory. It's great if you're going to be taking college-level courses in the same. However, if you want to know how to fly an ultralight, or scenarios you may encounter during flight, look elsewhere.

The title of the book is misleading. It should be called Theorems And Facts Behind The Aeronautical Achievement Of Ultralight Flight Including A History Of Early Flying Pioneers. That may give you a sense of the contents of this book.

Of the three UL books I purchased (they're basically the top three results when searching Amazon), this is the most scientific and in-depth, but perhaps the least useful for my needs. I wanted something to teach me about the pre-buy, inspection and first flights of my ultralight. This book, instead, taught me that should I build a wind tunnel, what I might expect from the airfoil I were to engineer and build myself. It also saved me from reading the wikipedia articles on Reynolds Numbers and the History Of Flight (back to and before even the Wright Brothers).

So take what I said at face value. If you think you'd be interested in this side of flight, then this book is a great purchase. It's clear and concise, and a great scientific read. It just will tell you NOTHING on the purchase and flight characteristics of a new or used ultralight.