Understanding Mathematics for Aircraft Navigation (Understanding Aviation) [Paperback]

James Wolper (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0071375724 | ISBN-13: 978-0071375726 | Publication Date: May 23, 2001 | Edition: 1

*Explains the mathematics essential to flight, teaching basic principles and reasoning *Provides an understanding that allows pilots to utilize new technologies *Examines techniques of GPS (Global Positioning System), and other navigation forms, including calculations of distance and bearings *Covers chart construction, magnetic compasses, mental calculations, long-range flight planning

Editorial Reviews

Review

Even with computers, the mathematics lives on...The book is a mix of data, historical information, and personal experiences... -- JournalNet, August 9, 2001

From the Back Cover

THE BOOK THAT SOLVES THE MYSTERIES OF NAVIGATION

Navigating is easier and safer when you truly understand how it works. This enjoyably readable, in-the-cockpit guide helps you build that base of understanding, without pain. Written by flight instructor/mathematician/computer expert/teacher James S. Wolper, Understanding Mathematics for Aircraft Navigation helps you handle—and grasp—every aspect of getting from here to there, determining where you are now, taking full advantage of today’s sophisticated navigation equipment, and even using ancient celestial methods in an emergency. Even if you’re math-phobic, Wolper has a way of making the principles of navigation so simple and interesting you'll wonder why no one ever presented them this way before. This book steers you from the celestial to the electronic with nary a hitch. Along the way, you’ll build skills with geometry, chart-making, and long-distance flight planning, plus computer and instrument use. In the end, you'll have an unshakable foundation in navigation—and will even be able to explain it to the unenlightened.

FEATURES INCLUDE:
*Step-by-step narrative approach to navigation skills and judgment
*Complete introduction to magnetic compass use
*Flight planning—including long distance—fully explained
*Chart construction and use
*How-to’s on GPS (and other navigation systems)—plus how they work
*Memorable, time-saving rules of thumb
*In-your-head calculation tricks
*Complete discussion of the Earth’s shape
*Perfect for beginning and advanced pilots

IF YOU WANT TO LEARN NAVIGATION, THIS BOOK CAN HELP YOU:
*Learn what you want to know painlessly
*Discover the fascinating origins of navigation in history and lore
*Grasp trigonometric principles
*Leverage your computer skills into powerful navigation tools

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 260 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Professional; 1 edition (May 23, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071375724
• ISBN-13: 978-0071375726
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #309,191 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good for getting to know things from a different point of view., April 21, 2007

By 

Oliver Racz "Oliver" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Understanding Mathematics for Aircraft Navigation (Understanding Aviation) (Paperback)

While Richard's comment about the book might be true, I (private pilot currently doing instrument rating) found the book very interesting in the way that it introduces much of what I already knew (and much of what I didn't) from a completely new point of view. The thing is, pilots are confined in their own way of thinking, and fairly often know much less about the mathematical part of navigation than would be desirable. I personally felt my private pilot ground school was baby talk, the textbooks did not contain enough about mathematics, and it felt good to read something that assumes the reader went to at least high school.

That being said, the mathematics in the book are not scary, I felt the author intentionally did not use anything more complicated than high school math (mostly simple trigonometry), which he also said in the beginning of the book. My math was quite average in high school, and never really dealt with it anymore in university, and it still did not take too much effort to understand most of the book. It did require some brain work to follow the calculations, though. The most mathematical part of the book is the second chapter, "Vectors and Spheres", where I had to skip some of the calculations. The book could have used a little more explanation in this part, but I must admit, had I not been a little lazy, I could have looked up the necessary knowledge in a couple of days.

I am the kind of person who likes to ask a lot of "why?" questions in my head, and this book gave me answers to a number of them.

I imagine the book could be equally interesting for math students, as it gives meaning to the numbers - something I missed a lot in mathematics. While to me it was definitely the first half of the book that contained most of the new things, to them it might be the other way round.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book, easy to read, September 27, 2007

By 

B. H. Van Dyk (Haarlem, The Netherlands) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Understanding Mathematics for Aircraft Navigation (Understanding Aviation) (Paperback)

Great book, easy to read. Makes navigation looks easy. Another advantage is that it is cheap.

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, but, January 9, 2007

By 

Richard (a Texan currently in Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Understanding Mathematics for Aircraft Navigation (Understanding Aviation) (Paperback)

the content was not quite what I expected it to be. Most of the content of this book is already common knowledge among professional pilots.