Wings of Yesteryear: The Golden Age of Private Aircraft [Hardcover]

Geza Szurovy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1998

The years from the 1920s through to the outb reak of World War 2 produced some stylish and innovative air craft designs. This book of vintage aircraft celebrates thes e varied aircraft and includes both colour and black and whi te photographs. '

Product Details

• Hardcover: 168 pages
• Publisher: Motorbooks International (June 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0760303975
• ISBN-13: 978-0760303979
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 10.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,364,903 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A superbly executed book with a unique focus., April 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Wings of Yesteryear: The Golden Age of Private Aircraft (Hardcover)

Geza Szurovy, a pilot and photographer who is extremely knowledgeable on aviation and its history, has published many books and articles on various aspects of the subject.

Wings of Yesteryear, The Golden Age of Private Aircraft is the first book I've encountered that focuses on the history of aircraft as private transportation.

Szurovy chronicles the development of private aviation from the early Bleriots to the apogee of aircraft as individual and executive transport in the 1930s and 1940s with superb cabin class aircraft such as the Beechcraft Staggerwing, the Stinson Reliant, the Waco series, and the Howard DGAs. (This latter is an airplane that is often overlooked in aviation history books, but finally gets its due here as the roomy, luxurious, capable, and quite fast airplane it was. And continues to be for those lucky enough to own a restored one.)

The history covers the great sportsman aircraft such as the Monocoupes and continues on through the post-war era that began the popularization of private flying through the less luxurious, but more affordable, easier to fly airplanes like the Cubs, Champs, Ercoupes and Cessna 140s.

Szurovy's chronicle is richly photographed, exquisitely reproduced, and entertainingly written, with plenty of sprightly anecdotes to leaven the thoroughly researched facts.

Its perspective is such that Wings of Yesteryear does not often overlap other histories. And extensive photographs and commentary on restored examples of the great planes refreshes the story. A definite recommendation for the library of anyone who loves the great vintage private aircraft.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting presentation of the Golden Age of Aviation., January 5, 2000

By 

William Willyard (Grand Rapids, Michigan U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wings of Yesteryear: The Golden Age of Private Aircraft (Hardcover)

Geza Szurovy has put together a very interesting and educational presentation of the private aircraft of the the Golden Age of Aviation. The book is compete with lots of high quality photos and very concise history behind the development of each aircraft and those who contributed to their development. I recommend this book to anyone interested in in general aviation and the technological advancements that enhanced the development of private aircraft.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A pleasant flight back in time, April 18, 2009

By 

Scott M. Smith (Billings, MT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Wings of Yesteryear: The Golden Age of Private Aircraft (Hardcover)

Wings of Yesteryear is a very nice overview of the Golden Era of aviation (period approximately 1919 to 1939--between the world wars). The text and pictures describe a story of how new government airmail contracts drove aircraft development early on, followed by the influence of air racing on aircraft design later in the era. It also shows the change in aircraft over this era as flying went from a wealthy person's pursuit to an activity priced within the means the middle-class with the advent of comparatively inexpensive aircraft (Cubs and the like), though the great majority of space is devoted to the "Ferraris and Lamborghinis" of the air (Stinsons and WACOs, et al) rather than the "Fords and Chevys" (Cubs and Luscombes). Well-illustrated throughout with many black and white period photos and aircraft ads intercut with several color photos of restored and flying Golden Era aircraft today. Where else are you going to see so many Stinsons, WACOs, Howards, Spartans, stagger-wing Beeches and the like all in one place? Recommended for any Golden Era aviation enthusiast or anyone interested in the history of private aviation. After receiving my copy I purchased another for my dad from whom I learned my appreciation for Golden Era aircraft and aviation.