From Scientific American
The time line for this illustrated history of aviation begins at "c. 1500," when Leonardo da Vinci sketched plans for several flying machines. It proceeds through 1999, the year of the first nonstop circumnavigation of the earth by balloon. The accompanying text, which carries the history through 2000, is presented as if the events had been reported in newspaper articles. From 1900 on, the accounts proceed year by year. All this, abetted by many fascinating pictures, makes the book eminently rewarding.
Editors of Scientific American
Product Description
When first printed in 1992, this book was a milestone in aviation publishing. Now, fully revised and updated to bring it into the new millennium, it is the most comprehensive record of aviation history available. Presented in a lively journalistic style, Aviation Year by Year contains a wealth of fascinating information. Thousands of contemporary photographs and illustrations, and facts and figures bring the history of aviation to life. New features for this updated edition include a timeline of the development of flight, a fully illustrated and revised introduction, and new pages covering the history of aviation up to the year 2000. Aviation Year by Year also includes a photo--gallery of each year's most significant aircraft and developments in technology, important flight records, and an encyclopedic cross--reference system to link articles throughout the months and years. More than a unique reference guide to the world of aviation and flight technology, Aviation Year by Year also chronicles the social and political events that have surrounded the amazing development of flight.