GREAT MOMENTS IN AVIATION
Prix régulier 50,00 € TTC 6%
Characteristics
| Book cover finish | Hardcover ( square back binding ) |
| Special features | First edition, Dust jacket |
| Condition | Used very good |
| Number of pages | 80 |
| Published date | 1989 |
| Language | English |
| Size | 29 x 28 x 1.3 cm |
| Author | Michael J.H. Taylor |
| Editor | MALLARD PRESS |
Description
Aviation has probably been responsible for the greatest change to peoples' lives this century. Aircraft for the first time took battle fronts to heavily populated inland cities that were many miles from where armies fought and even gave the first means by which mankind could destroy itself using atomic weapons. Conversely, modern airliners have brought foreign countries and even distant continents to within a few hours' reach of ordinary folk. Whether it was for one of these reasons, or food eaten that might have been sprayed by an agricultural aircraft, an air-sea rescue, the taxes paid that were used in part to fund extraordinary national aerospace programs, or one of a myriad of other possibilities, aviation has touched us all.
But flying is not new. Man first ascended in artificial flight on 15 October 1783. And even powered airplane flying did not begin with the Wright brothers in 1903 as is so often supposed, but the Wrights were responsible for developing and demonstrating the first airplane capable of being controlled and one that could remain airborne for a reasonable length of time. To such innovators went international fame and places in the history books. But once flying was well established, it was those men and woman that accomplished remarkable feats in aircraft who stole the headlines.
This book tells some of those incredible stories, the heroism and the danger. It encompasses a period of nearly 200 years, from an attempt to fly the Irish Sea by balloon in 1785 to the first rescue in space. Between are hazardous flights across inhospitable oceans and over the frozen wastes of the Poles, courageous deeds in battle, the roar of air racing and the courage that first took a man through the sound barrier, plus other historic events that changed our world.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michael Taylor has been writing aviation books for the past 20 years, his 96 published titles ranging from children's spotter handbooks to a 560,000-word five-volume encyclopedia. He specializes in illustrated histories and illustrated books on all aspects of modern aviation, including commercial and military aircraft, helicopters, spaceflight and systems, and has worked on a highly successful aviation part-work magazine.
He was appointed Assistant Editor on the renowned Jane's All the World's Aircraft in 1988, having been the compiler of the sporting aircraft section since 1969 (a section he still prepares), and he continues to produce a prestigious output of other aviation titles.
