Stick and Rudder: An Explanation of the Art of Flying:

I had been promising myself this book for a long time. One of those aviation classics you feel you should read but perhaps never get around to. Well this time I did get around to it when I saw it on Amazon for a sensible price, so many times it has come up at silly money I just couldn't entertain the idea of buying it but finally a sensibly priced copy appeared from a seller in the States and even with postage it was the chance to get the book I had promised myself. It is packed full of excellent information for the pilot, whether starting out or experienced. It is written in a style which explains the concepts being discussed in a very informative way without using jargon and thus paints the images in the minds eye with clarity. A book I would thoroughly recommend. Furthermore my copy arrived very quickly from America and so purchasing internationally was as easy as buying fro a UK supplier.

My son loves it!

So much fun to read.

The trainng that every pilot goes through when they start to learn to fly teaches them how to fly... but this book teaches you the art of flying.. it teaches you to aviate! The language is quite antiquated as the book was written many years ago, so that can take some getting used to, but once you get past that, this book really does make things make sense! Thoroughly recommended for every pilot, budding or bloomed!

This is written as ' an explanation of the art of flying ' I bought this for my husband who has spent the last 6 years building a VANS RV7 airplane and has a keen interest in flying - obviously as he also has his PPL. The book is well written and simply wants to instil a knowledge of the most important fundamental aspects of flying e.g. 'The wing keeps the airplane up by pushing the air down.' There are countless black pencil drawings explaining each point simply so is good if you are a visual learner. There are chapters on Wind drift;that thing called torque etc etc...

Really loved this book, explains everything so well and is written in the 1940s style that is frequently amusing. Warning for some readers, you may not like the references to the pilot as ALWAYS male, and the only reference to women in this book are as wives or girlfriends.

This is "thee" go to book for any aviation enthusiast and current or future pilot to get the very basics nailed in the art of aviation. All content in this book is as relevant today in the 21st century as it was when it was first penned. One of the must haves in any pilot's library.

Nice book, haven't finished it yet but even as a non-pilot I found it simple to understand. Judging by other pilot's comments on here this is a highly respected manual.

Cosa dire di nuovo su questo libro? Un testo che, per quanto datato, continua a fornire delle informazioni che devono fare parte del bagaglio culturale di chi vuole capire COME vola un aereo e non solo quali comandi muovere per farlo volare in sicurezza. Se si sa perché succedono le cose a bordo di un velivolo, si può anche reagire meglio ai suoi comportamenti e alle situazioni difficili. Lettura istruttiva e piacevolissima.

An interesting book that gives the lay man an in depth understanding of what flying really is..

Ich habe mir das Buch geholt, weil ich noch ziemlich am Anfang der Flugausbildung stehe. M.E. ist das eine ideale Ergänzung zum Theoriekurs und den deutschen Theoriebüchern (kein Ersatz, will es auch gar nicht sein). Während sich die Theorie und auch die Theorieprüfung mit allen das reine Fliegen umgehenden Faktoren beschäftigen (Metereologie, Aerodynamik, Menschliches Leistungsvermögen, Navigation, Sprechfunk, Flugplanung u.a.), die alle unerlässlich und wichtig für den sicheren Flugbetrieb sind, aber eben eher das Gesamtbild vermitteln, konzentriert sich dieses Buch einzig und allein auf das praktische Fliegen an sich. Das Buch beschäftigt sich damit, wie man zu fliegen hat, warum man im Anflug die Höhe mit dem Gas und die Geschwindigkeit mit dem Höhenruder steuert (und nicht anders herum), warum man den Anstellwinkel immer beachten muss, wie man landet, und wie der Wind relativ zum Flugzeug zu verstehen ist. Also eine theoretische Anleitung zum praktischen fliegen, nicht mehr, und nicht weniger. Die essentiellen Basics werden dabei dauernd wiederholt, bis man sie verinnerlicht hat. Sprachlich trotz des hohen Alters gut verständlich und ohne moralischen Zeigefinger, hebt sich dadurch auch wohltuend ab von den manchmal arg verwissenschaftlichten deutschen Büchern, bei denen man dazu neigt, diverse Fachbegriffe einfach um ihrer selbst willen zu verwenden (ich sage nur feuchtadiabatischer Hebungsgradient). Erstaunlich auch, dass das Buch noch nicht veraltet ist, obwohl es schon fast 80 Jahre alt ist. An einigen Stellen merkt man das Alter zwar (so wird an einer Stelle an die Gewichtsabnahme eines Flugzeugs nach dem Abwerfen von Bomben erinnert, was der Zeit 1944 geschuldet ist), auch die Illustrationen sind etwas Retro, aber das hat keinerlei Auswirkungen auf die praktische Relevanz des Buchs. Englisch muss man allerdings schon können, wenn man das Buch liest. Es ist zwar bewusst einfach geschrieben, aber trotzdem nicht ganz einfach zu verstehen.

A must-read for an aspiring pilot, Stick & Rudder gives a hands on 'how to' guide to flying light (and not so light) aircraft. A remarkably contemporary book given that it was written at the beginning of last century.

Another great read.