The Miracle of Flight

Science Books and Films - William H. Adams

This reference book represents the best single source for all aspects of flight, and the text is enhanced by the author's own exquisite photography, archival imagery, informative color diagrams, and suggestions for further reading.

Booklist - Nancy Bent

The explanation of the physics of flight is one of the strengths of Dalton's text...Dalton's high-speed photographs of animals in flight, combined with color illustrations, beautifully illuminate the sometimes arcane discussions. Overall, this breathtakingly illustrated and well written book is superb.

Choice - J. Olson

Nature writer Dalton has combined two of his loves, flying and photography, into a very well crafted book that covers the basics of flight, both animal and (human) mechanical. Though the text is lucid and the illustrations excellent, the numerous vibrant color photographs truly set this book apart from others.

Washington Post - T.H. Watkins

From the wing structure of the Concorde to that of four-winged insects, the mystery of nearly all things that fly is explicated here in stunning photography, line drawings and clearly written text by a man who obviously would love to have wings himself. As who wouldn't?

Canadian Camera

A stunning new book reveals the secrets of flight... There are also fabulous color photos of bees, beetles, moths and butterflies performing the most amazing feats of flying, often in a series of stop-action pictures.

Nancy Bent

The explanation of the physics of flight is one of the strengths of Dalton's text. He explains airfoils, angles of attack, and vortices in a manner that will help even those phobic to science understand how flight defies gravity. Separate sections on insects, birds, and manned flight refine our understanding of why flight works. ... Dalton's high-speed photographs of animals in flight, combined with color illustrations, beautifully illuminate the sometimes arcane discussions. Overall, this breathtakingly illustrated and well written book is superb.
—Booklist, December 1, 1999

William H. Adams

This reference book represents the best single source for all aspects of flight.
— (William H. Adams, Science Books & Film, July/August 2000)

Canadian Camera

A stunning new book reveals the secrets of flight ... There are also fabulous color photos of bees, beetles, moths and butterflies performing the most amazing feats of flying, often in a series of stop-action pictures.

T. H. Watkins

The mystery of nearly all things that fly is explicated here in stunning photography, line drawings and clearly written text by a man who obviously would love to have wings himself. As who wouldn't?
— Washington Post Dec 12, 1999

J. Olson

Nature writer Dalton has combined two of his loves, flying and photography, into a very well crafted book that covers the basics of flight, both animal and (human) mechanical. Though the text is lucid and the illustrations excellent, the numerous vibrant color photographs truly set this book apart from others.
—Choice

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Nature photographer Dalton (At the Water's Edge) combines high-speed photography, line drawings and text "to explain the basic principles that underlie all forms of winged flight, whether by insect, bird or man." In five abundantly illustrated chapters, Dalton explains the basic principles of aerodynamics, the evolution of flight by insects (the first members of the animal kingdom to take to the air), the adaptations that have permitted birds of all sizes to fly, the history of human flight and the essentials of transonic, supersonic and hypersonic flight. Because each (relatively brief) chapter is responsible for such a broad array of material, his coverage is superficial. Nonetheless, he includes a great deal of intriguing material. From a biological perspective, he reports, for example, that "four-winged insects, such as butterflies, moths, bees and wasps," have evolved anatomical mechanisms to lock their forewings and hindwings together in such a way that they operate in tandem; and we're shown how the albatross can fly "hundreds of miles with scarcely a flap of its 10-foot-long wings." From an engineering perspective, Dalton demonstrates why the Concorde's elaborate fuel delivery system, consisting of 13 interconnected tanks, is the most ingenious portion of the plane. While too technical in parts for the casual reader, this book is sure to engage anyone with even a passing interest in aviation--and the color photos and illustrations of flying machines, both organic (insects, birds, bats) and inorganic (airplanes, gliders, etc.), are magnificent. $50,000 ad campaign. (Oct.) FYI: In October, Firefly will also publish Secret Worlds, a collection, with copious captions, of Dalton's marvelous full-color wildlife photographs. ($35 160p ISBN 1-55209-384-0) Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.