Wings of Change

The gripping story of a rapid-fire period of change in aviation.

The fourth volume in the Aviation Century series is the dramatic story of the worldshrinking developments in commercial aviation through the end of the twentieth century, in which airliners grew from frail biplanes to huge Jumbo jets. In the process, advanced air travel brought with it worldwide political, economic and social change. In 2004 commercial airlines carried an estimated 1.6 billion passengers.

Each new generation of transport aircraft has brought greater reliability, economy and safety, and increased global commerce through technological advances. Each day millions of shipments now travel by air between continents via sophisticated air cargo and air express systems.

Other chapters in Winds of Change examine:

• the wider world of aeronautics
• private aircraft (personal planes as well as ultralights, sailplanes, hang gliders and parasails)
• lighter-than-air flight (Zeppelins, blimps, hot-air balloons)
• rotary wings (helicopters and related craft)
• the challenges of research and development (from sketch pad to computers; designers, builders and test pilots).

The fourth in a five volume illustrated history of aviation explores commercial aviation, from it's inception in frail biplanes through to huge jumbo jets. Examines the wider world of aeronautics including personal aviation, helicopters and research.

Library Journal

Fourth in the projected five-volume "Aviation Century" series, this work constitutes an effective supplement to its forerunners (The Early Years, The Golden Age, and World War II). Dick and Patterson chronicle aeronautical developments from World War II to the present, with special attention to the impact on our everyday lives. The revolutionary changes in commercial aviation and transport; the indispensability of the helicopter in providing emergency medical services, traffic control, military troop transport, reconnaissance, and air assault; and the blossoming of private and recreational aircraft, ranging from executive transport and crop dusting to exhibition flying, gliding, ballooning, and ultralight craft, are all vividly described. The authors close by emphasizing the continuing need for meticulous attention to the design, production, and testing of today's cutting-edge hypersonic craft. As a tribute to those who perform the last phase of this process, they include selected profiles of 31 celebrated test pilots. The factual detail, handsome color layouts of representative aircraft, and interesting sidebars, containing examples of contemporary flying ephemera, pertinent biographies of aviation's leading CEOs, flying legends, and enthusiasts, all combine to add insight and spice to this fun read. Recommended for aviation and transportation collections and all libraries.-John Carver Edwards, Univ. of Georgia Libs., Cleveland Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Ron Dick served with the Royal Air Force for 38 years, where his final assignment was as Defence Attaché and Head of the British Defence Staff in the United States. During his career, he .ew 60 types of aircraft, accumulating over 5,000 hours of flight time. He now lectures and writes about aviation history. In addition to the landmark five-volume Aviation Century series, he has co-authored five other books with Dan Patterson. He lives in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Dan Patterson received the first annual Combs Award, presented by the National Aviation Hall of Fame and business aviation legend Harry Combs to honor a photographer's contribution to the photographic preservation of America's air and space heritage. Patterson's images have been featured in 20 books. He lives in Dayton, Ohio.