Somethings in life are guaranteed, like taxes and death but I’d also like to add Winter weather to that list. Doesn’t matter if you live in Florida, Ohio or Texas, there comes a time every year where the temperatures drop and people bust out long-sleeved shirts or in some states, heavy jackets. Outdoor activities seem to fade and indoor living picks up. Television is getting harder and harder to watch so let’s take it back to a bygone era where people picked up a book and read! Here is our list of Top 10 Aviation Books for Winter Reading.
The author, a former B-52 and B-47 pilot himself, conveys the spirit of the B-52--the men and the missions behind the hardware, as well as a superbly detailed analysis of the aircraft itself. Hardbound, approx. 160 pages.
I like the book very much. The book covers the B-47. I was on a B-47 base in England. We had B-52 visits. It brought back memories. A lot of B-47's were in trouble on landing including a crash. The B-52's needed Jato rockets to take off. I worked on the ground to air radios. The book is on sale. The bomber history is great from WWI onward.
9. The Amazing Gooney Bird Book
This Book details the birth, development, and it’s adoption by the airlines and the military services, it’s uses during WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Hardbound, approx. 190 pages, B&W photos.
This fascinating, informative and richly illustrated book brings back another time and way of life. Paperback and approx. 296 pages.
Very good book. Covered the period 1920’s to late 1960’s with lots of pictures and great explanations. The subject matter (commercial flying boats) was and still is near and dear to my heart since I grew up during the subject period.
A special photo section features the current restoration display of “Flak-Bait” at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Washington, DC. Correcting previously held perceptions about the aircraft and its missions, this is the most definitive account of any single WWII aircraft’s combat career ever published. Hardbound, approx. 400 pages, 200 colors, and B&W photos.
6. America’s Round-Engine Warbirds Book
Author Bill Yenne’s coverage of these aircraft and their radial powerplants is a significant addition to the story of this fascinating period in military aviation history. Hardbound, approx. 216 pages with 159 color and 288 B&W images.
5. America’s Round-Engine Airliners Book
This Book explains in detailed yet easy-to-understand terms how piston-powered radial-engine airliners advanced rapidly from having fabric-covered fuselages with wooden wings in the “Roaring Twenties” to fully pressurized, all-metal, 350-mph, 80-passenger “Queen of the Skies” in less than three decades! Hardbound, approx. 216 pages with many full colored images.
"Golden Age of Airlines Development..."
This book is written by a leading aviation journalist who specializes in the 'Golden Age of Airlines.' His description and added 'personal accounts' of the great piston powered airliners bring back memories of the 1940 to 1960 era of airline travel. The descriptions of the piston engine development is very enlightening to a person with a technical background and an interest in airliner development.
4. Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird Book
Book describes and illustrates the SR-71 as never before using images from a variety of sources, as well as the author’s own photography. Hardbound, and approx. 223 pages.
"SR-71 Black Bird is a great addition to your library..."
Great book. Awesome cover on a hard back book. The pictures and descriptions explain all the genius of Kelly Johnson and his team of engineers and Skunk Work's employees that designed and built the YF-12 and SR-71. This is a worthwhile investment if you are interested in the SR-71 story.
Features a bookplate signed by B-17 pilot Ronald Martin from the 379th Bomb Group and the author Adam Makos. Hardbound, 392 pages.
One of the greatest books on WW2 I have ever read, great book!
Devotion will take you behind enemy lines, when one of our heroes is shot down and the other must make a choice: watch his friend die, or attempt history’s most audacious one-man rescue mission. Features a bookplate signed by VF-32 pilot Bill "Wilkie" Wilkinson and author Adam Makos. Softbound 464 pages.
1. Building the B-17 Flying Fortress
Includes hundreds of factory-original close-up photographs and illustrations accompanied by reproductions of original Boeing drawings. Includes B&W and full-color images. Softbound, approx. 240 pages.
"Excellent book!! Glad I bought it..."
This is a fantastic book. If you have an interest in the B-17 0r WWII, this book is an excellent resource!
The graphs below (Performance, Value, etc,) don't really apply to a book, but I gave them the highest ratings anyway! I had been eyeballing the book for a while. I'm so glad I finally bought it. And yes, I would buy it again!