This compendium of aviation lore teaches pilots to master each phase of a flight, sharpen their "feel" shrewdly, and handle their aircraft smoothly. For more than fifty years as airline captain and private pilot, Robert N. Buck has pursued the art of flying an aircraft ranging from open biplanes to 747s, from fighters to competition gliders. Out of his experience he has developed an approach to airmanship for all kinds of conditions and for all levels of pilots. He calls it getting down to basics and it is the substance of The Art of Flying. Marshalling his own experiences and the best research in aerodynamics, meteorology, and accident prevention, Buck reviews the keys necessary to master each phase of a flight, from preparation to inflight assessments to the critical moments just before and after touchdown.
This book fits nicely in the "gems of wisdom" genre. The gems come from Buck's many years and vast experience as a pilot, both airline and general aviation. It's an easy read, and you can almost imagine hearing the words come from the author's mouth in some small-airport coffee shop or sitting in a hangar under the wing of a small plane. Don't be deceived by the informal delivery, though -- Buck is talking about serious topics that affect your safety and proficiency. If you want to learn from a veteran pilot and avoid mistakes that others have made, pick up a copy of The Art of Flying. Read it through. Then keep it around and, every now and then, pick it up again and read a chapter. The chapters are nicely "bite-sized," so you can do this using odd moments. You'll find yourself nodding your head and thinking, "Oh, yes, I want to remember that!" This book is well worth the money -- and the time -- you'll invest in it.
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