From: robie@umbc.edu (Mr. William Robie)
Newsgroups: rec.aviation.misc
Subject: REC.AVIATOR'S BOOK NOW OUT
Date: 27 Jan 1993 16:22:32 -0500
Organization: Univ. of MD, Baltimore County
NNTP-Posting-Host: umbc4.umbc.edu

I just got the review copy delivered to me this morning, and the production
copies are scheduled to be available in about three weeks.  I'm not going to 
say TOOOO much about it, because I'd hate to be accused of being *immodest*,
but I think that lots of you will really enjoy this U.S. aviation history.

The vital information is:

FOR THE GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT: 
A History of the Aero Club of America and the National Aeronautic Association
(Washington, D.C. and London: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1993)
ISBN 1-56098-187-3 
378 pp., 30 illustrations (some published for the first time - incl. a
	great shot of two "Jennies" after colliding)

Author - Bill Robie
Foreword - "Chuck" Yeager

(BTW - the title comes from the inscription on the Collier Trophy at the
National Air and Space Museum.  This trophy has been awarded annually
by the Aero Club/NAA since 1911 "For the Greatest Achievement" in aviation,
as demonstrated the previous year.  The book tracks all the recipients as
they appeared throughout the history of American aviation.)

Because the Aero Club of America (1905-1922) and the National Aeronautic 
Association (1922-present) have been at the cutting edge of American aviation
since before the Wrights were recognized as the fathers of powered flight,
this book tells the story of American aviation from a unique perspective.
It describes the evolution of sport and civil aviation -- from the earliest
"smoke balloon" flights in the days when George Washington was President, to
the flight of Jeana Yeager and Burt Rutan in the "Voyager."  If you are 
interested in such things as: the early days of American flight; the progress
of women in aviation since 1909; how the various sport aviation associations
(like EAA, USPA, SSA, USHGA, BFA, USUA, etc.) evolved; the efforts of Black
Americans who wanted to fly; Exhibition flying before WWI; "Barnstorming" in 
the 1920s; Air Racing and over-the-ocean flights of the 1930s; 
behind-the-scenes activities at the early airshows; etc., etc., this might
be a book you want to read.

Do you have a relative who always claimed to have "flown some ... 'way back
when"?  If she or he got a license between 1905 and the end of World War
I, their name and license number will be in the book.  This is the first time
such a list has been published since the "Great War," and the ONLY time such
a list was available to the public.  Your library might be interested in 
getting this info. for a local history resource.  Would you ask them? (then
you don't have to buy the book! :))

The book can be ordered through any bookstore, by giving the information
listed above (especially the ISBN number).  It is also listed in the
Spring 1993 Smithsonian Books catalogue, and can be ordered through there.
The "list" price is ~$35.00 (hard cover).  A limited edition leather-bound 
copy can also be had, if you care to plunk down ~$100.00.  You'll have to ask 
the NAA about that one.  This is not going to be "officially" available to
bookstores until March 1, but they can actually get it ~ February 15.  If
you order through the NAA, you can put an order in now.  THey will ship it
as soon as it is available (~2 weeks).  If you *should* happen to want an
autographed copy, send me e-mail, and I'll try to set something up with
NAA to go down there and sign them.  No charge, but you'll owe me a beer.

Members of the NAA, or its affiliated Air Sports Organizations (see list
below), can get a substantial discount (about equal to the cost of a year's
NAA membership -- might be worth joining) by calling the NAA Washington
office at 703-527-0226.  It is my understanding that they will take orders
by credit card.

Those organizations include:

The National Aeronautic Association
The Academy of Model Aeronautics
The Balloon Federation of America
The Experimental Aircraft Association
The Helicopter Club of America
The International Aerobatic Club
The Soaring Society of America
The U.S. Hang Gliding Association
The U.S. Parachute Association
The U.S. Ultralight Association

While I can't promise it, I believe that they would also honor members of 
FAI affiliated organizations from other nations.  If there is an interest,
I'll ask them.  Send me e-mail.

Answer the vital questions of aviation by reading this book:
What did Henri Farman's wife say about Americans ... and why?
Why were Wilbur and Orville Wright issued U.S. pilot's licenses nos. 4 & 5?
Why did some of the most famous aviators in American history line up to
	pee into a tank on a cropduster that was sprayed on the next day's
	airshow crowd?
Why, how, and when did the Federal Government become involved in aviation?
Where does REC.AVIATION's Prof. Rogers appear in a footnote?

Ok ... now the disclaimer.
I'm not trying to "hype" the book for my own profit.  I don't get any royalties
on it.  But I *do* sincerely think that this is a book that REC.AVIATION 
readers will enjoy -- because I tried to address the same sorts of historical
questions in it that I saw being discussed here.

The cover looks pretty nifty, too!

Bill Robie






















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