The Simple Science of Flight: From Insects to Jumbo Jets
"This was a great little book when it came out in its original edition; this new version is even better, as it contains both Henk's homage to his favorite flying machine (Boeing 747) and explanations based on some of the unexpected results of recent experiments with bird flight (including a phenomenal gliding jackdaw). Read it, then watch the birds and planes, and then dip into it again and again."  --Vaclav Smil, University of Manitoba, and author of Global Catastrophes and Trends  "One gets a fine sense of how so much of aircraft design--whether by humans or by evolution--depends on size and mission. This new version of The Simple Science of Flight broadens the enlightenment that so many of us found appealing in its predecessor. It yields even more of that satisfying 'now I understand what's happening' rather than the usual 'how brilliant those designers must be.' And I know of no book that derives such an awesome wealth of insight from such simple quantification. Beyond being informative, it provides pleasant reading--for any one who travels by air, watches animals fly, or dreams of learning to fly."  --Steven Vogel, James B. Duke Professor, Emeritus, Duke University