The author made many very correct observations on flight and how it works at a time when so little was understood. It is clearly a classic text. Reading the book will give you a very thorough understanding of many of the nuances and characteristics of flight that any pilot should want to know. It's very difficult not to recommend this book for that reason.

However, this is where I'd have to advise people to look elsewhere. This book is old, it's not the content which is out of date but the style of writing is archaic and difficult to follow. It may also lose some clarity, or be drawn out in some examples due to what may be translation problems too.

The author takes an awful long time, many many pages to describe the same principles over and over again. It does reinforce, it does give a thorough understanding...yet it is hard to follow because it drones on long after you got the point and can be boring. I had a great amount of trouble finishing the book for this reason.

A more modern book can get to the point much quicker, with more straightforward text, formatting and diagrams. To me, this is more educational as points are less easily lost.

This book is cheap. If you have the cash around then buy it and judge for yourself. Combined with some of the other pilot study courses you will find this helps to reinforce many points and details, in some cases offering a much deeper understanding. This book is not a bad purchase by any means.

However, you don't _need_ this book. I saw all the reviews and really felt that I did need it, that I should own it. If you personally need to be more selective about your purchasing then choose a great flying instructor who can speak to the additional details and questions you need answered and have a browse through other titles in the bookshop to find which is best for you. Select the right study guide, such as Jeppesen. Choose the books more specific to the topics that you feel weaker on, such as weather flying or aviation safety books.

There are indeed many good aviation books, but unfortunately I have not been able to find a more modern text which is a direct equivalent to this book. There is definately a gap which a modernized version of this text could fill. The closest I know, are actually gliding/soaring books by the author Pigott - great texts on aerodynamics and the art of flying.

If and when you start flying lessons you of course will pilot the plane and become familiar with the controls, but during the flying lessons in the air you will also be involved in dealing with what seems like an overwhelming amount of other information. The plane seems small and strange. It is cramped and a bit noisy. There are many instruments. Often you will be thrown about if there is some weather. And the instructor might be yelling command plus you must communicate with others by radio. So there are many things unfamiliar and they must be absorbed and then the lesson is over quickly - or so it seems. All of the details are important but before you start it helps if you can develop an intuitive feel for how a plane moves and is lifted in the air.

The aim of the book is to explain in simple terms the physics of flight and to develop within the reader an intuitive feel for air flight. Flying is a three dimensional activity and does not come easily or obviously. The ideas about the control of flight can become somewhat intuitive if you read this book. It presents flying in its basics without the hype - in a way in which you can visualize flying - and can start develop the intuition and the appreciation.

Four or five stars.

Jack in Toronto.