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  1. Home
  2. Books
  3. A History of Aerodynamics
  • Cited by 135
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
Online publication date:
July 2015
Print publication year:
1997
Online ISBN:
9780511607158
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511607158
Subjects:
Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Thermal-Fluids Engineering, Engineering: General Interest
Series:
Cambridge Aerospace Series (8)
  • 105.00 (USD)
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Book description

From the Foreword:'John Anderson's book represents a milestone in aviation literature. For the first time aviation enthusiasts - both specialists and popular readers alike - possess an authoritative history of aerodynamic theory. Not only is this study authoritative, it is also highly readable and linked to the actual (and more familiar) story of how the airplane evolved. The book touches on all the major theorists and their contributions and, most important, the historical context in which they worked to move the science of aerodynamics forward.'Von Hardesty, Smithsonian InstitutionFrom the reviews:'Something of the unexpected quality of this book can be inferred from its full title A History of Aerodynamics and Its Impact on Flying Machines. Pilots tend to suppose that the science of aerodynamics began empirically, somewhere around the time of Lilienthal and the Wrights, and that aerodynamics and manned flight are roughly coeval. It is therefore surprising to come upon a photograph of the Wright Flyer as late as page 242 of the 478-page volume.'Peter Garrison, Flying'This book successfully straddles the boundary that separates a text book from a history book. It is of equal interest to both the aerodynamicist and the layman. The textual balance achieved by the author has resulted in a book that is enjoyable and educational.'Earl See, American Aviation Historical Society Newsletter

Reviews

‘In summary, this is an excellent book that deserves a very wide readership.’

John L. Stollery Source: The Times Higher Education Supplement

‘ … a very important contribution to the history of aeronautics, well written and technically competent.’

Source: Choice

‘This book successfully straddles the boundary that separates a textbook from a history book. It is of equal interest to both the aerodynamicist and the layman. The author has thoughtfully included charts, tables and formulas sufficient to complement the narrative without the text becoming a treatise or attempting to convert the reader into a quasi-aerodynamicist. This textual balance achieved by the author has resulted in a book that is enjoyable and educational. This book on the history of aerodynamics adds a much needed dimension to an historian’s interest in aircraft and aviation.’

Source: American Aviation Historical Society

‘ … good books are worth buying and keeping as a part of a very personal reference library. This reviewer recommends this good book to all individuals involved with hydrodynamics, aerodynamics, airplanes, turbomachinery, applied mechanics, and the history of science as well as to all technical university libraries.’

Source: Applied Mechanics Review

‘Being self-contained, written with a handsome style and supplemented with a large number of illustrations, the present volume is addressed to a broad and general audience … this well-documented, highly readable book does indeed contribute to enlighten the background of the science of aerodynamics and, as such, is recommended to all students, engineers and researchers working in the field of aeronautics.’

Source: European Journal of Mechanics

‘… this well-documented, highly readable book does indeed contribute to enlighten the background of the science of aerodynamics and, as such, is recommended to all students, engineers and researchers working in the field of aeronautics.’

L. Vigevano Source: European Journal of Mechanics

‘… having read John Anderson’s fascinating history of the subject, the whole brilliant picture has been revealed … the author has done an impressive job in bringing the vast wealth of material together into a single manageable volume and it is clear that his research has been painstakingly thorough … a very well written historical essay and will appeal to every one involved with, associated with or just simply interested in aerodynamics and aeroplanes. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I learned a great deal from it and recommend it without hesitation. I would heartily recommend the book to all teachers of aerodynamics as a rich source of material with which to illustrate and enliven their lectures … this book should be compulsory reading for every undergraduate student embarking on a course in aerodynamics, who will find it a wonderfully inspiring story.’

M. V. Cook Source: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science

‘… it is a unique and classic contribution to the literature of aviation history.’

Philip Jarrett Source: Aeroplane

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