Description
Product Description
The dream of flight is as old as human history. Based on the outstanding collection of the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC, Book of Flight traces the remarkable story of the pioneers, inventors, scientists and pilots who turned this dream into reality.
An exciting journey through time, the book includes such remarkable achievements as:
The development of ballooning
The earliest human gliders
The Wright Brothers' first sustained flights
Charles Lindbergh's solo trip across the Atlantic
Amelia Earhart's courageous flights
The tragic explosion of the airship Hindenburg
The dogfights of the first and second world wars
Chuck Yeager's historic blast through the sound barrier
The Apollo astronauts' first steps on the moon
The development of the Space Shuttle and the Hubble Space Telescope
The building of the International Space Station.
New and updated for this edition:
Mission to Mars
Latest information on the Space Shuttle program, the Hubble Space Telescope and the International Space Station.
Packed with fascinating illustrations and photographs, Book of Flight is ideal for enthusiasts of all ages.
Review
[Review of 1st edition:] The appealing format, replete with color photos and fascinating snippets of information, will make this book tempting for teens and adults alike. (Caitlin Augusta
VOYA [Voice of Youth Advocates] 2002-02-01)
[Review of 1st edition:] A superbly illustrated book, this informal pictorial history of flight will delight any aerospace enthusiast, young or old. (
Science Books and Films 2003-10-15)
[Review of 1st edition:] Large colorful photographs and a fast-moving text are sure to make this ... a crowd pleaser. ... Well-written, succinct text. (Todd Morning
Booklist 2001-11-01)
[Review of 1st edition:] A photo-documentary ... [with] dramatic sharply detailed illustrations. (John Peters
School Library Journal 2001-12-01)
The Book of Flight could be used for recreation and also in the classroom. (Thomas F. Chambers, retired college teacher
Canadian Materials, Vol 14, No. 16 2008-04-04)
About the Author
Judith E. Rinard was a staff writer for National Geographic, where she specialized in scientific subjects for more than 20 years.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Introduction
Imagine a time when people only dreamed of flying, when the sight of a jet streaking across the sky would have been astounding, and the idea of launching a rocket into space too fantastic to comprehend. You may be surprised to learn that time was not very long ago. It is possible that someone you know was born before airliners and jets even existed.
The stories you are about to read -- and the amazing pictures you will see -- capture the wonder and excitement of a history that is still unfolding. At the dawn of the 20th century, the first powered aircraft took to the skies. Now the International Space Station is a reality. And in the first years of the new millennium, engineers are developing reusable space vehicles, designing airplanes that will fly at five times the speed of sound and exploring a human mission to Mars.
The pioneers of flight paved the way for a future filled with adventure and achievement, a fact demonstrated every day at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum's two sites -- the flagship building on the National Mall in Washington and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.
Filled with history-making aircraft and spacecraft, our buildings brings to life the work of the inventors and scientists who created these machines, and explain how our world is changing because of the progress in aviation and space exploration. The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Book of Flight celebrates the Museum's famous collection and reveals highlights of its many exhibitions and displays.
In this book, for example, you will be introduced to Wilbur and Orville Wright. As children they made and flew kites. Wh