History of Flight: From Leonardo's Flying Machine to the Conquest of Space

From man's first hopeful attempts to achieve liftoff to the era of jets, superfighters, and space shuttles, this fascinating volume captures the magic and science of flight. Magnificently illustrated, it moves forward chronologically, with each chapter dedicated to a specific type of aircraft or event—including wartime aviation and the birth of commercial airlines. Entertaining anecdotes, and a section on technology, round out this comprehensive history.