Chronicles the landmarks of engineering and imagination in the history of flight; offers profiles of the Wright brothers, Lindbergh, Earhart, and others; and includes a survey of flying machines from balloons to the Concorde.
... panorama of world aviation. It combines fast-paced narrative by Flying Tiger pilot Don Lopez with stunning color visuals from the National Air and Space Museum. The Complete Story Seven thematic sections detail landmark events, technological advances, and the drama of the men, women, and aircraft that soared ever higher, farther, and faster. Here are balloonists and barnstormers, stunt fliers and jet pilots, the Wright Brothers, Amelia Earhart, Chuck Yeager, and many more. Fact boxes and diagrams explain such concepts as wing design and jet propulsion, while two-page portraits feature planes. Aviation includes more than 350 illustrations, photographs, and other artworks. Events that shaped the course of aviation are presented in an 8-page foldout illustrated timeline, an instant reference to the entire subject. The 40-page photo glossary offers easy identification and concise explanations of technical and scientific terms, plus biographies of major people. Entertaining and understandable, this information-packed guide will be read and referred to again and again. Authoritative • Readable • Easy to Use Each Smithsonian Guide provides a concise, easy-to-follow introduction to a complex subject. With lively text by the nation's leading experts and illustrations and photographs from Smithsonian collections, the series forms a unique home-reference library.

lavishly (and lovingly) illustrated history of aviation including landmark events, technological advances. With an authoritative text by museum advisor and World War II fighter ace Donald Lopez, this wondrously entertaining book takes the reader on a flight through time, from the first balloons of the Mongolfier brothers to the stealth technology of the F-117 fighter.