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Aviation History
1913
1913 - 1112.PDF
i/i-JGHT] A NEW BOOK THE shelf devoted to aeronautical literature in the bibliophile's library is already filled to overflowing with books of every size and description, but, judging from the applications that we so frequently receive ior a treatise on aviation that shall be at once popular and technically instructive, we imagine that there is still a considerable demand for yet another volume. Apparently, Messrs. Methuen are also of the same opinion, for they have just published a work under the title of "Aviation," which has been written by Mr. A. E. Berriman, who was technical editor of this journal from the time of its foundation until his recent appointment to the post of Chief Engineer to the Daimler Company. In the course of some 350 pages the author endeavours to explain in straightforward language the why and wherefore of the aeroplane and its constructional features. It is a book that arrives opportunely, for the public interest is at its zenith, and we may even express the hope that a book of this description, perused during leisure hours on winter evenings, may to some extent prevent a relapse into the apathy from which it has been so difficult to awake the public mind. There is an interesting originality about the general "make up" of "Aviation" that should appeal to the reader who is approaching the science of the subject for the first time. Instead of being placed first, the historical section is placed third, after the objects that the pioneers sought to attain have been fully explained by reference to the modern machine and its accomplishments. Thus, the " milestones" of aviation's history are made more interesting inasmuch as their significance is more readily understood. The wide scope of these earlier explanatory chapters is sufficiently described by reference to their headings, among which are :—What an aeroplane is, the instructiveness of paper models, constructional features, equilibrium, lateral balance, steering, longitudinal stability, propulsion, resistance, and the cambered wing. It will be observed that at least the author has not shirked the task of giving to the real problems of aviation the importance and OCTOBER 18, 1913. ON AVIATION. space that is their due in a book of this description. Similarly, the historical section, which is brought up to February of this year, is preceded by a section containing special chapters on the work of Lilienthal, Wright, Voisin, Farman, Dunne and Weiss. In this section also are to be found chapters on the Military Trials of 1912, Hydro-aeroplanes, and Accidents. In this last there are descriptions of some really sensational escapes, which properly deserve to go down to history in connection with the present period of flying. Quite one of the most important and attractive features of the book is its wealth of pictorial relief. Photographs and sketches abound everywhere, and they have been selected with care from that inexhaustible storehouse provided by the pages of FLIGHT. AS the author says in his preface, " The pictures in this book are a few of the many hundreds that are prepared in the usual course by the staff of FLIGHT, and are typical of the illustrations that appear in that journal every week. It is, of course, on the periodical that the reader who would remain au fait with current development must necessarily rely for immediate information, and if this book succeeds in assisting those who read it to follow the later stages of this new movement with greater interest and appreciation of detail, it will have served its purpose well." With that sentiment we can thoroughly agree, and equally we can assure our readers that the book itself is an honest attempt to achieve its purpose, and as such is worthy of their notice. Not only to the general reader, but to the student also, " Aviation " is designed to make appeal. There is a fourth section, not mentioned in the above remarks, containing appendices that could not properly be included in the body of the text. As the section in question represents over 100 pages of matter, and includes a number of numerical examples that have been worked out in full, it is an appendix of somewhat more than the usual significance. The last few pages are devoted to tabu lated data, some of which is not readily to be found elsewhere. A COSMOPOLITAN GROUP AT THE FARMAN SCHOOL FTAMPP<: P» A- r , , Messrs. F.D'Or and R Bagnot (both Fr^C^^Sts SScT&SKSPUST J£) SoSfe' (Director), H. Montalvon (Spanish), and T. W. Madeley (English). Kougerie 1138
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