Flying Machine

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Be an eyewitness to how man first realised his dream of taking flight and the remarkable and stunningly different machines that have whisked him up, up, and away. Discover why a rotary engine is designed to rotate when in use See a hot air balloon being inflated Find out about the construction of a World War I fighter plane

Reviews provided by Syndetics

School Library Journal Review

Gr 4 Up-- The unique, now familiar, series format puts the development of two familiar and popular technologies in center stage. Strikingly clear images leap from a white background; numerous captions and brief text encourage browsing over methodical exploration. The whole effect is made orderly by careful layout and unobtrusive black outlines around each spread. And each book's comprehensive index allows use as reference. Flying Machine highlights early balloons and birdlike aircraft and then follows the development of powered flight into contemporary times. Highly detailed, crisp photographs are a delight. Car has no true equal in its dynamic presentation and technical detail, and will truly entertain and inform anyone interested in automobiles. The Smithsonian Book of Flight for Young People (Aladdin, 1988) by Walter J. Boyne covers much the same ground, but with more text and fewer, slightly less eye-catching illustrations. Graeme Cook's Weird and Wonderful Aircraft (Enterprise, 1975; o.p.) is a lively supplement to the basics in Flying Machine. Both it and Car have a slightly British bias in models displayed, with significant European contributions acknowledged. American developments are given proper attention, but do not dominate the works. A wealth of fascinating pictures and facts to draw in any browser. --Ann G. Brouse, Steele Memorial Library, Elmira, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Horn Book Review

Color photographs. Splendid photographs and a rich range of material are the best features of these books on transportation. Although information is scattered, the books are a browser's delight. Indexes. From HORN BOOK 1990, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.