Product Description
A New Edition of the Most Effective Text/Reference in the Field! Aerodynamics, Aeronautics, and Flight Mechanics, Second Edition Barnes W. McCormick, Pennsylvania State University 57506-2 When the first edition of Aerodynamics, Aeronautics, and Flight Mechanics was published, it quickly became one of the most important teaching and reference tools in the field. Not only did generations of students learn from it, they continue to use it on the job-the first edition remains one of the most well-thumbed guides you'll find in an airplane company. Now this classic text/reference is available in a bold new edition. All new material and the interweaving of the computer throughout make the Second Edition even more practical and current than before! A New Edition as Complete and Applied as the First Both analytical and applied in nature, Aerodynamics, Aeronautics, and Flight Mechanics presents all necessary derivations to understand basic principles and then applies this material to specific examples. You'll find complete coverage of the full range of topics, from aerodynamics to propulsion to performance to stability and control. Plus, the new Second Edition boasts the same careful integration of concepts that was an acclaimed feature of the previous edition. For example, Chapters 9, 10, and 11 give a fully integrated presentation of static, dynamic, and automatic stability and control. These three chapters form the basis of a complete course on stability and control. New Features You'll Find in the Second Edition
* A new chapter on helicopter and V/STOL aircraft- introduces a phase of aerodynamics not covered in most current texts
* Even more material than the previous edition, including coverage of stealth airplanes and delta wings
* Extensive use of the computer throughout- each chapter now contains several computer exercises
* A computer disk with programs written by the author is available ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Not worth it
Unfortunately had to use this one for two corses. It's a paperweight and nothing more. The set up of the text is good but most of the time it felt like the guy got bored. Basically, here is a start and the rest do your own reasearch. If you have lots of spare time on your hands, this book is for you. If not, try David Anderson's books instead.

Students Be Warned
From the selections of texts I have had to read this year including: Gas Dynamics, Numerical Methods with Matlab, and Aerodynamics, this text was by far the worst. It is all talk and no example. There are maybe two or three actual examples in the whole thing. The sections are setup in a logical manner and the flow was okay. However, there is no overall view provided. Equations are dropped out as though they are they are important, when they're just intermediate steps to other equations.

Homework problems are insanely hard to do for those unfamiliar with the subject. Do not read this book expecting to learn how to build a plane. The only thing you can pick up are broad concepts. Example, Chapter 4 is on drag, most books do a really good job of giving you an idea of the big picture and how to use concepts. Rather than give a broad overview of the overall or total drag and then breaking it down from there, the author starts examining pieces of the drag problem and connects some of them together near the middle, without talking about how to incorporate the rest and ends with a talk about getting minimum drag. Horrible explanation.

Equations, explanations and concepts need to be presented in a clearer fashion examples need to be added and then it might be a decent book. Until then it's only a mediocre piece of work.

THE SECOND EDITION IS NO BETTER THAN THE FIRST
I have both editions of this book. The first one was not so good; the second is still worse. It is the first edition with some few changes and many misprints. The introduction of some computer programs does not make this book an up-to-date one.
It is still an old book with just a colorfull cover.

Not an easy read, but a good reference book;
I plead that this not be used as text for any course, as it is a lousy teaching book. It lacks continuity and contains far to many typos. Does make a good desk ref, lots of real world data, but with an under used index individuals unfamiliar with the text might have a hard time finding what they are looking for.

Could be better
As I read in another review, the quality of the book depends on what you need it for. Although it covers a breadth of topics, it is poor for learning from. There are misprints and not enough examples. It also annoyed me that the derivations weren't always worked out completely, sometimes introducing other variables without explaination. You'd have to have read and absorbed all the previous chapters to make those leaps on your own. There is a very good list of notations in the back, however, and the author is consistent with it which somewhat lessens this problem. A pet peeve from the book, however, is how the author assigns writing computer programs as problems, and then refers to those programs as derivations of other principles later in the book. For a better introduction on aeronautical principles, I recommend Anderson's text, which is an easy read and is very clear in its derivations. ... Read more

Product Description
Higher operating efficiencies, fewer pollutant emissions, and low capital investment have made gas turbines a dominant technology for a new power generating capacity in the US and worldwide. This book offers gas turbine users and manufacturers a valuable resource to help them sort through issues associated with combustion instabilities. In the last ten years, substantial efforts have been made in the industrial, governmental, and academic communities to understand the unique issues associated with combustion instabilities in low-emission gas turbines. The objective of this book is to compile these results into a series of chapters that address the various facets of the problem. The Case Studies section speaks to specific manufacturer and user experiences with combustion instabilities in the development stage and in fielded turbine engines. The book then goes on to examine The Fundamental Mechanisms, The Combustor Modeling, and Control Approaches. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Combustion Instabilities in an expansive nutshell
Excellent review of the topic. Covers all the major approaches to the subject: modeling, empirical observations, dynamic control, diagnostics...
Highly recommended reading for researchers looking for a well-rounded grasp of the problem and current research.
R.Wainner - AE Ph.D. '99 - Combustion/Optical Diagnostics ... Read more

Product Description
The journey from an aeronautical engineer's design to a working aircraft is one which begins in the classroom. This textbook provides the resources students need to understand the methods and thought processes involved in designing aircraft. The book provides a working knowledge of how an aircraft is shaped and optimized to perform specific missions by countless design decisions. It seeks to provide motivation throughout a student's academic career by giving an idea of the design process and providing a foundation for more advanced studies in aeronautical and aerospace engineering. End of chapter problems give a summary of concepts and features and provide an opportunity to analyze and synthesize industry examples and their applications. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Not so good
Quite hard to follow. The organization is pretty weird and jumps all over the place. Diagram that are being refered to and are usually on the next page, so you end up fliping back and forth. Formulars are organized pretty badly. End of chapter has a summary which give the important parts, so that's a plus.

Great information source
This is a great book for students just entering the world of aeronautics.It starts with the basics and gradually moves up, at a pace comfortable for almost anyone.Highly recommended.

A great book
This is a great book to understand the principles of wings, stability and structures, I recommend for the ones who does not know a lot about aeronautics and want to know a bit about it.

Great Motivation
Dr. Brandt did really great job on this book. The way of his approach to the idea of becoming aerospace design enginners is excellent, and most of the problams and exercises he describe are also outstanding.

GO USAF Academy
I would assume the only people buying this go to the air force academy or are taking classes that they really shouldn't be at another university. ... Read more

Product Description
In just 100 years, air and space exploration has progressed from a 12-second, 120-foot flight by two brothers to nearly 30 years of sustained flight by a spacecraft, now eight billion miles from Earth, traveling at almost 40,000 miles per hour.

Drawing on the extensive collection of the National Air and Space Museum (NASM), and personal collections, this full-color, beautifully illustrated book chronicles the most significant accomplishments in aerospace history over the past 100 years. In timeline fashion, you'll read brief excerpts from hundreds of news articles reporting on significant accomplishments in flight. Through brief introductory essays, you will learn what made each decade of flight most significant. Concluding essays by John D. Anderson Jr. and Roger D. Launius of the NASM look at what lies ahead. Foreword by A. Scott Crossfield.

The book was commissioned in celebration of the 100th anniversary of powered flight. Winter and van der Linden are both curators at the NASM, and authors of several acclaimed books on air and space history and the "Out of the Past" column published monthly in Aerospace America. ... Read more

Product Description
This valuable volume offers a systematic approach to flight vehicle system identification and covers exhaustively the time-domain methodology. It addresses in detail the theoretical and practical aspects of various parameter estimation methods, including those in the stochastic framework and focusing on nonlinear models, cost functions, optimization methods, and residual analysis. A pragmatic and balanced account of pros and cons in each case are provided. It also presents data gathering, model validation and covers both large scale systems and high fidelity modeling. Real world problems dealing with a variety of flight vehicle applications are addressed and solutions are provided. Examples encompass such problems as estimation of aerodynamics, stability, and control derivatives from flight data, flight path reconstruction, nonlinearities in control surface effectiveness, stall hysteresis, unstable aircraft, and other critical considerations. Beginners, as well as practicing researchers, engineers, and working professionals who wish to refresh or broaden their knowledge of flight vehicle system identification will find this book highly beneficial.Based on years of experience, the book also provides recommendations for overcoming problems likely to be faced in developing complex nonlinear and high fidelity models and can help the novice negotiate the challenges of developing highly accurate mathematical models and aerodynamic databases from experimental flight data. Software that runs under MATLAB[registered] and sample flight data are provided to assist the reader in reworking the examples presented in the text. The software can also be adapted to the reader's own interests. ... Read more

Product Description
Commissioned on the occasion of its 75th Anniversary, here is the fascinating historical account of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics -- and its predecessor organizations, the American Rocket Society and The Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences -- and the significant contributions each has made to the evolution of flight. From the early struggles to create and distinguish aeronautics as a distinct profession, through the technological necessities brought on by two world wars, to the incredible advances spawned by the Space Age, this narrative covers it all in a highly readable, thoroughly researched way. Reading like an aeronautical and astronautical "who’s who," this is also the amazing story of the organizations’ founders, leaders and members -- visionary individuals and dedicated engineers advancing theories and technologies in a profession that has forever changed society and shaped everyday life as we know it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

From the Early Days of Rockets
By the 1930's the art of flying had become fairly commonplace. The art of rocketry was just beginning. And when there's any question, form an association for like minded people to get together. The results were several: The Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences and the American Rocket Society were formed in 1930 and 1932.
From here came the early experimentors who helped to put the field into the public's eye. Here were the people who began the early work to design rocket engines. For instance there was James Wyld. He bagan designing a rocket engine with regenerative cooling, circulating the propellent around the engine to keep it from melting. His engine became a series of engines, eventually a company Reaction Motors Inc. A few years later an engine from RMI powered the Bell X-1 with Chuck Yeager to break the sound barrier. in 1958 RMI merged with Thiokol who builds the solid rocket boosters for the shuttle program.

This is a fascinating book, filled with the names of people who did a lot to bring about the world we live in today. Dr. Crouch, a senior curator at the National Air and Space Museum has a writing style that makes these days come alive. ... Read more

Product Description
This new book deals with the phenomenology of rocket exhaust plumes as the targets of space-based surveillance systems. Topics include the physical and chemical processes in rocket engines and their exhaust plumes, in particular regard to flow properties, gas dynamics, and radiative mechanisms that are responsible for the generation of emission in rocket exhaust plumes at infrared and other wavelengths. System designers in a number of defense-related areas will be able to put the information in this book to immediate use. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent reference or tutorial
This book makes a great reference or tutuorial on the subject of Rocket Plume Phenomenology.Never before has one book covered the entire breadth of this subject in such detail.An excellent choice for the beginner or experienced professional. ... Read more

Product Description
Have Blue and the F-117A: Evolution of the "Stealth Fighter"documents the history, observations, and lessons learned from thedevelopment and acquisition of the first very-low-observable combataircraft. The book is a case study of the high-payoff, low-profile strikefighter development effort (code-named "Have Blue" and "Senior Trend").Most of the material presented in the book was once highly classifiedinformation. The Have Blue stealth technology demonstrator aircraft hadits genesis in 1974 with studies of Soviet radar-guided air defensesystems. In 1978, the U.S. Air Force initiated full-scale development ofthe F-117A under the Senior Trend program, which aimed to create a weaponsystem capable of highly survivable precision attacks against an enemy'shigh-value targets. In 1991, the aircraft played a key role in the aircampaign against Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. The book describesthe clear vision, strong leadership and teamwork, rapid-response decisionmaking, and keen focus on achieving an operational cabability that markedthe project. Also discussed are potential applications of the strategiesused in the project to today's acquisition environment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Very competent overview of the program
This book was done by two senior members of the AF stealth community, who were given full access to the program's early contractual paperwork, reports, etc.They have done an most admirable job digging the relevant facts out of the paperwork, and making useful comparisons to other programs.Having been a contractor engineering lead on this program for the 4 years the F-117 was truly created (1978-1982) I can testify that it accurately reflects the nature of the program and the important roles of various individuals to the extent that my knowledge permits.The book is intended, however, for professionals in the field, and won't exactly be a thrilling read for those who aren't interested in a lot of programmatic details.

This is a good book on the development of Nighthawk
This book while seemingly very dry was actually interesting. I liked that there was a programatics/managerial look at the development of the airplane. There is also lots of development history and stuff.

Best book on the F-117A available
The book gives you insight straight from the engineers that worked on the prodject. A must for anyone who is interested in the story and development of the F-117A ... Read more

Product Description
In total passenger miles, air travel has never been more popular. But as any frequent flyer knows, air travel problems are growing even faster long lines, lost luggage, overbooking, flight delays, and serious safety issues. And instead of doing something about it, the traveling public seems simply to be sitting down, buckling in, and allowing itself to be treated like sheep.

But it doesn't have to be this way. There are solutions to our air travel problems, real solutions that can make real differences. And they don t require 15 years to implement.

With decades of experience in civil aviation and policy, Drs. George Donohue and Russell Shaver are well qualified to assess the problems in the system and to offer responsible, workable solutions. Dr. Donohue, the current Director of the Center for Air Transportation Systems Research and a Professor of Systems Engineering at George Mason University (GMU), has extensive high-level experience at the Federal Aviation Administration and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Dr. Shaver, formerly a senior RAND Corporation research analyst and now a visiting research fellow at GMU, served as chief scientist for policy analysis at the MITRE Center for Advanced Aviation System Development.

The stories they tell are compelling. They are high-profile horror stories passengers stranded for hours on the tarmac, flights canceled for bad weather when there s not a drop of rain anywhere near the flight path, and an overall sense of apathy and obstructionism among those responsible for managing the industry. Interestingly, these problems are not the inevitable result of the size or complexity of the U.S. system. Air transportation in Europe, with almost identical air traffic control systems and safety standards, is far better. Amsterdam moves 30% more passengers than Newark, but the average flight delay is an order of magnitude lower. In addition, a European Passenger s Bill of Rights giving distressed passengers the right to substantial and immediate compensation has been a powerful incentive for non-U.S. airlines to maintain their schedules.

The Causes

So just how did we get where we are in the U.S. system today? Donohue and Shaver cite multiple reasons for the chaos we now face. These causes include airline deregulation, multiple governmental agencies with no central oversight or responsibility, multiple corporate entities with conflicting agendas, and a technologically outdated air traffic control system. Even more importantly, there seems to be a complete absence of advocacy for the customer the passengers. The authors also explain that our air travel problems, if left unaddressed, are on a direct course to greatly impact the overall U.S. economy and harm our global competitiveness. In 2006 alone, the delays and cancellations cost U.S. travelers an estimated $3.2 billion. And in 2004 and 2005, the U.S. tourism industry is estimated to have lost $98 billion in revenue due to our air travel mess.

The Cures

Fortunately, Donohue and Shaver don t leave us in this state of chaos. Their provocative analysis not only identifies the causes and extent of the problems, but also provides us with a course heading that will put us on the path to recovery. The solutions they propose include holding the government decision-makers responsible, expanding the capacity of airports and airplanes, modernizing the air traffic control system, and implementing what the authors call the 30% solution to significantly reduce congestion.

In short, this book should be read by every airline passenger traveling in or through the United States. As a country, ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Horrible!
This book was horrible.This guy is a hack.He know nothing about Air Traffic Control.

Terminal Chaos exposes the injustices endured by the flying public
Great book describing the complacency of an industry that has not evolved over the past 30 years. Old regulations and old technology = inefficient results. The end user, the American flying public, ends up suffering through delays and cancellations, not to mention a generally inefficient and uncomfortable journey as a whole. Terminal Chaos exposes the weaknesses in the system and provides interesting alternatives to alleviate a growing problem.Great book to read especially if you're a frequent flyer.

Interesting
The book was of interest to me as an aviation writer. I found many of the points to be valid and well supported. However, the focus was far to narrow and was limited to infrastructure shortcomings. There was little attention paid to the failures of management and lack of vision. It tells part, but not all, of the story.

Donohue Says the System is Broken (and He Should Know)
A critique of the current crisis in airline travel and America's air traffic control system -- as told by one of the architects of the current mess (and his ghost-writer).Donohue throughout demonstrates more than adequately that he has no understanding of airline economics or of the technical issues he was supposedly responsible for.Donohue should not be peddling books; Donohue should be on trial for professional malfeasance.

Great book.
The author really understand the complex issues that are crippling our nation's air traffic system. Very evident that he wants to spark change through this book. We can only hope that things will get better before they get worse! ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

Product Description
This timely volume brings together the world’s most highly regarded scientists in the field of solid rocket propulsion. Thirty-nine papers present indepth coverage on a wide range of topics including: advanced materials and nontraditional formulations; the chemical aspects of organic and inorganic components in relation to decomposition mechanisms, kinetics, combustion, and modeling; safety issues, hazards and explosive characteristics; and experimental and computational interior ballistics research, including chemical information and the physics of the complex flowfield. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Solid propellant chemistry, combustion & motor interior ballistics
This volume was a gap on my research shelf that was waiting to be filled.
Totally comprehensive,it will proove without question of unique value in my work and further study. ... Read more

Product Description
Presenting research papers contributed by experts in dynamics and control, Advances in Dynamics and Control explores new ideas, reviews the latest results, and discusses emerging directions in the rapidly growing field of aviation and aerospace. The authors discuss a wide range of topics in rotorcraft dynamics, stabilization of unstable aircraft, spacecraft, satellite dynamics and control, missile auto-pilot and guidance design, hybrid systems dynamics and control, and structural and acoustic modeling. The book is a valuable reference for graduate students and scientific workers in universities and industry. ... Read more

Product Description
From an authoritative expert whose work on modern helicopter rotor blade analysis has spanned over three decades, comes the first consistent and rigorous presentation of beam theory. Beginning with an overview of the theory developed over the last 60 years, Dr. Hodges addresses the kinematics of beam deformation, provides a simple way to characterize strain in an initially curved and twisted beam, and offers cross-sectional analysis for beams with arbitrary cross sections and composed of arbitrary materials. He goes on to present a way to accurately recover all components of cross-sectional strain and stress before providing a natural one-dimensional (1-D) theory of beams. Sample results for both cross-sectional and 1-D analysis are presented as is a parallel treatment for thin-walled beams. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Graduate Level or for the Active Researcher
This book gives a method of analysis of beams that is suitable for a wide variety of applications. Beams are defined as slender structural members and may be made of virtually any material. Beams may be very large as in components of buildings,aircraft wings, or bridges, or quite small as in shafts or turbine blades.

The theoretical foundations of this book have been inspired largely by research conducted to meet the need for accurate analysis of helicopter rotor blades made of composit materials. Rotor blades are extremely complex beams that must function under a wide variety of conditions and loads. They are also a subject that has received a lot of attention because of Government funding.

This book is based on helicoptor rotor analysis, but other beams can be analyzed using the same techniques, and probably somewhat easier because most other beams are significantly simpler in design.

This is quite an advanced book. It could be used for a graduate level course in mechanical engineering or more likely for use by a reseacher with real problems to solve. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the first major publication on liquid-rocket combustion devices since 1960. A total of 26 chapters prepared by world-renowned experts in their subject areas are included. Each chapter focuses on a specific aspect of liquid-propellant combustion and thrust chamber dynamics, and is incorporated into the volume in a well-organized, cohesive manner. There are contributions from nine different countries - China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, Russia, Sweden, and the United States. ... Read more

Product Description
The book provides an up-to-date guide to the techniques and applications of inertial navigation for use by both practicing engineers and post-graduate students. The book satisfies a need for a book on the subject of inertial navigation that provides both an introduction to the techniques involved as well as information on modern technological developments, combined with a more rigorous mathematical treatment for the reader wishing to explore the subject in greater depth. The text describes the basic concepts of inertial navigation with particular emphasis on modern strapdown system technology, providing detailed information on system mechanizations, instrumentation and computational aspects, design analysis, and applications of such systems. In particular, the text provides up-to-date information on inertial sensor technology and inertial navigation system computational techniques, bringing together the broad experience of the authors within a single volume. The text contains both descriptive passages and also mathematical details where appropriate.MEMS is the focus of much research and development activity at the present time; this technology offers rugged and reliable sensors with a performance capability that lends itself to integration with satellite navigation systems. This second edition has been updated in a number of areas to reflect ongoing developments in the field of inertial navigation technology. In addition to a number of refinements covering sensor technology, geodesy, and error modeling, the major additions to the original text are new chapters on MEMS (micro electro-mechanical systems) technology and system applications. A broad range of applications are addressed in a second new chapter, covering ship's inertial navigation, tactical missiles, well bore surveying systems, automobiles, and sightline stabilization systems, to name but a few. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Lots of good reference material
This book has the most comprehensive breakdown and analysis of the principles and modeling of accelerometer and gyro technologies I've seen in a book yet, though there are already some very good books on stable platform products.There's also a wealth of information on various coordinate systems used in the vicinity of Earth.While an entire chapter is devoted to MEMS, it would seem that the mechanization material (as well as alignment) is geared towards higher-end devices, in that many MEMS units I've encountered cannot readily identify any component of Earth's rotation, making much of the math superfluous for my application.There is a chapter near the end that deals briefly with aiding, but don't count on that being enough.A number of real-world periodic motions, both short-term (coning, sculling) and long-term (Schuler, Foucault), are identified, and the references to literature at the end of each section are invaluable in digging deeper.Kalman filtering is relegated to an appendix, but that is fine, as this book is significantly more oriented to applications; pick up a copy of Gelb if you need an intro to estimation.

Excellent Inertial Book
Strapdown Inertial Nav. is an excellent book for those who would like to understand the technology or learn how to process inertial sensor data.

A solid introduction to Strapdown INS
A good introduction from the ground up.Concepts were easily conveyed to the reader.I'm much more comfortable with strapdown systems after reading this book. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a practical guide to building Kalman filters that shows how the filtering equations can be applied to real-life problems. Numerous examples are presented in detail, showing the many ways in which Kalman filters can be designed. Computer code written in FORTRAN, MATLAB[registered], and True BASIC accompanies all of the examples so that the interested reader can verify concepts and explore issues beyond the scope of the text. In certain instances, the authors intentionally introduce mistakes to the initial filter designs to show the reader what happens when the filter is not working properly. The text carefully sets up a problem before the Kalman filter is actually formulated, to give the reader an intuitive feel for the problem being addressed. Because real problems are seldom presented as differential equations, and usually do not have unique solutions, the authors illustrate several different filtering approaches. Readers will gain experience in software and performance tradeoffs for determining the best filtering approach. The material that has been added to this edition is in response to questions and feedback from readers. The third edition has three new chapters on unusual topics related to Kalman filtering and other filtering techniques based on the method of least squares. Chapter 17 presents a type of filter known as the fixed or finite memory filter, which only remembers a finite number of measurements from the past. Chapter 18 shows how the chain rule from calculus can be used for filter initialization or to avoid filtering altogether. A realistic three-dimensional GPS example is used to illustrate the chain-rule method for filter initialization. Finally, Chapter 19 shows how a bank of linear sine-wave Kalman filters, each one tuned to a different sine-wave frequency, can be used to estimate the actual frequency of noisy sinusoidal measurements and obtain estimates of the states of the sine wave when the measurement noise is low. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A well written and practical textbook
I purchased this book primarily to gain some basic understanding of kalman filtering, but have found the book so interesting and engaging that I have taken the time to rewrite the code to pascal and run the examples etc, as presented in the book. Being a systems engineer by education, but not by profession, the approach used in the book allowed me to apply some of my previous but unused training very efficiently.

The practical approach, along with just enough notation to be rigorous, makes for a thoughtful read, but is still easily understood. When combined with the examples, the alternative approaches presented and the code it achieves exactly what the authors state as their objectives.

information
Although I am disappointed in the second reviewers comments he is wrong concerning the code. Complete code is presented in the text and is on CD for all of the examples. Readers can now make up their own mind before purchasing the text. If you go to the Google Book Search and type in Zarchan you will be able to read the entire text. I suggest people who have previously been terrified of Kalman filters and want to learn how to build one, read the Introduction and possibly the second Chapter to see if the text meets their needs and is in accordance with their individual learning styles. I know that many readers have found the text useful.

A great book
This book builds up the concepts needed to understand Kalman filtering from very basic ideas like least squares, and tries to keep things grounded in practical examples.It is, as advertised, the practical approach, totally unpretentious, and clearly written.

The commenter referred to as the 'second commenter' in the author's comment has apparently withdrawn his comment and is not me. ... Read more

Product Description
"The Engines of Pratt & Whitney: A Technical History" describes the evolution from piston engines to gas turbines by the engineers who created those engines. Included are hundreds of archival photographs, as well as over a dozen tables listing specifications and applications. The story starts with the founding of the company in the 1920s to provide reliable air-cooled piston engines to the military and to help create coast-to-coast commercial flight service. Pratt & Whitney quickly dominated commercial and military flight in the 1930s, ultimately providing half the horsepower of American engines during World War II. Jack Connors explains how Pratt & Whitney came from behind the competition in developing gas turbines after the war with the debut of the J57, which powered the B-52 in 1952 and later the Air Force Century Series fighters (F-100, F-101, and F-102) and the Navy A-3D, F-4D, and F-8 airplanes. Also covered is the development of the J58, which powered the Mach 3+ YF-12 and SR-71 aircraft and subsequent military engines; the F100 in the F-15 and F-16; the F119 in the F-22; and, the F135 in the F-35 series.Pratt & Whitney's contribution to the luxury commercial jet era travel is also detailed, with its JT3, JT3D, JT4, JT8D, JT9D, PW2000, PW4000, and PW6000 in Boeing, Douglas, and Airbus aircraft. This history of Pratt & Whitney's role in the evolution of aircraft engines from 1925 to the present day offers young engineers a wealth of insights about design, development, marketing, and product support for commercial and military customers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Engines of Pratt & Whitney: A Technical History
There is a soft spot in my heart for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft. In the mid-1960's when I embarked on my engineering education the aerospace industry was booming. We were going to the moon! Four years later there was a recession on. Apollo was winding down, Southeast Asia was hot, and job offers were scarce. I went to work for P&WA, assigned to design small bits of turbine engines.

The job lasted ten months; then they allowed as how I could keep coming to work but they couldn't afford to keep paying me. I moved on, soon ending up in the shipbuilding business.

But what I'd seen of engineering as it was practiced at Pratt & Whitney, I'd liked. They were an organization committed to giving the customer a product that was first class in every respect, and they applied leading-edge technology to do it. I learned a few good lessons in my short tenure there.

Now, Jack Connors' new book has provided a context for my experience. Mr. Connors joined P&WA in 1948 as the piston engine era was drawing to a close and he retired as a Vice President in Engineering, in 1983. After retirement, he and a couple of colleagues invested thousands of hours in organizing and indexing the company's engineering archives. That effort provided the source material for this book.

Much of the book is concerned with what Mr. Connors regards as P&WA's four "defining moments":

* The founding of the company (1925)
* The WWII effort (1939-1945)
* The transition to turbine power (1947-1958)
* Winning the F100 engine program (1968-)

The author uses many first hand accounts to bring these "moments" (several of which stretched over years) to life. We learn how and why Frederick Rentschler started the company and how George Mead and Andy Willgoos inspired both the design brilliance of the great radial engines and the incredible industrial effort that saw P&WA engines supply 50% of the installed horsepower in the WWII aircraft fleet.

We learn, in a really suspenseful sequence, how the company started the gas turbine era desperately far behind GE and Westinghouse, and how Luke Hobbs and Perry Pratt led the engineering effort that produced the J-57 engine for Boeing's B-52 Stratofortress - an engine that represented both a "bet the company" program and a quantum advance in turbojet performance.

The J-57 in its commercial guise (as the JT-3) went on to power both the Boeing 707 and the DC-8 (and the rest, as they say, is history).

And, in the usual manner of technical evolution, the J-57 turbojet led to the TF-33 turbofan (power for the C-141 Starlifter), which was scaled down and provided with an afterburner to produce the TF-30 that occupied my time for a year. And the TF-30 (power for, among others, the F-111 and the F-14 Tomcat) was the parent of the F-100 that went into the F-15 and F-16 and led to other advanced engine programs.

While one must respect the author's conclusions, I'd have proposed the development of the JT-9D high-bypass turbofan during the same years that the F100 was evolving, as a much more significant milestone. The JT-9D powered the first Boeing 747's that arguably revolutionized commercial air travel, and its technical "DNA" can be seen in every large airliner turbofan to this day.

Mr. Connors' book provides only an overview (certainly an interesting one) of the piston engine era. It was before his watch, so to speak, and he paints with a broad brush and suggests other references to fill in the details. But his technical history of the first 35 years of the turbine era at Pratt & Whitney is masterful, and for this era, this will be an essential reference. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

History of aeronautics is worth every penny you spend
I can only recommend this book to all people interested in the beginnings of aviation. It is detailed and almost complete. The only thing that could have been done better is the organization and structure of the different chapters. A chronological order would have allowed easier research of specific items.

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