The Leading Edge - Hardcover

In this beautifully illustrated book, Boyne surveys "the frothing brew of innovation" from the Lilienthal glider experiments down to the present day of military, commercial and general aviation, then takes an informed speculative look into the hypersonic future. He is almost as interested in the "artist-inventors" themselves as in their inventions, many of whom are unknown to the public: Charles Kirkham, a seminal figure in the development of the aircraft engine, for instance, and Frank Whittle, who conceived the idea of combining a turbine with a compressor to create the jet engine. Several pages are given over to the ultralight movement, including Paul MacCready's gossamer-winged, human-powered vehicle (with its "aesthetically dreadful airframe"), and there is a chapter about designs that turned out to be dead ends despite embodying crucial elements of the leading edge of flight. Many of the 175 photos appear here for the first time. Boyne is director of the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian. BOMC premier selection.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

YA- Although many books have been written about the history of flight, this one is exceptional in two ways. First, it concentrates on the development of new technologies in a way that young adults can easily understand. Although Boyne gives credit to the courageous test pilots, his real heroes are the engineers who developed the ``leading edge'' of flight since the Wright Brothers' success at Kitty Hawk. Second, the format and illustrations are outstanding. The color reproduction is consistently excellent. A few of the early shots, which were made before the advent of color photography, have been delicately, partially tinted, resulting in evocative images. The Leading Edge captures Boyne's enthusiasm for the beauty of the airplane and the excitement of flight. Rita G. Keeler, St. John's School, Houston
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.