My 6 Favourite Aviation Books

I love to read Aviation Books!

I look forward to hearing what your favourite Aviation books are. Post a comment below with your fav’s and please explain why. Let’s see what Pilots like to read.

Here’s my List:

1. Stick and Rudder by Wolfgang Langewiesche
2. Takeoffs & Landings by Leighton Collins
3. Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook
4. Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Workbook
5. From the Ground Up
6. POH (Pilot’s Operating Handbook)

Stick and Rudder by Wolfgang Langewiesche
This is my favourite Aviation Book. It was one of my early reads, and I have re-read it several times. With over 250,000 copies in print, this is one of the most popular Pilot books.

Before the days of advanced instruments, navigational aids and glass cockpits, Pilots were trained on the ‘Art of Flying’. Pilots today will benefit from some of these lost techniques from decades ago.

An Explanation of the Art of Flying
Stick and Rudder was written over 60 years ago, but I believe it should be required reading for all student pilots today. It’s all about the Art of Flying, and Wolfgang gives us great insight into becoming a true aviator.

Here’s what you will learn:

• The all important Angle of Attack
• Why airplanes stall, and how to know when you are about to stall
• The landing approach.
• The visual clues an experienced pilot uses to consistently and safely land on the numbers.
• A foolproof method of making a landing approach across obstacles: The Spot that does not move!
• Elevator vs. Throttle. Which controls speed, and which controls climb and descent?
• What is the rudder for? A good pilot knows it’s not for turning the airplane!
• Controlling adverse yaw.
• The paradox of the Glide.
• Point the nose down less steeply, and you will actually descend more steeply.
• Point the nose down more steeply to stretch your glide.
• The secret to a good approach.

Stick and Rudder should be one of the very first books every student pilot reads.

Here are five more aviation books for every pilot.

Takeoffs & Landings by Leighton Collins
This is a classic aviation book by the founder of Air Facts Magazine started back in 1938. Leighton Collins was a pioneer in aviation and a master aviator. His book, Takeoffs & Landings, covers these Crucial Maneuvers and Everything in Between,

The student pilot will learn the essentials and practical tips for taking off and landing safely and skilfully every time. All student pilots struggle with Landings at first, and this book will really help.

Essential Piloting Techniques Explained:

• The ‘Gravity Engine’ and how every pilot can use this for extra power
• Three ways of mastering Crosswind Landings
• Relative and Gradient wind
• Stall and Spin Avoidance
• The dangers of Flying Low and Slow!
• Five different ways of touching down
• The Perfect flight
• And of course, Takeoffs & Landings

Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook
This is the Ultimate Pilot Book, and it’s absolutely my favourite ‘Study Book’ for student pilots. I thoroughly enjoy Rod’s teaching style as he reinforces lessons with pictures and memory aids. Challenging topics such as Types of Airspace are easily digested and mastered. Unique memory aids are used to assist the student pilot with learning and memorizing important regulations and required knowledge for safe piloting.

Rod’s Private Pilot Handbook is a complete information manual by one of aviation’s best known and most humorous teachers. It includes over 1,100 original illustrations and photos to simplify and teach difficult concepts in an easy to understand manner.

Rod’s Pilot Handbook contains what you need to:

• Prepare for the Private Pilot knowledge exam
• Prepare for the Private Pilot practical oral exam
• Refresh for required currency training
• Remain up-to-date as a confident pilot

With this book, pilots and student pilots will enjoy learning the essential knowledge to be a safe and current pilot.

Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Workbook
This is the companion Workbook for Rod’s Private Pilot Handbook. This Workbook is the essential Complement when studying. It contains almost 2,000 Private Pilot Knowledge Exam and general aviation knowledge questions. The questions are organized to follow the layout and order used by Rod’s Private Pilot Handbook.

You need both: Handbook & Workbook
Begin by reading a particular section from the Handbook. Then, open the Workbook and answer the questions relevant to the section you just covered. The questions in the Workbook are organized to follow the presentation of the material in the Handbook. The questions are designed for the FAA Exam in the U.S., but Canadian Student Pilots will learn all the basic concepts to be applied while studying for the Transport Canada Private Pilot written exam.

Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook and Workbook combination will prepare you for the Private Pilot Knowledge Exam, and it will help you understand, and absorb the knowledge necessary for you to fly safely and enjoyably.

From the Ground Up – Millennium Edition
This is the defacto standard used by Private Pilot Ground School courses across Canada. From the Ground Up is required reading for most student pilots and your Ground School Instructor will probably use this as the primary aviation textbook. It’s straight forward and easy to read. The chapters are well organized, and it’s great to read the appropriate chapters before your ground school class each week. This will help introduce you to the necessary concepts and prepare you for fully understanding your ground school class.

Yes, I enjoyed this book, and I strongly recommend it as required reading for all student pilots. However, I do prefer the style, format and memory aids provided in Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook and Workbook pair.

Your POH – Pilot’s Operating Handbook
Let’s be honest here. Your POH is probably one of the most important books you need. Every pilot must know their aircraft limitations, specifications, and proper operating procedures.

The POH is not exactly enjoyable reading, but it’s critical to safe piloting! Before you fly any aircraft, get to know the accompanying POH to properly understand what you need to know for every flight.

POH Includes:

• Overview, General information about your airplane
• Limitations
• Emergency Procedures
• Normal Procedures
• Performance data and charts
• Weight and Balance
• Equipment List
• Airplane and Systems Descriptions
• Handling, Service & Maintenance
• Optional Supplements

So, there are my Top 6 Aviation Books.
I urge all student pilots, pilots, and aviation enthusiasts to stay current with great Aviation reading. Hopefully my list is a good start.

Happy Reading, and Happy Landings!