8 Great Books: Summer Reading For Pilots

We look at some terrific recent releases on aviation subjects ranging from engines to flying technique.

Mike Busch on Engines
Mike Busch on Engines
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The article presents a curated list of aviation books for pilots, covering a wide range of topics from technical aircraft maintenance to historical insights and practical flying skills.
  • Featured titles offer deep dives into complex subjects like piston aircraft engine operation and overhaul, the creation of iconic aircraft such as the Douglas DC-3, and the early days of jetliner travel.
  • The selection also includes practical guides for specialized flying environments, such as middle-altitude, mountain, canyon, and backcountry operations, alongside unique perspectives on preparing for flight tests and explaining piloting to non-aviators.
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20 Ways to Fail Your Flight Tes
20 Ways to Fail Your Flight Tes

5. 20 Ways To Fail Your Flight Test
A Practical Guide to Earning Your Notice of Disapproval

By Roger Sharp
Self published
Spiral Bound

Don’t be thrown off by the look and feel of this little gem. How to Fail Your Flight Test, self-published by longtime CFI and FAA designated examiner Roger Sharp, is a gold mine of great advice on taking and passing—yes, passing!—your practical flight test. Presented with a mix of Sharp’s unique brand of acerbic wit and laugh-out-loud sarcasm, How to Fail Your Flight Test takes a complex subject and presents it in its lowest common denominator form by giving practical advice on how to work with (and maybe work) your examiner. In tip #3, for instance, Sharp recommends to those looking to fail their test to not practice giving their answers aloud, while in tip #17 he suggests you never look outside the plane while flying the VFR portion of your test.  These gems, along with many others, will prepare the reader for that FAA test with heaping doses of practical wisdom delivered with a laugh and a smile. Email the author for purchase information at jfjm200@gmail.com.

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