Review by Mark Twain:

Great book for new pilots thru cfi. full color graphics updated materail. with this book you do not need any other private book materil like Jepson or asa.

Review by Terry H. Irwin:

After reading this book, I have to say that it seems that Colonel Ruffin has a winner! This is a perfect mixture of fact, humor, mystery, and excitement. It seems to accurately portray the history of aviation and those who lived it. I definitely recommend it as a great read!

When is Colonel Ruffin going to grace us with another work??

Review by Michael OConnor:

Potomac Books really hit paydirt with their ‘Most Wanted’ series. Thus far Potomac has cranked out about two dozen titles including basketball, wrestling, Hollywood, espionage, dogs and NASCAR. Having an lifelong interest in aviation history and trivia, I was interested to see Steven Ruffin’s book with its aviation theme. I have to say it’s one neat little item, a real treasure trove of fascinating facts and amazing stories.

Ruffin’s book is subtitled ‘The Top 10 Book of Winged Wonders, Lucky Landings and Other Aerial Oddities.’ Within its 313 pages you’ll find dozens of top 10 lists arranged under the topics of Notable Flights; Fantastic Flying Machines; Aeronauts, Aviators and Others in High Places; Flying to Kill – Aerial Combat; Flying the Skies, Friendly and Otherwise; Aviation in Print and on Screen; and Miscellaneous Aeronautica.

That breakdown translates to lists of the heaviest airplanes ever flown, worst air disasters, helicopter milestones, elite air combat units, busiest airports, aviation controversies and so on. Here’s some samples from various lists: The #1 pilot with the best stuff – Jimmy Doolittle; the #1 Unforgettable Aircraft Name – Spirit of St. Louis; the #1 Silver Screen Air Classic – Twelve O’Clock High; and, lastly, the #1 Naughtiest Airplane Nickname – The Baltimore Whore (the B-26).

The entries are generally accurate though I came across several clunkers in various air combat lists (i.e. The exact circumstances of Mick Mannock’s death aren’t “still a mystery.” He was downed by ground fire. LBJ’s June 1942 combat mission was a complete hoax and has been widely discredited. Pappy Boyington’s total of 28 victories is no longer accepted because he inflated his score with the AVG).

Despite the occasional hiccup, I enjoyed Ruffin’s book and recommend it to all aviation buffs and trivia nuts. It’s an interesting, informative and sometimes funny trip through the history of flight.

Review by Richard T. Leitner:

Mr. McElroy’s book has some neat math shortcuts for common aviation problems, but it is a pretty skinny book and not worth near the asking price. I’ve been an airline pilot for about 5 years, and a military pilot for about 10 before that. I’ll admit that there were 2 or 3 shortcuts I didn’t know (though less that I’ll actually use!), but the prevailing comment among other airline pilots I showed it to were “You can tell the author is an airline pilot!” as they pointed to the + price. I agree, this book is worth or tops. . .I could summarize all the shortcuts in a page or two. As for interview prep, you’re better off using one of the books written specically for that purpose.

Review by :

This book is over rated! It comes across as giving the pilot all these tips and formula�s but falls way short on the task. First off, the typeset fills only half the page making the book in reality about 25 pages. It goes on to show you basic math found in any private pilot instruction guide. FH/C temp conversion, subtracting military time, and RVR which is all the same as in the NOS/Jep charts and Ops manuals for the plane you fly. The second half of the book has the times tables, subtraction tables, and division tables. He put fuel dump calculations in along with wet runway computations, this is not only a waste for pilots flying anything short of a jet, but worthless due to FMS and EFIS on bigger airplanes not to mention the F/E sitting sideways behind the captain. In short the book is outdated. finding reciprocals, compass turns to a heading, and ANDS are all in the flight manuals. In short this book fails to teach much. It is not worth the [price] that is for sure.

Review by Dave English:

This is an amazing great big book. There are hundreds of big glossy books of planes and aviation history in bookstores, and with the 100 years of powered controlled flight anniversary, there will no doubt be a few more bowing the shelves. But if you want to buy just one, say for a present, then this is the one to buy. It is balanced, it is complete, it has pictures and text in harmony — and it is not slapped together like some other slightly embarrassing flying tomes.

Over 400 pages perfect for a youngster, yet written well enough for any adult. Is it perfect? No. But 400 pages of perfection would be hard. I would have put in RJ’s rather than the F-28 in the current small airliner section, but complaining about a couple of details should not hide the fact that this is one big cool book. Whatever more detailed specialized books about flying you get later, you will not need to get a great big glossy exciting celebration of flight book again. You’ll already have one of the best.

Review by K. A. Stevenson:

The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s “Flight: 100 Years of Aviation,” by R.G. Grant and John R. Dailey LOOKS like a “coffee table book.” It is SO much more than that – although at over 400 pages and approximately 1000 magnificent photographs, it certainly would fit the bill. It is worth every penny of it’s cost.As the female Vice-President of two small aviation restoration companies, I collect a lot of aviation books. This is absolutely the BEST historical view on aviation. The information and photographs that it provides on early aviation are the best that I have seen. It features memorabilla as well as photos of aviation’s many pilots/inventors. Almost all of the photographs were new to me and not simply the same photos shown in all the other books. Later models are glossed over a little more, but I imagine that the book would have been over 1000 pages if they had gone into much more detail. This book is meant to serve as an overview of aviation’s history. Most aviation history books simply feature the planes. This book details so MUCH more. It discusses black boxes, ejection seats, posters, newspaper clippings and much more; truly giving a well-rounded view of aviation. If you are a pilot or simply interested in aviation – or if you know a young person who is interested in aviation….THIS is the book to buy them. The photographs ALONE are worth purchasing this book!

Review by Cessna:

The Aviation Weather Services Handbook is a commercial reprint of the AC 00-45E published by the Federal Aviation Administration and National Weather Service. It is outdated now. The new and updated AC 00-45F was published by the FAA & NWS is dated October 1, 2007 and is available for download on the FAA and NWS web sites. I’m sure a commercial version of the new edition will be available soon.

Review by Steven W. Reynard:

Except for a new cover and font, this is word-for-word identical to the 1999 edition. There’s no need to upgrade. Eight years and not one thing in weather services has changed? At least the publisher could have updated the maps! Like most FAA products, it is extremely dry reading, but if you want the facts with a minimum of fluff, it’s a good resource.

Review by Frequent Flyer:

This is exactly the same as the FAA’s “Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge,” (FAA-H-8083-25) but this is a commercial reprint by Skyhorse Publishing and it uses better paper (thicker/glossier) than the FAA’s printed version, so I highly recommend this one.

Review by Frederick C. Boyns:

The FAA released a newer edition of this book in June 2008

Look for FAA-8083-25A Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge.

Review by Midwest Book Review:

Far before it became the quickest way to get around, aviation was a renegade industry filled with thrill seekers. “Capt. Jepp and the Little Black Book: How Barnstormer & Aviation Pioneer Elrey B. Jeppesen Made the Skies Safer for Everyone” is a look at the man who began to take steps to bring the industry away from the daredevil and deliver it to the mass consumer. The tale of a former aviation daredevil turned practical, “Capt. Jepp and the Little Black Book: How Barnstormer & Aviation Pioneer Elrey B. Jeppesen Made the Skies Safer for Everyone” is a riveting story for aviation fans and community library aviation collections alike.

Review by Michael J. McKee:

Written by great friends of Capt. Jepp, this book reveals the inner truth behind his life and accomplishments and tells a story for the ages. In a “new world” of information and technology, his tale reminds us that innovation is rooted in a passion for life, the necessities of discovery, and the wonder of the possibilities we can find in our selves and others. Pilots worldwide navigate their way on the coat tails of Capt. Jepp, who gave to his time what the Internet gives to ours — a pathway for commerce, exploration, and even fun.

Some notable reviews:

“Every pilot will enjoy this story of aviation pioneer, entrepreneur, and businessman Elrey Jeppesen, who literally made the skies safer for everyone.” – Stephen Coonts

“Capt. Jepp may have been an unknown giant in aviation, but not longer. What a great story!” – Curtis Lee Brown, Space Shuttle Mission Commander

“And so, each time I climb into a cockpit, I must tip my cap to Captain Jepp and all the other intrepid flyers that went before me and give them silent thankds for a job well done. I trust you will do the same as you turn the pages of this magnificent journey through Captain Elrey B. Jeppensen’s life story.”

– From the Foreword by Erik Lindberg, grandson of Charles A. Lindberg

Review by Bob Fitzsimmons:

This book is definitely a must-have if you want to learn how to fly. It covers all aspects of piloting airplanes in a very precise way, with hundreds of illustrations to help with the descriptions. It’s good for more than just amateur pilots as well, since it was only recently released by the FAA.

Review by Dr. William Morse:

I find I reference this text numerous times with each student pilot I work with. It is concise and accurate and a fine tool for teaching as well as learning. It might help to know that many of the questions asked on both the Aeronautical Knowledge Tests and the FAA Oral come directly from this book. Add Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge: FAA-H-8083-25, December 2003 (FAA Handbooks series) (a new version) and you have an excellent start to a training library.

Review by :

This book is comprehensive, yet small enough to fit perfectly in your flight kit or case. The first chapter explains the meanings of thousands of initials and abbreviations. The second chapter makes weather briefings easy to read. Chapter 4-7 includes additional codes and symbol (transponder codes, military designations, slang, and memory joggers). This is a one of a kind book which every pilot should carry in their flight case!

Review by Brad P. Mazzie:

This was a great referance tool for most of the abbreviations used in aviation… only dissapointment was that there were no airport codes in the book!