First Flight; The Wright Brothers and the Invention of the Airplane

Heppenheimer, T. A.

ISBN 10: 0471401242 / ISBN 13: 9780471401247

Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc, Hoboken, NJ, 2003

About this Item

[6], 394 pages. Illustrations. Notes. Bibliography. Index. Minor DJ wear. Minor edge wear. Thomas A. Heppenheimer (Jan. 1, 1947- Sept. 9, 2015) was a major space advocate and researcher in planetary science, aerospace engineering, and celestial mechanics. His books recommended by the National Space Society. Thomas A. Heppenheimer held a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from the University of Michigan, and was an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He held research fellowships in planetary science at California Institute of Technology and at the Max Planck Institute in Heidelberg, Germany. He had been a free-lance writer since 1978. He has written extensively on aerospace, and the history of technology. He was a frequent contributor to American Heritage and its affiliated publications, and to Air & Space. He had written 300 published articles for various publications. An aviation expert uncovers the brilliance behind the first successful flight of an engine-powered plane, In the centennial year of the Wright Brothers' first successful flight, acclaimed aviation writer T. A. Heppenheimer reexamines what Wilbur and Orville Wright achieved. In First Flight, he debunks the popular assumption that the Wrights were simple mechanics who succeeded by trial and error, demonstrating instead that they were true engineering geniuses. Heppenheimer presents the background that made possible the work of the Wrights and examines the work of Samuel P. Langley, a serious rival. He places their work within a broad historical context, emphasizing their contributions after 1903 and their convergence with ongoing aeronautical work in France.

Seller Inventory # 78170

Bibliographic Details

• Title: First Flight; The Wright Brothers and the Invention of the Airplane
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc, Hoboken, NJ
• Publication Date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0471401242
• ISBN 13: 9780471401247
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: First Printing [Stated].
• Condition: Very good
• Dust Jacket Condition: Very good
• Seller catalogs:
  • Aviation

About this title

Synopsis

An aviation expert uncovers the brilliance behind the first successful flight of an engine-powered plane
In the centennial year of the Wright Brothers' first successful flight, acclaimed aviation writer T. A. Heppenheimer reexamines what Wilbur and Orville Wright achieved. In First Flight, he debunks the popular assumption that the Wrights were simple mechanics who succeeded by trial and error, demonstrating instead that they were true engineering geniuses. Heppenheimer presents the background that made possible the work of the Wrights and examines the work of Samuel P. Langley, a serious rival. He places their work within a broad historical context, emphasizing their contributions after 1903 and their convergence with ongoing aeronautical work in France.
T. A. Heppenheimer (Fountain Valley, CA) has written extensively on aerospace, business, and the history of technology. His many books include Turbulent Skies: The History of Commercial Aviation (0-471-10961-4), Countdown: A History of Space Flight (0-471-14439-8), and A Brief History of Flight: From Balloons to Mach 3 and Beyond (0-471-34637-3), all from Wiley.

About the Author

T. A. HEPPENHEIMER is a well-known author who has published extensively on aviation and aerospace, business, and the history of technology. Among his many books are Turbulent Skies: The History of Commercial Aviation, Countdown: A History of Space Flight, and A Brief History of Flight, all available from Wiley. He holds a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from the University of Michigan and is an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Aerospace.