Non-Academic Books Every Aerospace Engineer Should Read

AI Thread Summary
Key non-academic books recommended for aerospace engineers include "Skunk Works" by Ben R. Rich and "Kelly: More Than My Share of It All" by Clarence L. Johnson, both highlighting significant contributions to aviation. Other notable mentions are "To Engineer is Human" by Henry Petroski, which discusses the role of failure in design, and "Where No Man Has Gone Before" by William D. Compton, detailing Apollo lunar missions. Participants express enthusiasm for historical perspectives on aerodynamics, with books like "Aerodynamics - Selected Topics in the Light of their Historical Development" by Theodre von Karman being highlighted for their engaging content. The thread emphasizes the importance of these readings in broadening understanding and appreciation of aerospace engineering beyond technical textbooks.
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Non-academic books every aerospace engineer should read:

You MUST read this book. It should be required reading at any school!
skunk_works_150.jpg

[1] Skunk Works: A Personal Memoir of My Years of Lockheed (Paperback): by Ben R. Rich (Author), Leo Janos (Author)


http://www.sci.fi/~fta/kelly-bk.jpg​
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[2]Kelly: More Than My Share of It All [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback):by Clarence L. "Kelly" Johnson (Author), Maggie Smith (Contributor)

Please add any good (non-technical) books to the list you may have read!
 
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I am currently reading this book for my pleasure:

theHelicopterTh.jpg

It's about the design requirements of helicopers and rotor systems. It's a good book, but a bit technical. It's not an engineering textbook, but you may find it somewhat hard to follow if you don't know engineering becuase it has lots of equations in it with no derivations provided.

[1] https://www.amazon.com/dp/0966955315/?tag=pfamazon01-20


(Mine is signed by the author, as he was my taught my graduate class in Helicopter Aerodynamics. )
 
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I've given this book a read... its amazing..

Aerodynamics - Selected Topics in the Light of their Historical Development, By Theodre von Karman
Cornell University Press, Ithaca, 1954

Published in 1954, this book is a collection of lectures by Theodre Von Karman. The book fancies about reaching moon and supersonic flight, while explaining the underlying basics of Aerodynamics in a very lucid and simple manner. A must read for all of us!
 
ABHIdAVIATOR said:
I've given this book a read... its amazing..

Aerodynamics - Selected Topics in the Light of their Historical Development, By Theodre von Karman
Cornell University Press, Ithaca, 1954

Published in 1954, this book is a collection of lectures by Theodre Von Karman. The book fancies about reaching moon and supersonic flight, while explaining the underlying basics of Aerodynamics in a very lucid and simple manner. A must read for all of us!

I think this will be my next read, thanks! :approve:
 
[I know it's old]

Skunk Works is one of my favorite nonfiction books (I've been made fun of for referring to it too often here...). I didn't know Kelly Johnson had a book though - I must read it!
 
I'm reading this book...

Fundamentals of Aerodynamics by John D. Anderson

It's very good book!:smile:
 
For some reason I can't delete this.
 
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Helen Argyriou said:
I'm reading this book...

Fundamentals of Aerodynamics by John D. Anderson

It's very good book!:smile:

Edit my last post: No, I said non-techincal books (sorry). I thought you meant his other book "A History of Aerodynamics".

No textbooks allowed (We could make another thread on technical texbooks though).

I ran into Dr. Anderson last week at the Smithsonian and we talked for a bit. I'll have to get him to sign his Aerodynamics book for me.
 
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That's hardly a non-academic book! That is a widely used textbook in many first year aero courses.
 
  • #10
My apologise..I confused the non-academical books with technical..I'm so sorry!:frown:

As the non-academical book i was reading this:

Where No Man Has Gone Before: A History of Apollo Lunar Exploration Mission
by William D. Compton

I bought it from amazon.com..:biggrin:
 
  • #11
Really. It's no big deal. Sorry if I seemed too harsh.
 
  • #12
Understanding Flight [intro aerodynamics] - D. Anderson, S. Eberhardt (McGraw-Hill, 2001)

Very good book. This book can be read at any pace and especially aimed at non-technical readers and keeps everything basic.

This book fueled my interests in aircrafts and aerodynamics in general.
 
  • #13
I don't like the format of PF for this thread (It doesn't read well), so I made my own website.

http://aerospaceindustrynews.webs.com/

You can find the booklist there. So I will post updates here when I add more to my website.
 
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  • #14
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  • #15
I recently finished reading the book: To Engineer is Human: The role of Failure in Successful Design

I have a review of it on my website:

http://aerospaceindustrynews.webs.com/apps/blog/show/2481062-to-engineer-is-human

Also, I have mention a past book I read: Lockheed SR-71 Operations in the far East

here: http://aerospaceindustrynews.webs.com/nonacademicbooks.htm

I've ordered the book, Lockheed Stealth...looking forward to getting it in a day or two.
 
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  • #17
"Sled Driver: Flying the World's Fastest Jet," by Brian Shul.

"Bat 21," by Iceal Hambleton.

I've read them both, and have autographed copies by the authors!
 
  • #18
Semi-technical, semi-academic e-book

FROM ENGINEERING SCIENCE TO BIG SCIENCE
http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4219/Contents.html

The NACA and NASA Collier Trophy

Research Project Winners

Edited by Pamela E. Mack

The NASA History Series

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 "Engineering Science and the Development of the NACA Low-Drag Engine Cowling," James R. Hansen
Chapter 2 "Lew Rodert, Epistemological Liaison, and Thermal De-Icing at Ames," Glenn E. Bugos
Chapter 3 "Research in Supersonic Flight and the Breaking of the Sound Barrier,"John D. Anderson, Jr.
Chapter 4 "The Transonic Wind Tunnel and the NACA Technical Culture," Steven T. Corneliussen
Chapter 5 "The Whitcomb Area Rule: NAGA Aerodynamics Research and Innovation," Lane E. Wallace
Chapter 6 "The X-15 Hypersonic Flight Research Program: Politics and Permutations at NASA," W.D. Kay
Chapter 7 "The Collier as Commemoration: The Project Mercury Astronauts and the Collier Trophy," Jannelle Warren-Findley
Chapter 8 "Managing America to the Moon: A Coalition Analysis," W. Henry Lambright
Chapter 9 "The Human Touch: The History of the Skylab Program," Donald C. Elder
Chapter 10 "LANDSAT and the Rise of Earth Resources Monitoring," Pamela E. Mack
Chapter 11 "Voyager: The Grand Tour of Big Science," Andrew,J. Butrica
Chapter 12 "The Space Shuttle's First Flight: STS-1," Henry C. Dethloff
Chapter 13 "More Favored than the Birds: The Manned Maneuvering Unit in Space," Anne Millbrooke
Chapter 14 "The Advanced Turboprop Project: Radical Innovation in a Conservative Environment,"
Mark D. Bowles and Virginia P. Dawson
Chapter 15 "Return to Flight: Richard H. Truly and the Recovery from the Challenger Accident," John M. Logsdon
Chapter 16 "The Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Mission," Joseph N. Tatarewicz
 
  • #19
Just finished reading the book: "Lockheed Stealth", by Bill Sweetman and mentioned by Fred in a past thread. Overall, a good book!

Also, Dan Raymer just came out with a new book about his life as an aerospace engineer. I've got my copy already, go get yours!
 
  • #20
I have and read both books you mentioned in Post #1.

I would like to suggest the following book called "MUSTANG DESIGNER: Edgar Schmued and the P-51" by Ray Wagner I read it approximately 20 years and found it very interesting. It is a biography of Edgar Schmued and discusses the Developmental History for both the P-51 Mustang and the F-86.

Enjoy
 
  • #21
Gannet said:
I have and read both books you mentioned in Post #1.

I would like to suggest the following book called "MUSTANG DESIGNER: Edgar Schmued and the P-51" by Ray Wagner I read it approximately 20 years and found it very interesting. It is a biography of Edgar Schmued and discusses the Developmental History for both the P-51 Mustang and the F-86.

Enjoy

Thanks for the book shout out, I'll definitely check it out: a truly iconic airplane! :approve:
 
  • #22
I recently rewatched a show on HBO called "From the Earth to the Moon". One of the episodes focuses on the design and testing of the Apollo lunar module (LM) by engineers at Grumman Aviation. Very interesting stuff.

The guy who oversaw the lunar module project wrote a book about his experience. Here's the link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1588342735/?tag=pfamazon01-20
 
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