Book Description

Customer Reviews (14)

Brand new
I ordered new books og that's what I've got. My books are in mint condition.

Principles of Helicopter Flight
I purchased this book as an optional book for a helicopter theory class, knowing nothing about helicopters going into the class.Since, I have found this book an essential read to supplement the FAA's rotorcraft flying handbook.Principles of Helicopter Flight delves deep into the theory of helicopter operation more than the FAA version, with chapters broken up well for each subject.It also follows a very logical, simple format so that people not familiar with basic physics concepts can pick up the book and learn everything they need to know.Overall, it is the perfect text for new pilots and veterans alike.Engineers will have to use it only as reference, as it does not delve too deep into the equations of flight theory and aerodynamics.Principles of Helicopter Flight

Helicopter Flight Backgrounds for the layman
The book tries to explain the physics of helicopter flight to people without any background in mathematics or physics. A lot of the ideas that could be written down in a simple formula are explained over and over again in prose. So if you have some physics or math background you will find the text quite annoying.
If you are looking for a more in depth treatment of the topic take a look at Helicopter Theory by Wayne Johnson, or Principles of Helicopter Aerodynamics by J. Gordon Leishman.

However most laymen should find the text quite understandable, although the desire of the author to make it easy to read, renders the text quite inaccurate.

A great work,but not for the beginners...
This is an outstanding book which presents principles of helicopter flight and depicts the theories with figures.Moreover,there are quiz pages at the end of the each section.As a helicopter pilot,i assure you that you are going to learn much from this book.However,it is not for the beginners.The book requires basic understanding of numbers,i.e maths,physics and aerodynamics.After having some hours with helicopters,this book is going to improve your decision making process and make you understand precisely how a helo tries to fly.

Good read but too sophesticated
I was looking for a more practical manual about helicopter flying. This book is a very good one but keeps repeating the same idea over and over and goes to very academic details......the illustrations are very good.

If you want to start from the zero point, this book is for you, but if you need a more practical book about helicopters, then look for another title ... Read more

Book Description
An introduction to helicopter flying techniques, many of which are difficult to master, as well as a discussion of emergency procedure, human factors, advanced operations and even a section on careers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Great for beginners -- needs some update
If you're like me, and I know I am, you haven't attended any flight training yet. If this is correct, you are the target audience for this book. It is well-written, in a conversational style that makes all the theory of the early chapters and the emergency procedures of the later chapters understandable on a first reading. I had just applied for the Army's Aviation Warrant Officer program when I ordered this book. I had slogged halfway through the Army's Fundamentals of Flight field manual when this arrived from Amazon. The theory matched point for point, which shouldn't be surprising since Mr. Padfield writes that he learned rotary aviation from the Army when he was an Air Force pilot.

The two major differences that make spending money on this book preferable to reading the free Army manual are: 1. the manual was apparently written for those who have already learned how to fly for the Army, and includes so many acronyms and abbreviations a complete beginner must constantly stop reading to look up the meanings; and 2. Mr. Padfield includes tips and tricks and helpful hints gained from many years and 9000+ hours of flying helicopters, all effortlessly included in the text giving the impression that he is sitting in the cockpit next to you helping you out.

The book includes many illustrations, photos and diagrams to assist the reader in better visualizing the ideas brought forth in the text. Also, as the text verbally illustrates the concepts, the repetitive nature of some of the motions helps the reader retain the knowledge (i.e., pulling up the collective and twisting the throttle combine to adjust power... since those motions are necessary for most operations, any time he mentions another operation, he verbally illustrates by mentioning how to adjust each control).

The only reason I couldn't rate the book 5 stars was the photography. The photos are all black and white, and by today's printing standards they are low quality. Since most of the pictures are mainly for general interest (i.e., various full-body shots of helicopters common in the 90s when the book was written), that's not normally an issue. The problem for me came when he was describing the controls and showing a low-quality, too-small grayscale photo that's not very clear. Also, it's been long enough since the book came out (at least a decade); some of the new gizmos he mentions would be available or common soon should have been implemented by now and even newer ideas brought out. An additional chapter updating these thoughts would be nice.

In general though, the theory is the same, making the book stand up well over the years. Of course, if you're already a pilot, I suspect you won't pick up much if anything from this book, aside from an appreciation for Mr. Padfield's writing style. Although some of the tips, particularly ones having to do with emergency procedures, may help some.

It's an excellent book (other than the photos), and I highly recommend it to the novice.

A Great Pre-Beginner Book
In other words, it's a great book to read if you're thinking about learning to fly helicopters and want to learn more of what it's all about. Don't confuse this with a real flight training manual -- it falls far short of that. But it is a fun read that will make someone interested in flying helicopters more eager to get started. It'll also give you the information you need to better understand what's going on during those first few training flights.

For the beginner
Perfect for the beginner.Lets you know in plain English what flying is all about and what you have to know to do it.Goes beyound laws and theory and explains why things work instead of makeing you memorize.I only gave it 4 stars because it needs to be updated from the 80's.

Great Beginner Book
This book immediately draws you in and teaches you the basics. The first few chapters are really easy to read and understand. It does get harder at the end but by then you're hooked. I read this one before moving on the FAA manual. If I had started with the FAA manual I would have been completely lost.

Learning to fly helicopters
Learning to fly helicopters is an undertaking unlike no other. It is more of a calling, actually. And a huge commitment of time, money, and energy. Mr. Padfield understands this. He knows what it feels like to learn, get scared, become frustrated, and he helps the reader through it all with warm humor and inspiration. The text is clear and readable with many helpful illustrations. This is a great book to read as you study, to refer to as a beginning pilot, or to refresh your memory with. This book is unlike the majority of instructional volumes which are very dry and where the authors either talk down to the reader or lapse into technical jargon. Learning to fly helicopters is fun to read and very helpful
It also has lots of cool pictures. ... Read more

Book Description

Acquire the Life-Saving Skills Needed to Eliminate orReduce Most Helicopter Accidents

A vital resource for pilots, helicopter enthusiasts, and aircraft maintenance technicians, Fatal Traps for Helicopter Pilots analyzes all aspects of helicopter accidents, including flight basics, engineering, meteorology, flight training, and human factors. This life-saving guide shows how proper preparation can help prevent accidents by addressing causes such asaerodynamic problems, mechanical failures, poor loading, mid-air collisions, and more.

Filled with case studies and first-hand accounts of accidents, the book organizes accident types by primary causes, presenting proven methods for eliminating or reducing the possibility of each type. Greg Whyte, anex commercial helicopter pilot and professional aviation writer, draws on his own flying experiences and those of other flight veterans to provide a wealth of practical information and safety tips that are essential for everyone who flies, maintains or crews in helicopters. Filled with over 100 helpful illustrations, Fatal Traps for Helicopter Pilots enables readers to:

• Identify and address the common causes of helicopter accidents
• Explore in-depth examples of accident scenarios
• Examine the technical details of accident causes
• Review case studies and first-hand accounts of accidents
• Learn from the plain-English notes on avoidance and recovery

Customer Reviews (8)

Fatal Traps for Helicopter Pilots
Good book for any helicopter pilot.My husband crashed his helicopter last summer, luckily he survived but the ship was destroyed.This book helped him get back into flying and learn from his and others experiences.As his wife, I liked the book also.

Christmas Present
My daughter's boyfriend requested this book for Christmas. I was very happy to find it and receive it so quickly. It is exactly what he wanted! Thank you Amazon!

A Life Saver ForHelicopter Pilots
WOW!! I am a Helicopter Pilot w/just over 200hrs logged.This book has so much life saving information on what could happen to you when you don't cross all your " T's " .This book is so easy to read , its perfect for students & professional Helicopter Pilots.If you don't want to hear the truth about what could happen to you,then this book is not for you. I can't tell you enough how I wish that all Helicopter flight schools and the FAA should make this book manatory to read.This book could SAVE YOUR LIFE.

Good Idea
First off, the idea of dissecting accidents to learn what/what not to do is a great idea and something that rotorcraft pilots definitely miss out on--Whyte should be praised for taking the initiative to do this. On the downside, too much of the book is just raw accident reports (or Whyte's summary of them) that offer either the most basic details or minutiae that makes sense only to the manufacturer's engineers. At some points it's frustrating to read through these not knowing where they're going, or trying to understand technical details only to end a chapter without getting any insight from them. Whyte could have vastly improved this book by taking the time to cut through the crap in these reports and focus on the details relevant to the point he's looking at, although the page count would have been much smaller...

On the flip side, the value in this book comes from:
1/ It is specific to helicopter flight and operations
2/ Whyte's sorting thru all the accident reports that illustrate all the bad stuff you read about in your training. In addition, some (but not all) of the illustrations and explanations go far beyond what you'll find in other books (eg, the FAA's book), making it a good complement for what you'll need during your training. For example, Whyte's book has the best explanation of VRS/SWP that I've seen.

I would have liked to see more focus on R22-specific issues (the SFAR 73 accidents) and a chapter on personnel safety at landing sites would have been a nice addition. Operation-specific hazards (eg, long-lining, operations over water or dense forest), discussion of the relative risks in different ships, and an analysis of how a situation could have been averted or recovered would have made this book a grand slam. Don't get me wrong, all student pilots should read this book at some point in their training, but I hope Whyte will significantly improve the content in later editions.

An excellent book for Helo Pilots
Well,i had been looking for a book related to helicopter accidents and causes until i saw "Fatal Traps For Helicopter Pilots".The dramatic accident rate of helicopter operations always took my attention and made me ponder over the subject.This book gives vast information of helicopter aerodynamics and inspects the accident "cause" and "result" logic,rather than connect the dots theory.It does not matter if you are a novice or a veteran pilot,you had better have a look at the Fatal Traps For Helicopter Pilots,because i am sure that you would find something from yourself in this book.
Bottom line;Helo pilots must read this book in order to save lives,because the experince which is the most valuable asset in aviation world comes to you with a reasonable cost.
... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (7)

Comprehensive Textbook

This is a comprehensive textbook which covers in detail most of what an aeronautical engineering graduate interested in this subject will find useful and handy. This is not a book for the novice but for those with good engineering and mathematics background seeking in-depth knowledge of the helicopter design, rotary wing aerodynamics, stability and control, helicopter performance and many more.

For the target audience, the book is well written with clear explanations and sufficient detail.

The book has stood the test of time (having been published in 1980) although it can benefit from an update to take into account the latest helicopter designs.

Helicopter Theory
OK for a reference book, but much too bulky for any classroom. Mr. Johnson would do well to write an abridged addition. There does not appear to be any attempt to start with basic concepts and proceed to more difficult ones. Try to get a copy to review before buying it.

Advanced concepts
This book is quite difficult to understand and the concepts contained in it are quite complicated.With that in mind, and the fact that I did not understand most of it, I can't fairly rate it.I will however warn any potential buyer that a thorough knowledge of Calculus and Matrix Algebra is required to fully understand the text.

Excellent job
I picked up this book with the intent of getting some ideas for physics demonstrations that illustrate the physics of helicopter flight. Also, I was curious as to why helicopters are not made that are three, four, or perhaps ten times the size that they are now, and if chaotic dynamics could be present in helicopters. Over a thousand pages long, this book gave me what I needed and much more. Written for design and mechanical engineers who are involved in helicopter manufacturing, the book could be read profitably by anyone who is curious about the physical principles behind helicopters.

In the introduction to the book, the author defines a helicopter as an aircraft that uses rotating wings to provide lift, propulsion, and control. He then discusses briefly the basic physical principles that a helicopter needs in order to sustain vertical lift, as well as to move translationally. The design engineer must then weigh the factors that enable the helicopter to move against the maintenance and human factors involved in the use of the helicopter for transportation. The rest of the book is then an extremely detailed and fascinating account of the engineering analysis that goes into the design of a succesful helicopter. The author also overviews the history behind the helicopter, beginning with the Chinese rotor, circa 400 B.C. and with the first succesful flight with one passenger, and one meter above the ground, for about one minute, by Breguet-Richet of France in 1907. The author remarks that helicopter engineering currently emphasizes research and development than with invention. This is especially true in the military environment, with the Apache helicopter being a superb example of just how sophisticated a helicopter can be. It will be interesting to see how the technology and design of helicopters will change in the decades ahead. The trend might be towards pilotless flight for delivering military supplies or manufactured goods from one point to another, or perhaps helicopters that can morph into completely vertical or horizontal aircraft as the need arises.

The physics behind vertical flight is described by the author as 'momentum theory', which was developed for marine propellors in the late nineteenth century. As the name implies, this is just an application of the principle of conservation of momentum. The rotor disk of the helicopter feels a thrust created by the action of the air on the helicopter blades. It must therefore exert an equal and opposite force on the air. This forces the velocity of the air in the rotor wake to be opposite in direction to the direction of the thrust. Momentum conservation, energy conservation, and mass conservation then give a relation between the induced power loss and the rotor thrust. The author also gives details on the 'vortex theory', which is based more on fluid dynamical laws of the flow field of the rotor wake. Emphasizing the local aspects, it reduces to momentum theory in appropriate limits. The author also shows how momentum theory applies to the forward flight of the helicopter.

The author also treats helicopter performance analysis, which boils down to determining the power required and available for a range of flight conditions. The rotor forces and power must be calculated, and the author details two methods to do this: the 'force balance method' and the 'energy balance method'. The use of the computer has made this analysis considerably easier for the design engineer of course. The author gives a very interesting overview of helicopter speed limitations and how the helicopter could be landed safely after an engine failure, all of this being analyzed from a physics perspective.

The mathematics of rotating systems is included in the book, along with the differential equations of motion for the rotor blade. The motion of the blade is expanded into a normal mode representation and analyzed using Sturm-Liouville theory. The author though outlines other approaches to the blade dynamics, such as the Lagrangian formulation and the Galerkin method. And also, in spite of the ability of computers to solve for the aeroelastic equations of motion, the author considers their analytical solution for the cases where such solutions can be obtained. One very interesting part of this discussion was that of 'ground resonance', which is a dynamic instability involving the the coupling of the blade lag motion with the in-plane motion of the rotor hub. There is then a resonance between the frequency of the rotor lag motion and the natural frequency of the structure supporting the rotor.

Essential resource for Helicopter Engineering
The title is succinct and accurate: "Helicopter Theory" is a very complete reference on the engineering theory of helicopters.This book is aimed at the aeronautical engineering graduate student orpracticing aeronautical engineer looking to understand helicopteraerodynamics, stability and control, and (to some extent) structuraldynamics.Although the treatment of non-articulated rotors is somewhatskimpy (likely because the book was written in 1980), most other helicoptersubjects are dealt with in great depth and reasonable clarity.Thetreatment of the 90 degree phase shift between rotor pitching and flapping,perhaps THE fundamental concept in understanding helicopters, isparticularly good.A must for anyone seriously working with the detaileddesign and analysis of helicopters. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Book Description

How does a teacher begin to appreciate and tap the rich creative resources of the fantasy world of children? What social functions do story playing and storytelling serve in the preschool classroom? And how can the child who is trapped in private fantasies be brought into the richly imaginative social play that surrounds him?

The Boy Who Would Be a Helicopter focuses on the challenge posed by the isolated child to teachers and classmates alike in the unique community of the classroom. It is the dramatic story of Jason-the loner and outsider-and of his ultimate triumph and homecoming into the society of his classmates. As we follow Jason's struggle, we see that the classroom is indeed the crucible within which the young discover themselves and learn to confront new problems in their daily experience.

Vivian Paley recreates the stage upon which children emerge as natural and ingenious storytellers. She supplements these real-life vignettes with brilliant insights into the teaching process, offering detailed discussions about control, authority, and the misuse of punishment in the preschool classroom. She shows a more effective and natural dynamic of limit-setting that emerges in the control children exert over their own fantasies. And here for the first time the author introduces a triumvirate of teachers (Paley herself and two apprentices) who reflect on the meaning of events unfolding before them.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Master Teacher
I believe the story relayed in this book is truly what the concept of 'no child left behind' could mean with a teacher and wisdom that honors each child for who he/she is, and meets them where they are to invite them into a larger "education".If more of our young children with different abilities could be allowed to live into their stories we might evoke happier endings for them.Vivian Paley;s insight, wisdom and ability to educe young stories has deeply inspired the foundation of my teaching.

The Boy Who Would Be a Helicopter
This book helps teachers to see how important play is, as well as how we each have a voice to tell stories.Children have a great imagination and this book helps to see a glimpse of it.

Book Review of the boy who would be a helicopter
After reading, Vivian Gussin Paley's book, the boy who would be a helicopter, I found it to be a very interesting account of her experiences in teaching young children.In particular, I was really impressed by the way she engaged the children in telling their stories through acting them out, since this not only allowed the children to learn, but also Paley had the chance to learn more about the children through their stories.Of all the children, Paley was primarily focused on a boy named Jason because he was so different than the rest of her children. For example, Jason refused to play with the other children and when Paley tried to get him to join the group his typical response was his helicopter is broken at which point he would rush off to "supposedly' fix it.

What amazed me throughout the book was how Paley continued to encourage Jason to join them in their storytelling and refused to give up on him.In addition, despite Jason's differences Paley never labeled him.Quite honestly, I know teachers who would have labeled or viewed Jason as being a special needs child and wanted him out of their classroom.Yet, Paley was driven to help Jason and he eventually does make tremendous progress in her classroom.Of course, Jason's level of progress would not have occurred without Paley's patience and determination along with a positive learning environment, which sends an important message to teachers.Even at the end of the book, Paley never reveals what Jason's problem is or whether she feels he is in need of some special services.To me, I definitely recommend this book to any educator especially those who work with young children, since I think Paley has a real unique way of working with children and teachers could greatly benefit from reading about her classroom experiences.

Jeff Wagner

December 18, 2002

Book Review of the boy who would be a helicopter
Book Review of the boy who would be a helicopter

After reading, Vivian Gussin Paley's book, the boy who would be a helicopter, I found it to be a very interesting account of her experiences in teaching young children.In particular, I was really impressed by the way she engaged the children in telling their stories through acting them out, since this not only allowed the children to learn, but also Paley had the chance to learn more about the children through their stories.Of all the children, Paley was primarily focused on a boy named Jason because he was so different than the rest of her children. For example, Jason refused to play with the other children and when Paley tried to get him to join the group his typical response was his helicopter is broken at which point he would rush off to "supposedly' fix it.

What amazed me throughout the book was how Paley continued to encourage Jason to join them in their storytelling and refused to give up on him.In addition, despite Jason's differences Paley never labeled him.Quite honestly, I know teachers who would have labeled or viewed Jason as being a special needs child and wanted him out of their classroom.Yet, Paley was driven to help Jason and he eventually does make tremendous progress in her classroom.Of course, Jason's level of progress would not have occurred without Paley's patience and determination along with a positive learning environment, which sends an important message to teachers.Even at the end of the book, Paley never reveals what Jason's problem is or whether she feels he is in need of some special services.To me, I definitely recommend this book to any educator especially those who work with young children, since I think Paley has a real unique way of working with children and teachers could greatly benefit from reading about her classroom experiences.

Jeff Wagner

December 18, 2002

I have a question
Love her story-telling and its relationship to teaching - I use it in my ESL classes.Is Vivian related to the short story writer - Grace Paley? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

My son's favorite book....
My son is 3 1/2 and loves Helicopters, he got this book for Christmas. He loves it (he even takes it to bed to read to his stuffed animals). It's a small (in size) paperback book with realistic images of parts of the helicopter and different types of helicopters, including thier "duties." The book explains everything in general terms that any child can understand. I love it because it's very educational. So, if you have a child who loves helicopters, this is the book for them. ... Read more

Book Description
In this updated edition, the author provides a guide for newcomers and others interested in new developments in the design and manufacture of radio controlled helicopters. This handy book offers all the essential information and fact you need to make the right decisions, taking you through all the stages-from the choice of model and radio to your first flights and finally to basic aerobatics. Contents include: Advantages of flying helicopters. Where Do I begin? Choosing the model. All about engines. Radio systems. Finding your flying sites. Accessories and training aides. Building the model. Installing the radio. Setting up the model. Before your first flights. The day arrives. Hovering, circuits & simple aerobatics. Routine maintenance. After the crash. Scale models. Conclusions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A good basic guide
This is a good basic guide to RC helicopters. Because of its age it has little information specific to electric helicopters so it is more useful to those running nitro helis. But even for electric fliers it has good basic info on setup and flight but don't expect too much.

Out of date and superficial
The book is a very basic guide.I was dissapointed regarding the level of information - very basic, and the dated nature of the information.The book has not been updated since it's first printing and it is way out of date.Only the cover has been re-done to give the impression that it is much newer than it acutally is.
Not Recomended.

more needed
good book for the most part. however, despite it being reprinted in '04, it is really lacking in up-to-date info for anyone considering electric helis as an entrypoint to the hobby. also, the section on flight simulators is woefully inadequate and in no way reflects what is available today (eg G3, XTR etc).

both these two areas have come along in leaps and bounds in the last few years and this book would be more complete if the info were up-to-date. The existence of high-quality simulators with extrememly advanced physics can drastically cut the entrycost for a beginner (i'm talking from experience!) which is an important factor when considering whether or not to take the plunge. that said, it still makes a good read and explains a lot.

for those interested in the electric-path here's the latest beginner's guide: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=439635

A real guide for the beginner
The best thing about this book is that it is really a guide - it gives you all the information you need from the basics, through choosing your first helicopter model to flying and repairing it. After reading it you will feel you know something about this great hobby and be ready to get into it. Plus it's written in understandable and entertaining style so even if you know something about the topic you won't be bored to read about it.
The only drawback is the price - 26 dollars for tiny paperback with only black and white pictures is bit too much, so after you open the package you may think you wasted your money. But only until you start to read it. The text is worth the the price for sure.

New and Improved and a Must-Have
Papillon's book has been revised substantially, but even the old one was a keeper.The new one has more information and less of the risible Anglicisms that peppered the text of the previous edition.

Nick Papillon, an Englishman with a French name (meaning "butterfly," hilarious for someone so involved in model helicopters) has a finely developed sense of what we hobbyists want from a book like this one, and he knows what to leave out, too.Here in San Francisco we have a club, the Flying Goobers, that meets monthly--and in the summer, weekly--at Baker Beach and I would say about forty per cent of our members already own one or both of Nick's handbooks.Sometimes the air is awash with the sound of seagulls and the hovering buzz of our RCs.Indeed sometimes we adjourn somewhere else when the air is too filled with static, etc., too many speedboats patrolling the Bay seem to such the energy right out of the controls.Feels like earthquake weather.

If you want to know about aerobatics, beyond your simple push-pull, up-down "flight patterns," he's got it all down in language that is fairly easy to understand even for the tyro.His chapter, "After the Crash," while sobering enough, is one of those classic, stop feeling sorry for yourself and get out there and do it again sort of pep talks.When I started I didn't know the difference between a transmitter and a receiver, they'd call me the "late great Johnny Ace" with a sneer.Now the shoe is on the other foot as I explain to the newbies why lithium is cheaper in the long run, et cetera, all knowledge I got either from fellow Goobers or from pal Nick's rc handbook. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description
Parenting Styles and the Messages They Sendwritten and told by Jim FayParenting expert and humorous storyteller, Jim Fay, helps you identify your parenting style, then shares practical, stress-free techniques for becoming a consultant parent. Enjoy being a parent again! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

A Brief Synopsis of Love & Logic
I found this book to be enlightening but too brief.I would describe it as a synopsis of Jim Fay's work entitled "Love and Logic".I would use this book in this way: I would share it with someone I am trying to introduce the book "Love & Logic" to.It would be my hope that this would introduce the concepts that they would read about and peak their interest in the book "Love & Logic".

I would not recommend that this book be used in place of "Love & Logic" as it only introduces (or summarizes) the approach taken in "Love & Logic".

I was looking for an additional resource in this book but found it to be merely a summary introduction of "Love & Logic".I will still find it useful but only in using it as a way of getting "Love & Logic" into the hands of readers who I feel would benefit to a greater degree from that book.

Excellent intro to love and logic
As a social worker and mom, I recommend this to anyone willing to accept advice.This is a wonderful little intro to the whole theory.I strongly recommend getting the Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood: Practical Parenting from Birth to Six years to help with really practical ways to apply this parenting philosophy.

A must have for EVERY parent
This is a mini preview of a parenting method that is amazing.Love and Logic WORKS!!It does not matter the age of the child or behavior of the child...ADHD, to sweet angel.I have used this parenting method on my 10 month old and it works.My sister-in-law introduced me to Love & Logic before I was even a parent to start preparing.I read this book over and over again, along with the many other resources Love & Logic provides.Look up the other books and get them, it will be worth every penny...it will be priceless knowledge!!

Funny easy read to help raise responsible, safe kids without all the power struggles.
Not sure what the other reader was talking about.I am an agnostic so I am pretty aware of that kind of thing.I was also a teacher.Not only does Love and Logic work in the classroom but it does amazing things with my kids.I have 2 toddlers and I think the Love and Logic books and videos are an indespensible resource.It seems to me that the previous reviewer was just looking for a forum to rant about something totally unrelated to these books.He also wasn't reviewing this book - I guess some people will actually mislead people to try and get their voice heard.If click on "see my other reviews" under his name you will see that he has reviewed every book in the Love and Logic series with this rhetoric that is based on complete ignorance.Charles Fay and Foster Cline (founders of Love and Logic) are from Evergreen Colorado - not Colorado Springs and have nothing to do with the whole "family first" thing.There is no affiliation whatsoever.Again, not sure what the other reviewer was talking about - but it is a shame that he may turn people away from a resource that is the most effective tool I have come across to raise children who are responsible, able to make choices effectively, have great self-esteem, and to avoid all the arguments and power struggles that come with parenting.

Good Starting Point
If every adult or parent would read this book, they can help being a better parent. I recommend it highly. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

excellant addition to my reference library
Dave Day,s "flying model helicopters" is exactly what I was hoping it would be. I could not be more pleased with the content of this excellant referance book. Anyone interested in flying model helicopters would be well advised to purchase this book. I flew cobra gunships in vietnam, and assumed that I could easily fly model helicopters {WRONG}. This book put me on the right track, and now I am enjoying the best hobby I ever had! ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Best Helo ID book i've ever seen
I'm a Grad Student at the University of Maryland's Alfred Gessow Rotorcraft Center studying Helicopters and this is without a doubt the best Helicopter fact book i have ever seen.I even showed it to one of my professors and he loved it.It is very informative with great photos and diagrams.It also isvery accurate and faithful to history, which can not be said for a lot of these types of books you find.

Buy this book!
This is an excellent overview and history of helicopters.
Very good photography and graphics supplement a comprehensive
text.Anyone looking for a great book on helicopters should
buy this book.

Lots of pictures and lots of errors
This book has many worthwhile images accompanied by a large number of significant errors and pedantic captions. There are also multiple consecutive entries for a given helicopter model, very few of which add anything to the first entry for that model.

This book suffers from extremely sloppy fact checking, incorrect technical explanations, and generally a lackadaisical treatment of a very interesting subject.

There are plenty of other well researched and accurate books on helicopters available. Don't waste your time on this one. ... Read more

Product Description
"This story tells, in clear detail, how Sikorsky Aircraft developed, tested, modified, and produced one of the most successful helicopters in the world. Written by the man considered to be the father of the Black Hawk, Ray Leoni explains how Sikorsky used innovative designs with the right advanced technologies to meet the Armyís stringent specifications for aircraft performance, survivability and reliability. With its creative Black Hawk design, Sikorsky won an uphill, highly-contested battle for one of the worldís largest helicopter programs which reestablished the company as a leader in the world community of helicopter producers.Black Hawk variants have been put in service by every branch of the US Military and by over 24 countries around the world accumulating over 5 million flight hours. Through its combat service in the campaigns of Granada, Panama, Somalia, Afghanistan and Iraq, the Black Hawk has demonstrated unprecedented mission versatility and survivability and proven itself to be an outstanding war-fighting machine that will serve for a half century or longer. In the best tradition and vision of Igor Sikorsky, Black Hawks are performing world-wide rescue and humanitarian missions saving countless lives and providing relief from natural and manmade disasters to thousands of people across the globe.

The Army program began in 1972 with the issuance of Requests for Proposals for the Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System to the U.S. helicopter industry. Both Boeing Vertol and Sikorsky were awarded contracts to design and build prototype Black Hawks for Army side-by-side evaluation. Those awards set off an intense 4-year competition between the two companies that culminated in the final production selection in 1976. That competition focused on developing the best possible helicopter to offer for production selection by the Army following a 7-month fly off evaluation. During this critical evaluation, a night-time crash occurred of one of Sikorskyís three prototypes with 14 Army personnel aboard. This book shows the cause and results of that crash and describes how its consequences actually strengthened Sikorskyís competitive position. It also describes in considerable technical detail the problems encountered by Sikorsky during prototype development in vibration, speed performance, maneuverability and handling qualities and how they were solved in time for the production award. Many of the key people responsible for the success of the Black Hawk program are identified throughout this book.

Readers will benefit from the unique insights into the challenges of helicopter development as well as successful management strategies presented in this book." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

BLACKHAWK A WORLD CLASS HELICOPTER
An exceptional book of Program Management for a complicated hi-tech aerospace product from R&D through Production, Delivery and deverse customer use.Excellent detail of problems encountered and solutions including understandable technical data with graphics. A book that will stay in a personal library and revisted many times. ... Read more

Book Description
"In 1963…there was no way I could have known, sitting in a classroom on that beautiful campus in Ohio, that by raising my hand I would be going to war in Vietnam and that I would see things, hear things and do things that most people cannot imagine."—James Joyce.

The author was drawn into the United States Army through ROTC, and went through training to fly helicopters in combat over Vietnam. His experiences are notable because he flew both Huey "Slicks" and Huey "Gunships": the former on defense as he flew troops into battle, and the latter on offense as he took the battle to the enemy. Through this book, the author relives his experiences flying and fighting, with special attention given to his and other pilots' day-to-day lives—such as the smoke bombing of Disneyland, the nickname given to a United States Army-sponsored compound for prostitution. Some of the pilots Joyce served with survived the war and went on to have careers with commercial airlines, and many were killed. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Ratings from a woman
As a woman reader I thoroughly enjoyed this book.I learned so much in this book, about flying, Vietnam, rats (UGH) I knew it was hard over there but didn't really realize some of the hardships till I read this book.The author's writing is very easy to understand, you don't need a dictionary beside you, and the humour was great.You got some really good laughs and some sadness also. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

Introduction to U.S. helicopter warfare in South-Vietnam
Should you consider reading only one book about the U.S. helicopter pilots in South-Vietnam that bravely fought almost 40 years ago, then, "Pucker Factor 10" is the best choice.
Mr. James Joyce there flew the two most used types: "slicks" and "gunships" thus covering two major aspects of the tactical helicopter warfare successfully used in SEA. This is what this book tells you.

Excellent Read
I had to choose a war memoir for a term paper this semester in my english class...and I was very happy that I chose to read Pucker Factor 10.The book is very enlightening, and an interesting read.I found myself always WANTING to read more.James Joyce is a wonderful writer andhe reveals emotions and specifics of war that you dont even realize.I highly suggest this book to everyone.I normally dont read memoirs like this but after reading his I want to read more!

A Must Read
James Joyce has written a truly excellent book. Mr. Joyce has successfully included every human emotion possible. His real life experiences are a combination of both desperate hours and uplifting moments, with a side of unmistakable humor. I would recommend this book to anyone remotely interested in the Vietnam era. Definately a MUST READ.

War story from a human angle
I'm not normally a reader of non-fiction war stories, especially in first person, but "Pucker Factor 10" caught my attention from the beginning all the way to the very end.Joyce brings the reader into the realm of realism, from family history, personal apprehensions, his somewhat inadvertant role as a helicopter pilot during the heat of battle, his impressions of soldiers and his humanity toward the enemy which brings chills to the reader. Meanwhile, just when I least expected, I found myself belly laughing his wit.This book is a must for anyone who enjoys true-to-lie accounts of how it was in the air trenches. ... Read more

Book Description
History has known few more inventive minds than those responsible for the helicopter, mankind’s most versatile flying machine.From the aerodynamic artistry of Leonardo da Vinci, through the futuristic tales of Jules Verne, to the prototypes built by the horde of rotationally obsessed enthusiasts who followed, here is the definitive story of a modern icon.

Proposing that humans could hover in the air by hanging a fuselage beneath large spinning blades requires a substantial leap of the imagination–not to mention a pile of precision gadgetry. This unique book bears witness to the challenge of turning the earliest “rotating wing” aircraft into the helicopters that dominate news footage today.

The helicopter turned out to be much more agile and capable than the early inventors expected but also took longer to perfect than the airplane.Among the earliest of the helicopter hopefuls were nineteenth-century American greeting card printer Mortimer Nelson, French entrepreneurs Launoy and Bienvenu of prerevolutionary Paris, and English country squire George Cayley, builder of mankind’s first manned glider. The first controllable helicopter flew in the 1920s. While it has yet to take its place alongside the family car, as pioneer designer Igor Sikorsky hoped, the helicopter plays a significant role in all our lives.

In addition to transforming the ways of war, offering godlike views of inaccessible spots, and providing some of our most-watched TV moments–including the cloud of newscopters that trailed O. J. Simpson’s Bronco–the helicopter has revolutionized rescues worldwide by proving its ability to extract people from almost anywhere. In 2005 an astounding 35,500 people were saved from the perils of Hurricane Katrina–a feat impossible with any other machine.

James Chiles offers profiles of the many helicoptrians throughout history who contributed to the development of this amazing machine, and pays tribute to the selfless heroism of pilots and crews. A virtual flying lesson and uplifting scientific adventure tale, The God Machine is more than the history of an invention; it is a journey into the minds of imaginative thinkers and a fascinating look at the ways they changed our world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A Book to Uplift Your Knowledge


From humankind's early aspirations to fly by flapping wings of wax and feathers to the roar and flap-flap-flap of today's sophisticated helicopters in war, civilian transport, construction, logging, mercy flights and search and rescue, Jim Chiles pens a sophisticated and entertaining history of "The God Machine."All of the technical matter necessary to understand choppers, how they developed and how they fly, comes clearly and easily to the non-mechanical readers as well to helicopter engineers, thanks to Chiles' skilled exposition and his deep research into the wingless mechanisms we often see in daily life, news reports, and adventure films."The God Machine" promises to add value to any library, including those in homes where parents leave good books out to tempt offspring into reading and therefore expanding their mental life. In short, "The God Machine" is a fact book for all, a worthy read on a fascinating subject, a book that uplifts your knowledge and raises your awareness of one of humanity's engineering marvels.

Meets a real need.
James R. Chiles' The God Machine takes an important place among a very small literature on a vital piece of modern technology - the helicopter.

Writings about or involving helicopters are plentiful. A Google search using helicopter and history turns up more than 10 million hits. Doing the same for just books in Amazon.com turns up over 12,000 and almost a thousand at Barnes & Noble. However, when you try to find just those that make any real effort to cover the breadth and depth of the subject -- the ideas underlying, development, application, and impact of this technology - numbers drop to a handful. Among those, most are either dated - which only takes a few years, given the pace of change in the world -- or focus solely on military aspects. So, even if it did nothing more than just try to cover the waterfront, The God Machine would be a valuable book.

In fact, Chiles has gone well beyond that. He's presented key issues and a fair amount of technical information in terms that almost any lay reader can understand. An example is his discussion of the problem of controlling a helicopter in a hover - the invaluable characteristic that distinguishes it from almost all other aircraft. He explains how this problem frustrated early visionaries and inventors and how it was finally overcome - down to the specific hardware involved and how it works this magic.

In taking a broad view, Chiles also discusses the huge gaps between vision and reality that have been a persistent part of the story. One of these gaps involved the idea of a simple, cheap device that would displace the family car and reduce increasing congestion on highways. This vision butted against the reality of a technology that defied finding a practical combination of cost, capability, and reliability that could put the product in the hands of the masses. He shows how these same factors restricted ownership and use to the wealthy, companies, and public agencies meeting special needs. He shows how various inventors tried, always unsuccessfully, to overcome these obstacles.

Chiles also shows how the helicopter achieved a unique place in meeting special needs - especially for the military and in such activities as arctic exploration, servicing offshore oil platforms, civilian search-and-rescue, and real-time news gathering. He also shows how evolving social and political contexts have shaped attitudes toward helicopters - especially opposition to their noise, as well as concerns about government spying on private citizens.

Finally he shows, as in the case of helicopters rescuing mountain climbers in Alaska, how availability of this technology has sometimes led to a false sense of security and personal recklessness that the public winds up paying the bills for.

While this book lacks citation to sources for specific information, as one who has worked extensively on history involving helicopters, I know that Chiles has also made accessible to general readers information found only in some rare and expensive sources. Beyond that, he's drawn on interviews with and direct observation of helicopter pilots and users - to the extent of having learned to fly a helicopter himself. Anecdotes flowing from these sources give his writing an immediate, human touch that increases entertainment, as well as informational value.

No book will ever be the last word on rotorcraft, but The God Machine certainly meets a real need. If you want to or can buy only one book on helicopters, this is the one.

[Dr. James W. Williams is the former U.S. Army Aviation Branch Historian and author of A History of Army Aviation: From Its Beginnings to the War on Terror (2005)]

The complete story of the Helicopter
Mr. Chiles has produced one of the finest books on a very intergal part of our society.I know how important the helicopter is as I flew many hours in them while in Vietnam as a 19 year old Airborne Infantryman working for a Long Range Patrol Team, 1966 & 1967.Mr. Chiles' research was very thorough as he provides background and insight into this amazing piece of aeronautical wizadry.I for one am very impressed and appreciative of Mr. Chiles approach to the subject as the helicopter has changed so many aspects of our lives.Good book, one to own and well worth the time to read.Thank you Mr. Chiles for all the hard work. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Devon is Crazy about the Rescue Helicopter
My son Devon loves this nice little Tonka book by Scholastic. The book starts out what a helicopter pilot introducing himself, telling how he flies the rescue helicopter. He shows how the levers work to make the plane go up and down, sideways and to even hover in place. While the pilot is telling about the chopper, he gets a call from the emergency dispatcher. There is a fire, someone is injured, the rescue helicopter gets them to the hospital. Oh no, a girl has falling off a cruise ship. Again the emergency helicopter is called into action. Then, when this emergency is handled, again the helicopter is called to duty, a hurricane has devastated a community, and so it goes as still another emergency is taken care of, then another. This is a perfect book if you have a little boy, or even a girl. Tonka builds great toys, they make great books too.

Jack Priest, Dad in Training

A busy day with the rescue helicopter.
Wonderful, fast-paced, but still very detailed, description of how a rescue helicopter works. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (3)

10 year olds review


This was an exciting novel about peter and his Dad. This was a great book with many different settings. Peter and his Dad were very close. Considering they were partly homeless and Peter's mother had died. They have been running away from the C.I.A. when his dad gets put into the hospital. Peter gets put into foster care. He hates school and his teacher. I would recommend this book to people who like intense books.

Boxed In or Boxed Out
The style of writing drew me quickly into the novel. Peter and his thoughts about being hungry and the closeness to his father made me want to keep turning the pages.I had not read about this book, so as I continued to read a question popped into my mind.Something is wrong here; but what?I teach English to 9th graders and this is a book I would like to use in all my classes.The art museum, the mice, the planes create enough confusion that the young reader would fly with this book.
Great writing, reading.

Authentic, fresh storytelling
This review first appeared in the "Ephrata (PA) Review":

Fensham, a teacher for 15 years in her homeland of Australia, set out to fill a void--a novelfor children who have family members suffering from schizophrenia.

"Information booklets were not enough to ease their pain and bewilderment," she writes."I searched the library for a fiction novel that might both entertain and inform, but could find nothing."

Fensham penned"Helicopter Man" so skillfully that it reads first and foremost like a novel--not a story superimposed on facts about mental illness.

As the story opens, 12-year-old Pete and his father are "camping" in a dilapidated shed on someone's property.Pete's father must stay hidden or on the move.Convinced that a spy network is out to get him, he freaks when helicopters pass overhead.

The story is told from Pete's viewpoint, through journal entries and letters to a friend, which lends a fresh authenticity to the account. Pete's entries range from musings on the past to his daily concerns, gradually revealing how he and his father have arrived at their present homeless state and how they are extracted from it.

The story is gripping, the characters believable and likeable.American readers will be tickled by some of the Australian English and will enjoy piecing together the meanings of colloquialisms such as "chucking a wobbly."
... Read more