The Simple Science of Flight: From Insects to Jumbo Jets » (Revised and Expanded Edition)

Henk Tennekes is Director of Research Emeritus at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, Emeritus Professor of Meteorology at the Free University (VU) in Amsterdam, and Emeritus Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Pennsylvania State University. He is the coauthor of A First Course in Turbulence (MIT Press, 1972).

An investigation into how machines and living creatures fly, and of the similarities between butterflies and Boeings, paper airplanes and plovers.

Booknews

Tennekes (earth sciences, Free U. of Amsterdam) explains to lay readers the aerodynamic principles that underlie the flight of everything, including paper airplanes, kites, gliders, and human- powered aircraft. He also explains such concepts as lift, drag, wing loading, and cruising speed; and the impact of fuel efficiency, headwind, tailwind, and other factors. First published in 1992 by Aramith Uitgevers as De wetten van de vliegkunst: Over stijgen dalen, vliegen en zweven. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)