History of Air Navigation

Abstract

ALTHOUGH published in 1946, it appears from the fc preface that this book was completed in 1944. That was not possible, therefore, to give any information about war-time developments to aid air irrigation, of which particulars at that time had ntfb been released. The book was thus out of date before it was published. It is disappointing in other ways; illustrations of a great variety of instruments are given, but in many cases without sufficient description for those who are not familiar with them to understand how they are used. The reader will look in vain for any account of special methods of navigation adopted for polar flights. The chapter on ancient navigation has nothing to do with air navigation. Although aviation has a short history, developments-stimulated as they have been by two great wars-have been rapid. A fascinating story of the history of air navigation might have been written. This book seems to fall between two stools: it is not sufficiently technical and specialized for the expert, but it is too technical and assumes too much basic knowledge for the general reader.