Not all nonfiction aviation books need to be boring—even when they cover technical information you can apply to your own flying. We’ve found a few here that make for easy and/or fun reading while you learn. A pilot’s job can often take a toll on them both physically and mentally if you’re not prepared. This book offers solid advice for any commercial pilot.

Morris liked to share the books with others. Sometimes it was a favorite that everyone loved, and other times he found a lonely little volume whose tale was seldom told. 'Everyone's story matters,' said Morris. All the books agreed." To have created such a gentle, supremely beautiful tribute to the glory and wonder of books, library's and reading is the crown jewel in William Joyce's already epic career. At least I think so. caption id="attachment_7496" align="alignnone" width="200" caption="Night flight captures the solitude and risk of early air mail routes."] [/caption] A classic of aviation literature, the novel Night Flight is heavily based on French aviator and writer Saint-Exupery’s experience of working as an airmail pilot, in the interwar years. The book captures the danger and loneliness of these early commercial pilots, blazing routes in the days before radar, GPS and jet engines. Vulcan 607 – Rowland White Tom Crouch, a curator emeritus of the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum, helps you follow some of the greatest pilots and other people in aviation history. Aviation wouldn’t be where it is without their contributions. He tells the story of both amateurs and experts beautifully and leaves you with a great understanding of just how far we’ve truly come. caption id="attachment_7494" align="alignnone" width="222" caption="Fiction it may be, but Bomber conveys the courage and tragedy of WW2 night air raids in an unforgettable way."] [/caption] A masterpiece of storytelling and research, Len Deighton’s novel Bomber focuses on a single night in RAF Bomber Command’s aerial campaign against Germany in WW2. As well as the Lancaster crews, it also includes the point of view from ground crews, civilians and the Luftwaffe nightfighters. A brutal and harrowing account of total aerial warfare. F-4 Phantom - A Pilot’s Story - Robert Prestcaption id="attachment_7493" align="alignnone" width="161" caption="Flying for fun has never been as funny."] [/caption] Staring grimly at British rain clouds, maintaining your own aircraft, and the fun of wind-in-your-face flying, Propellerhead captures the essence of popular flying in the UK at the grassroots level. The author, keen to impress girls at the start of the book by ‘becoming a pilot’, decides to take up flying and enters the addictive world of the weekend microlight aviators, with gently humorous results. Highly recommended. Bomber – Len Deighton caption id="attachment_7492" align="alignnone" width="165" caption="Biggles Pioneer Air Fighter draws heavily on the authors WW1 experience."] [/caption] Biggles might be regarded in some quarters now as hopelessly outdated - a children’s square-jawed flying ace from a different age. However, Biggles Pioneer Air Fighter contains a collection of vignettes that draw heavily on Johns’ own first-hand flying experiences as a pilot flying DH4s with 55 Sqn in WW1, including being shot down and taken prisoner. One wonders of the tales in this book, (including a carrier messenger pigeon going through the propeller) how many of these had happened to the author himself. Propellerhead – Anthony Woodward

On the other hand, this was made into a very watchable Academy Award-winning short film that provides more visual interest and adds even more charming notes. You haven’t seen animated books until you saw the little egg-book above play a piano at 6:05. The above ‘surgery’ scene, which follows soon after, is a charming spoof of historical medical theater. It's only 17 minutes long and free on youtube when I wrote this review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ad3CM... I first fell in love with the Fantastic Flying Books and Morris Lessmore's story from the beautiful Academy Award-winning short film based on Joyce's book. I was so excited when my library finally got a copy of the book itself so that I could enjoy the original. caption id="attachment_7491" align="alignnone" width="166" caption="West with the Night reminds us that flying is not just a man's world."] [/caption] ‘Poetry in flight’ best describes this 1942 memoir from aviatrix Beryl Markham of bush flying in Africa and long-distance flight, which includes her solo flight across the Atlantic. Lyrical and expressive her descriptions of the adventure of flying continue to inspire others, including Boeing test pilot Captain Suzanna Darcy-Hennemann, who said Markham's book was 'closest to her heart' in a RAeS lecture. Biggles Pioneer Air Fighter W.E. Johns Keep yourself and passengers safe while remaining confident when you’re flying in any type of weather. This FAA-recommended book is beneficial for pilots at any stage of their journey.

If you’ve been considering a career as a commercial pilot, then Fly the Wing is a must-read. It’s a valuable asset any pilot can use to assist in their training. Insights and advice keep the conversational style of this book easy to read. You’ll gain an understanding of what is involved in being a commercial pilot when you’re finished with this read. He also attempts something rather unusual in making this flying book accessible to the non-pilot. There are long sections that explain clearly the basics of flying and aviation systems, and a respectable glossary is included alongside the index. This rather different approach may well appeal to casual readers – I am not quite sure how many of them would be in the aviation autobiography market – but it does mean there are a few chunks of the book that flyers will inevitably skip. That said, there is so much of interest here that that Fast Jets to Spitfires really would be a welcome Christmas present for pilots and enthusiasts alike. The story is that or Mr. Morris who loved books and stories. One day, his life gets upended but that is a blessing in disguise. He ends up in a library, helping the books and lending them to others, thus bringing joy to other people as well. The story is quite metaphorical. Mr. Morris is blown off out of his world and into a new place where he meets a book friend who leads him to the place where books live. A beautiful picture book, but one written for adults more than children. I didn’t have a child to test it on, so I’m just going from memories of my child tendencies, and past experiences of trying to interest small ones in picture books.

The book has been updated five times and includes the latest advances in flight weather services, including radar. This is a good read for both aspiring and professional flyers, with simple explanations on how to judge and negotiate weather conditions. Weather Flying won the Safety Foundation’s Publication Award and is recommended by the FAA. What We Like: O’Brien flawlessly writes about the exciting and sometimes heartbreaking experiences these women went through, particularly during the air races in which they took part. Many of their stories remain unknown outside of aviation, but their fearless spirit can be appreciated by all. Subtitled ‘the amazing story of the people who made possible Richard Noble’s extreme projects…’ Take Risk is actually a sparse (in terms of personal life story) autobiography that focusses on projects and pays tribute to, in particular, the engineers who turned the products of Noble’s restless drive and energy into not just working hardware, but brilliant technology.

German Aircraft of The First World War

What We Like: David McCullough makes it easy to engage with the inspirational history behind the origin of the first flight. Many have written about the Wright Brothers, but McCullough explores more deeply than those before him. The years pass and Morris grows older and now the books take care of him. Soon its time for him to leave and pass the care and keeping of his wondrous library to someone else.