How It Flies or, Conquest of the Air


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(5 stars; 4 reviews)

In these pages, by means of simple language and suitable pictures, the author has told the story of the Ships of the Air. He has explained the laws of their flight; sketched their development to the present day; shown how to build the flying machine and the balloon, and how to operate them; recounted what man has done, and what he hopes to do with their aid. In a word, all the essential facts that enter into the Conquest of the Air have been gathered into orderly form, and are here presented to the public.
We who live to-day have witnessed man’s great achievement; we have seen his dream of ages come true. Man has learned to fly!
The air which surrounds us, so intangible and so commonplace that it seldom arrests our attention, is in reality a vast, unexplored ocean, fraught with future possibilities. Even now, the pioneers of a
8
countless fleet are hovering above us in the sky, while steadily, surely these wonderful possibilities are unfolded. - Summary by From the Preface (6 hr 57 min)

Chapters

Introductory 7:00 Read by Tom Penn
The Air 17:51 Read by Tom Penn
Laws of Flight 19:44 Read by Lynne T
Flying Machines 20:39 Read by Tom Penn
Flying Machines: The Biplane 23:34 Read by Will the Ninja
Flying Machines: The Monoplane 21:14 Read by Will the Ninja
Flying Machines: Other Forms 8:20 Read by Chase Landkamer
Flying Machines: How to Operate 16:27 Read by Will the Ninja
Flying Machines: How to Build 13:28 Read by Will the Ninja
Flying Machines: Motors 13:45 Read by Tom Penn
Model Flying Machines 21:50 Read by Will the Ninja
The Glider 15:04 Read by Lynne T
Balloons 35:45 Read by Will the Ninja
Balloons: The Dirigible 35:10 Read by Will the Ninja
Balloons: How to Operate 9:24 Read by Will the Ninja
Balloons: How to Make 11:40 Read by Will the Ninja
Military Aeronautics 12:51 Read by Will the Ninja
Biographies of Prominent Aeronauts 34:59 Read by Lynne T
Chronicle of Aviation Achievements 52:46 Read by Will the Ninja
Explanation of Aeronautical Terms 26:03 Read by Tom Penn