By Edward Hirst
Rowan Public Library
Have you ever dreamed of flying? Before you get ready to take off for clear skies make your first landing the Rowan Public Library and see what resources are available to guide you on your journey.
“The Private Pilot Manual” would be a good place to start for anyone interested in taking flying lessons. This is a textbook which is easy to understand and well illustrated.
In this book you will be able to read an introduction to airplanes and how aerodynamics enable a plane to fly. There are other chapters that deal with aeronautical charts, weather and air traffic control.
“Test Prep Private Pilot” is a study guide that will help future pilots with the FAA Private Pilot Knowledge Exam. The questions from the exam are arranged by subjects such as basic aerodynamics, engine operation, flight instruments and radio navigation. Each question is followed by the answer as well as an explanation.
If you are having trouble understanding the language of pilots and airplanes, the “Private Pilot’s Dictionary and Handbook,” by Kirk Polking, covers the most commonly used terms, operating procedures for VFR and IFR flight, and is designed as a supplement to ground school or flight training courses. The book concentrates on single-engine aircraft and the private pilots who fly them.
“Instrument Flying,” by Richard L. Taylor, is a book that VFR pilots will enjoy, as well as the IFR pilot interested in fine tuning their skills. It includes everything a private pilot needs to know about flying IFR, such as how to handle emergencies, understanding IFR communications, navigation and being a more efficient pilot. It is not written in the style of an instruction manual, but as an enjoyable series of anecdotes and pointers. The book also includes some proficiency exercises to help improve your instrument flight skills.
If you would like to read about flying, “Hard Air” by W. Scott Olsen is about extraordinary flying, the type of flying that is not well known by most people. There are descriptions of flights bringing supplies to the Canadian Arctic, hurricane hunters flying into brutal storms, emergency medical flights, and firefighting pilots who drop water and slurry mixtures on remote wildfires.
“One Six Right” is a documentary film available on DVD that describes the rich history of the Van Nuys airport which is really a microcosm of the history of general aviation in the United States. There are some great flying scenes but the bulk of the movie is about the airport and how the country is losing these small general aviation airports as the demand for the land they are using increases.
Visit the library for these titles and more. Happy flying.
Displays: Headquarters ó Kwanzaa by Eleanor Qadirah; South ó Christmas village by Tammie Foster. East ó Friends Basket display.
December hours: Monday-Wednesday, all branches close at 6 p.m.; Thursday-Sunday, all branches closed for holidays; Dec. 31, all branches close at 5 p.m.; Jan. 1, 2010, all branches closed.Literacy: Call the Rowan County Literacy Council at 704-216-8266 for more information on teaching or receiving literacy tutoring for English speakers or for those for whom English is a second language.