Book: Stick and Rudder

[Roger Worden]

I'm nearly finished reading Stick and Rudder by Wolfgang Langewiesche.
Although it's mostly about powered flight, it does a great job of explaining
how airframes and controls and maneuvers work. It's firmed up a bunch of
things I'd been observing and speculating about.

But I'm wondering... it was published in 1944 and updated in 1972. Any of
you experienced pilots who are familiar with this book... is there anything
that has been disproven or drastically changed since then?

Thanks in advance,
Roger Worden
Orange CA

[Bob Johnson]

Hi Roger --

To my knowledge, "Stick and Rudder" may have been equalled somewhere but
it's never been beaten. I review the basics of flight in the book before
the start of every season. Of course, it needs to be supplemented for
glider and airspace operations.

BTW, if you didn't already know, the author's name is pronounced
"Langavasha". His son is a good explainer also and recently wrote an
outstanding minute-by-minute technical and, through interviews, an
intensely personal account of the collapse of the twin towers.

BJ

Roger Worden wrote:
>
> I'm nearly finished reading Stick and Rudder by Wolfgang Langewiesche.
> Although it's mostly about powered flight, it does a great job of explaining
> how airframes and controls and maneuvers work. It's firmed up a bunch of
> things I'd been observing and speculating about.
>
> But I'm wondering... it was published in 1944 and updated in 1972. Any of
> you experienced pilots who are familiar with this book... is there anything
> that has been disproven or drastically changed since then?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Roger Worden
> Orange CA

[Mark James Boyd]

In article >,
Roger Worden > wrote:
>I'm nearly finished reading Stick and Rudder by Wolfgang Langewiesche.
>Although it's mostly about powered flight, it does a great job of explaining
>how airframes and controls and maneuvers work. It's firmed up a bunch of
>things I'd been observing and speculating about.
>
>But I'm wondering... it was published in 1944 and updated in 1972. Any of
>you experienced pilots who are familiar with this book... is there anything
>that has been disproven or drastically changed since then?
>
>Thanks in advance,
>Roger Worden
>Orange CA
>
>

I don't think he ever mentioned how one can use the airflow of
a shot of power to help straighten the tail, or make the
surfaces more effective. I seem to recall looking for
this, after a TW CFI showed it to me, and not finding it in
his book.

I also didn't see mention of how use of partial power can be used to
slow down the roundout and flare.

In gliders, this is sort of equivalent to headwind vs.
tailwind landings and groundspeed...

[Jack]

On 1/29/04 5:55 AM, in article , "Bob Johnson"
> wrote:

> BTW, if you didn't already know, the author's name is pronounced
> "Langavasha".

Maybe, maybe not: "long-gah-vee-shuh", supposedly, but check here to see for
yourself:

http://slate.msn.com/id/2063819/

William (the son) claims not to know for sure.


-------
Jack
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