Walter J. Boyne - The Smithsonian Books of Flight

An account of the history of flight, chronicling the rapid evolution of aviation technology, from the Wright Flyer of 1903 to Paul MacCready's Gossamer Condor , from the first balloons and gliders to Concorde. The work covers the effects of new technology on aviation design and also the strategic aspects of air power; the social, cultural and political impact of aviation technology; and the growth and recent re-retrenchment of the general aviation community. The author has written extensively on aviation subjects including Boeing B-52: A Documentary History , The Jet Age and, with Steven Thompson, The Wild Blue .