How It Flies or, Conquest of the Air
Richard Ferris
Read by LibriVox Volunteers
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
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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 |