Recommended Reading, from NASA Publication

[rayd]

I discovered this some years ago, for another application, but in looking at it again, find it might be helpful to some modelers. Check it out. Lots about aircraft, principles from biplane days to now, including sci fi "stuff" like Flash Gordon, and real rocketry of course.

Go to NASA home site.....www.NASA.gov and in its search, type in SP-4219. Then click onto first title...From Engineering Science to Big Science. Go to index, then Chap 1 a good place to start perusing. All subsequent chapters are on line there, many pix, stories, very interesting and most readable. If you want, you can get a printed book from them, $35+$2 S&H using an on line form. BUT, you can see it all on line if you wish. Look it over, something there is bound to be of interest to you.

[rayd]

Man...I'm replying to myself here. Seriously though folks, let me make this a tad easier by making a direct link from the contents page of this. I know there's stuff there that would interest and perhaps help some, so I'm gonna try again to get you to look at it. Yes, it can be very technical with charts, graphs, and jargon often unfamiliar, but much is also readable, maybe helpful to some of us: an informative freebie on-line. (If you want, you can order the book from US Govn't Printing office, but look here)...start by skimming Chap 1 re pix, cowls and reduction of air drag from early days, Collier Trophy, and in further chapters, ice, you'll also see scifi elements, jets, to space shuttle. Gee, one feels lousy seeing a zero response...well, here it is again in easier form to access, direct link:

http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4219/Contents.html

[Arlo DiPasquale]

Thanks for the link, this is pretty cool. Just glanced through a lot of it now, but will read a lot of it more in-depth later. (hope this response makes you feel better about the post!! )