BIRD'S EYE VIEW

New Zealand Listener, Volume 32, Issue 821, 22 April 1955, Page 14

BIRD'S EYE VIEW

A FLIER’S WORLD, by Wolfgang Langwiesche; Hodder and Stoughton, English price 12/6. }-ROM the title and the chapter headings, my first impression was that this was another of those books that set out to squeeze a complete course in aviation. between the covers of one book. Nothing could be more unfair to

Mr, Langwiesche, who has set down his reactions to i.e somewhat artificial atmosphere created by human flight. The author was born in Germany and later became a naturalised American. There is no doubt that he is an observant and thoughtful pilot, and his book is most reacable. The style is hardly that of the textbook and should please those pundits who advocate conversational writing. After describing some of the features of aircraft, flying techniques, and weather, Mr. Langwiesche gives some sketches from his experiences during a ferry flight from America to Australia via Greenland. Intermingled with the chatty and ‘simple descriptive matter there is some writing which illustrates the truth in the saying that a true pilot is an artist. Even so it is difficult to know to what group the book should be recommended. It is not a pilot’s book, not a boy’s book, and not a technician’s book. Perhaps therein lies its chief merit-there is something for everybody-and. most enr

joyabie, too.

B.

C.