PILOT SPIN
Pilot Zone => Rusty & Student Pilots => Topic started by: President-Elect Bob Noel on December 19, 2019, 04:57:03 AM
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I have reference materials from the late 80's (when I finally took lessons and learned to fly). The son of a friend is possibly interested in flying. Some of this material would still be useful for a new student, yes?
Obviously the airspace designations have changed as well as the weather briefings/information and some avonics, but airplanes still fly the same and basic weather information is still the same, yes?
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Yes.
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Here's my recommendation, for what it's worth... your friend's son is thinking of learning to fly. The old books are a good introduction into the world of flying. Weather and aerodynamics haven't changed. The basics of flying are still the same. The process is still the same: get the weather, METARs, preflight, etc. For someone thinking of getting into flying, it's a really good introduction.
However, current books should be used by an actual student. That way there's no confusion between what's being read and what the CFI is saying. You don't want the student to say "but the books says I can walk into a FSS and get a briefing" or "I can't find any NDBs on the chart." Plus the older books won't have the modern airspace, rule changes since the 80s, new avionics, and all that.
So yes, useful for someone interested in getting into flying. Great inexpensive introduction. But for the actual student, not so much. The exception is "Aerodynamics for Naval Aviators." That's a classic and useful for everyone any time.
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Personally, I think the confusion factor of trying to distinguish what still applies and what doesn't would cause more harm than it would help. It is harder to "unteach" something than it is to teach it right the first time.
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I can’t think of any examples but some of the old books might still say it’s only Bernoulli effect that keeps a wing in the air, and that it must be flat on the bottom and curved on top which of course is bunk. The FAA even put that out in the 70s. I recently watched a video about it that one of the PoA posters made.
We have a ton of old aviation books and I am struggling with whether to throw them out. Some are so old they are musty and falling apart but I have a sentimental attachment to them.
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I still have an old copy of "Stick and Rudder" I bought when I learned to fly in 1994. I bought it at a used book store, so its much older than that, but it's still relevant for the most part.
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I have reference materials from the late 80's (when I finally took lessons and learned to fly). The son of a friend is possibly interested in flying. Some of this material would still be useful for a new student, yes?
Obviously the airspace designations have changed as well as the weather briefings/information and some avonics, but airplanes still fly the same and basic weather information is still the same, yes?
FAA.gov has free downloads of current training manuals.
Airplane a Flying Handbook
https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/airplane_handbook/media/airplane_flying_handbook.pdf
Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge
https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/phak/media/pilot_handbook.pdf
Risk Management Handbook
https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/media/risk_management_hb_change_1.pdf
Weight and Balance Handbook
https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/media/FAA-H-8083-1.pdf
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Welcome BamaFlyer. Hope to see more from you.
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Maybe books in general are going away? Are universities still making students buy textbooks? Or are they all just watching YouTube videos these days?
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Maybe books in general are going away? Are universities still making students buy textbooks? Or are they all just watching YouTube videos these days?
Ugh. Don’t get me started. After looking at two computer screens all day long, the last thing I want is to open up an iPad to read shit online. Give me a book or a flying magazine and get my eyes away from that computer light.
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I know this is an old topic but just saw it. My sense would be that the classics still apply and are worth reading, like "Stick and Rudder". For more modern items, probably best to use the free downloads if cost is an issue.
Of course, if one is actually going to learn to fly, the cost of new printed copies of these will be a drop in the bucket.