Though we routinely take to the air, for many of us flying remains a mystery. Few of us understand the how and why of jetting from New York to London in six hours. How does a plane stay in the air? Can turbulence bring it down? What is windshear? How good are the security checks? Patrick Smith, an airline pilot and author of Salon.com's popular column, "Ask the Pilot," unravels the secrets and tells you all there is to know about the strange and fascinating world of commercial flight. He offers: A nuts and bolts explanation of how planes fly Insights into safety and security Straight talk about turbulence, air traffic control, windshear, and crashes The history, color, and controversy of the world's airlines The awe and oddity of being a pilot The poetry and drama of airplanes, airports, and traveling abroad In a series of frank, often funny explanations and essays, Smith speaks eloquently to our fears and curiosities, incorporating anecdotes, memoir, and a life's passion for flight. He tackles our toughest concerns, debunks conspiracy theories and myths, and in a rarely heard voice dares to return a dash of romance and glamour to air travel.

No aircraft ever captured the curiosity & fascination of the public like the SR-71 Blackbird. Nicknamed "The Sled" by those few who flew it, the aircraft was shrouded in secrecy from its inception. Entering the U.S. Air Force inventory in 1966, the SR-71 was the fastest, highest flying jet aircraft in the world. Now for the first time, a Blackbird pilot shares his unique experience of what it was like to fly this legend of aviation history. Through the words & photographs of retired Major Brian Shul, we enter the world of the "Sled Driver." Major Shul gives us insight on all phases of flying, including the humbling experience of simulator training, the physiological stresses of wearing a space suit for long hours, & the intensity & magic of flying 80,000 feet above the Earth's surface at 2000 miles per hour. SLED DRIVER takes the reader through riveting accounts of the rigors of initial training, the gamut of emotions experienced while flying over hostile territory, & the sheer joy of displaying the jet at some of the world's largest airshows. Illustrated with rare photographs, seen here for the first time, SLED DRIVER captures the mystique & magnificence of this most unique of all aircraft.

Performing Flight sheds new light on moments in the history of US aviation and spaceflight through the lens of performance studies. From pioneering aviator Bessie Coleman to the emerging industry of space tourism, performance has consistently shaped public perception of the enterprise of flight and has guaranteed its success as a mode of entertainment, travel, research, and warfare. The book reveals fundamental connections between performance and human aviation and space travel over the past 100 years, beginning with the early aerial entertainers known as barnstormers (named after itinerant 19th century theater troupes) to the performative history of the Enola Gay and its pilot Paul Tibbets, who dropped the bomb on Hiroshima, thus ushering in the atomic age. The book also explores the phenomenon of “the pilot voice”; the creation of the American Astronaut, on whose performative success the Cold War, the Space Race, and funding of the US Space Program all depended; and the performative strategies employed to cement notions of space tourism as both manifest destiny and an escape route from a failed planet. A final chapter addresses the four hijacked flights of 9/11 and their representations in discourse and in memorials. Performing Flight effectively and imaginatively demonstrates the ways in which performance and flight in the United States have been inextricably linked for more than a century.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Spearhead and A Higher Call comes an unflinching, brutal, and relentless firsthand chronicle of United States Marine Corps' actions in the Pacific during World War 2. Following fifteen Marines from the Pearl Harbor attack, through battles with the Japanese, to their return home after V-J Day, Adam Makos and Marcus Brotherton have compiled an oral history of the Pacific War in the words of the men who fought on the front lines. With unflinching honesty, these Marines reveal harrowing accounts of combat with an implacable enemy, the friendships and camaraderie they found--and lost--and the aftermath of the war's impact on their lives. With unprecedented access to the veterans, rare photographs, and unpublished memoirs, Voices of the Pacific presents true stories of heroism as told by such World War II veterans as Sid Phillips, R. V. Burgin, and Chuck Tatum--whose exploits were featured in the HBO(R) miniseries, The Pacific--and their Marine buddies from the legendary 1st Marine Division. Includes rare photos

In 'The Rise of Astraavan: A Writer on a Mission,' elite SIA agent Natasha is thrust into a world of intrigue and danger. When the security of the SIA's server is breached, sensitive information is accessed, and her esteemed colleague, Sahira, is brutally kidnapped. Natasha embarks on a mission to confront Ronny—a devotee of Raavana with a hidden agenda, driven by the pain of a tragic past. Determined to unravel the mystery surrounding Ronny and protect India's classified Project Astra, which includes crucial fighter jet imports, Natasha and her team embark on a covert mission. Led by the enigmatic SIA chief, Mr. Jindal, they deploy Ronil, a skilled operative and a writer-turned-spy, to infiltrate Ronny's world and thwart his villainous plans. From the serene hills of Coonoor to the bustling streets of New Delhi, the metropolis of London to the historic depths of Germany, and from the secretive corridors of Serbia to the high-stakes landscapes of Israel and Sri Lanka, this globe-trotting adventure will keep readers on the edge of their seats. 'The Rise of Astraavan' is a rollercoaster ride of espionage, romance, and international intrigue. Join Natasha and Ronil as they race against time. Will they triumph in their quest for answers and justice, where revenge, danger, and passion for National Interest collide? Will Ronil conquer the world for his mother, or will Ronny build his empire in his hacking kingdom? Dive into this gripping tale of Astraavan.

The Earth Colony Asteroid Scorpio was launched into space in search of a new home for the human race. Nine-hundred years later than expected, only seven of the Scorpio’s passengers awaken, not one of them an adult. Now, rebuilt with cyber parts, these kids must rely on each other to survive the mysteries of the Scorpio and the dangers of deep space. The kid crew of Scorpio is familiar with facing challenges, having repeatedly outmaneuvered tests thrown at them by the ships’ AIs. This time, however, they may have met their match. With relentless taunting an AI named Tutor pushes the crew to new limits with one deadly exam after another. In this high stakes game, the kids quickly learn that their performance means more than a grade–it means survival!

Committee Serial No. 3. Investigates causes of Jan. 27, 1967 Apollo 204 accident when three astronauts lost their lives. Includes testimony by Thomas R. Baron, author of a report highly critical of spacecraft management at Kennedy Space Center; v.2,pt. 1: Contains text of accident investigation report to NASA by the Apollo 204 Review Board; v.2,pt. 2: Contains Appendix C (continuation) and part of Appendix D to Final Report of Apollo 204 Review Board, which investigated the Jan. 27, 1967 Apollo 204 accident at Kennedy Space Center, in which three astronauts died; v.2,pt. 3: Contains Appendices D (continuation), E, F, and G to the formal report of investigation by the Apollo 204 Review Board of the Apollo 204 accident at Kennedy Space Center on Jan. 27, 1967, when three astronauts perished; v.3: Describes corrective modifications performed on Apollo spacecraft to prevent a repetition of the Apollo 204 accident, during which 3 astronauts perished at Kennedy Space Center on Jan. 27, 1967