This 1957 Reader's Guide by Charles Gibbs-Smith has a detailed bibliography on the histories of a variety of aircraft.

On December 17, 1903, on the windswept beaches of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Orville Wright piloted the world's first powered flight, in one of the most famous moments in history. Within a few short years, airplanes of various designs were lifting into the air over Europe and America. Soon, the entire world was caught up in the fevered advance of flight and airplanes, Zeppelins, autogyros and helicopters were making the world a much smaller place. To celebrate the first full century of powered flight premier aviation historian Christopher Chant and world-famous illustrator John Batchelor have joined forces to showcase an astonishing march of progress. From the early experiments of gliderman Otto Lilienthal to the moon walk of Neil Armstrong, it has indeed been A Century of Triumph. From the golden age of Zeppelins to the extreme design experiments of World War II to the fierce modernism of supersonic fighter jets, A CENTURY OF TRIUMPH demonstrates the full richness of mankind's flying craft. In addition to Batchelor's illustrations, the book features never-before-published vintage watercolour posters of pre-World War I aviation races and a treasure trove of photographs. Chant's text combines full histories of the planes themselves with biographical essays on some of the great figures of the twentieth century: the Barnstormers, Igor Sikorsky, Amelia Earhart, Chuck Yeager, and the Apollo XVII astronauts, among others. A CENTURY OF TRUMPH is a visual and factual feast for anyone who marvels at the majesty of flying.

This fascinating firsthand account covers the Wright Brothers' early experiments, construction of planes and motors, first flights, and much more. Introduction and commentary by Fred C. Kelly. 76 photographs.

A history of the technical development of the aeroplane, commissioned to celebrate the 100th anniversary of powered flight. In each chronological period covered, the various aspects of the synthesis of aerodynamics, propulsion, flight dynamics, and structure is described and evaluated.

The Invention of the Airplane ushered in the modern age. Tom D. Crouch chronicles how conquest of the skies shifted the way people travel, wage war, and perceive the promise of life. From balloons and kites to passenger jets, from stealth fighters to interplanetary rockets, Crouch tells how the enthusiasm of amateurs spawned an industry that now determines the rise and fall of nations. Achievements have been breathtaking, and yet this is not a tale of unalloyed progress. Blind alleys ended in debt and failure; bitter disappointment and stark terror exacted a price for technical progress. In the end, there is no more fascinating cast of characters than those who wrote history in the sky and, in living a dream, forever changed the world. Book jacket.

The pioneers of aviation. The firsthand account by the Wright Brothers of their early experiments with gliders and the first powered flight, and William J Claxton's account of early balloon flight and aircraft development to World War One.

"Human flight is not a simple matter of science and technology. It is a continuing epic of dreams and obsession, of yearning and striving to harness the intellect in the service of the emotions." In Like Sex with Gods: An Unorthodox History of Flight, Bayla Singer offers a unique approach to humanity's fascination with flying. Rather than merely tracing the factual prehistory of flight up to the success of the Wright Brothers, Bayla Singer considers the interaction and influence of our dreams, fantasies, culture, and technology on the age-old quest to fly. This enlightening study begins with the deities and other denizens of the heavens that humanity has created in its religion, literature, and art. At first a monopoly of the gods, flight came to interest humanity as a way to free itself from the physical and intellectual bonds of the earth. The myth of flight eventually gives way to the pursuit of actual flight. Singer shows in compelling detail the many flying machines that have been created, including balloons, gliders, and kites. The accomplishment of the Wright Brothers and our successful trips into space are merely stops on a continuing journey, as our ancient dream of flight continues to push us to new and loftier places. Filled with compelling stories and detailed illustrations, this book provides absorbing reading for aviation experts, those fascinated with the intimate relationship between technology and culture, and all of us who have even a passing interest in flying.