Aviation Books & Publications

Aviation Books for Sale

  • Aero Training Products  ATP offers aviation books, videos, software, and charts for flight and maintenance training operations.
  • Aero Transport Publications  Publications for the Canadian aviation industry: tech logs, pilot logs, plotters, videos, aviation directories, aircrew licence holders.
  • Aero Vintage Books Offering vintage aircraft information and a selection of aviation historical books.  Catalog, ordering, message board, aviation links.
  • aeroBookStore.com  Over 1000 aviation books and videos in 20 aeronautical categories.  Specialists in British Aviation.  Global delivery.
  • Aeroplane Books Thousands of new and out of print books for sale.
  • Aerospace Publications  Aerospace books for sale online.
  • AeroFile - Military Aircraft Designations and Systems  Catalogued from 1913 to the present from US, Canada, Germany, Japan, Russia, and Sweden.  In all over 9,000 separate designation listings.
  • L'Aeroteca - Librería Aeronáutica / Aeronautical Bookstore  The virtual version of the large Spanish aeronautical specialized bookstore operating in Barcelona since 1986.  They'll send books and other items worldwide.
  • Aircraft Technical Publishers Maintenance manuals, illustrated parts catalogs, manufactured service bulletins, federal aviation regulations.
  • Airlinebiz.com  A selection of 500 aviation-related books linked to Amazon.com.
  • Airport Book  A former TSA screener wrote "I Might As Well Be Naked! How to Survive Airport Screening with Your Clothes On" to help airline passengers get through security checkpoint as quickly and painlessly as possible.  Sign up for a free Travel Security Tip of the Week by email.
  • AIRtime Publishing Inc.  Publisher of Combat Aircraft, International Air Power Review, Flightpath, and other publications.
  • A&P-IA Bookstore  Aircraft maintenance books and videos for professional mechanics, students, and owners of factory built aircraft.
  • Art's Pilot Page  Aviation books and pilot related topics: BFR Review, IFR Review, Pocket Pilot Handbook, Pilot's Rules of Thumb, Student Pilot Handbook
  • Aviatech Publications - Aviation  Authorized distributor of all civil aviation publications published by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
  • Aviation Book Company Aviation pilot supplies and books.  Online catalog, news.
  • Aviation Book Specialists  This page lists links to a number of sites that specialize in aviation publications.
  • Aviation Humor  Aviation humor books for sale.
  • Aviation Week Professional Books  The Aviation & Aerospace Almanac, Handbook of Airline Economics, Handbook of Airline Strategy, Handbook of Airline Operations, and other titles.
  • Avotek Information Resources  Offering up-to-date textbooks for the aircraft mechanic student.  A complete line of books and study guides for today's Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT).
  • Ballon Bucherladen, The Balloon Book Store Ballooning books for sale.  Swiss site.
  • BD King Press  The republishing of classic aviation books.  This is basically a site for readers of aviation literature which has a taste of history and lore.  Ernest K. Gann and Robert Serling are the primary authors.
  • Bob Wander's Soaring Books and Supplies  A wide variety of soaring books, supplies, videos/DVDs, varios, and other information.  Featuring the Made Easy series written by Bob Wander, and Mentor series of soaring books, edited by Bob Wander.
  • Booksquadron.com  This online company presents a selection of fine and rare materials related to the histories of both commercial and military aviation.
  • Britton Booksellers Specializing in scholarly out of print and technical titles.  Use the keyword search to find aviation titles.
  • BSP Gallery Bookshop old and rare books  Aviation history books and memorabilia.  (Also, memorabilia covering literature, performing arts, first editions, Pacificana, sport, cricket, music, antiques, military, shipping, art, craft, natural history, old postcards.
  • Builder's Bookstore  Aircraft construction books and videos.
  • Bulgarian Books & Music  Check out the military aviation titles by East European aviation expert, colonel Dimitar Nedialkov, Proffesor in the military academy of Bulgaria.
  • Byrd Aviation Books  Specializing in early aviation, pioneer, and WW I books.  A large supply of back issues of aviation magazines.
  • Classic Publications  Publisher of military aviation books.
  • The Clique Ltd. Collections of old, rare and historic aviation books published 1904-1939. Prices from around £1000 / US $1,500.
  • Collector's Guide Publishing  Books about space.
  • EPS Aviation Publishers  Offers airline and airport guides in book and CD-ROM form for the aviation industry and the aviation enthusiast.
  • Essco, Inc.  Airliner flight and ops manuals, civilian aircraft owners manuals, warbird pilot manuals, and other aviation books.
  • Firefly Books  The "Aviation Century" series of books.  Search the catalog with"aviation" for other titles.
  • First Blue Angel  Information on the life of Butch Voris, and the book First Blue: The Story of WWII Ace Butch Voris and the Creation of the Blue Angels, personally autographed by Butch!  This charitable organization donates all net proceeds to both the US Naval Academy Foundation and the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.
  • FotoImages Bookstore Aviation books by category, linked to amazon.com.
  • Gilblue  An Australian mail order business offering new and used aviation books, videos, and DVDs.
  • Hannan's Runway  A large selection of books for model airplane builders, with emphasis on scale, free flight, and aviation history.  Also videos and small scale model plans.  On line ordering.
  • Helicopter Bookstore Titles about helicopter theory and history.
  • Hikoki Publications  Dedicated to producing serious books for aviation enthusiasts which explore less well known aspects of aviation history 1914 - 1990.
  • The Hobby Place  See the Aviation section for books and videos.
  • Holmestead Aviation Library  Offers over 150 titles of books and videos related to flight.
  • Ian Allan  U.K. publisher of aviation books.
  • Ink Publishing  This publishing company is the largest producer of inflight magazines for airlines.
  • Jets Press  Publishing work by fighter mechanics about their impressions of the people and hardware surrounding fighter aircraft.
  • Lush Aviation  Offering a wide selection of flight textbooks for professional aviators.
  • McGraw-Hill Aviation  A range of books for aviation professionals, enthusiasts, and pilots.
  • nzebooks.com  This site offers the Ventura Publications series of classic warbird books, as well as aviation e-books.
  • Oxford Web Publishing - Soaring Flight  A large source for soaring literature, as well as software, training materials, theory learning, history, biographies, history, music, and videos.
  • The Penton Institute Air Transport World books, CD ROMs, reports, back issues.
  • Roys Books  A very large selection of second hand aviation, military, and other books.
  • Scott Sather's Helicopter Pages  Helicopter photos and links to helicopter books (history, novels, reference, youth interest, maintenance, training, videos) on Amazon.com.
  • Smithsonian Institution Press  Publisher of a number of aviation titles.
  • TAHS  Mail-order catalogues for books and colour prints, as weel as plastic model kits, decals and modelling sundries.
  • Transport Diversions  Purchase specialist transport publications from this UK site.  Aviation titles include aircraft, airfields, product registers, air traffic control, and airlines.
  • Ventura Publications  Ventura publishes a range of aviation titles (the Classic Warbirds series), provides a digital rights management service (where an electronic ‘ebook' is purchased from a Web site, is readable on a personal computer, but refuses to open if moved to another computer), and manufactures a range of model kits and decals.
  • Vortech Books & Videos  Books about helicopters and gyroplanes, general aviation, R/C helicopters and airplanes, and others.
  • Monte Publishing  This small company based in Portugal publishes books, illustrated profiles, postcards, calendars, and limited edition prints.  They sell wholesale and retail.
  • Wind Canyon Books  Publishes a wide variety of aviation, airplane type histories, military (aviation and naval), and scale airplane drawings books and CDs.  Specializing in pioneer aviation, WWI, golden age of aviation, and WWII.
  • WarPrint.Com  This online bookstore is dedicated to publications about WWII aircraft, units, and pilots.  It sells titles from Eagle Editions, Classic Publications, Schiffer, and others.
  • Wings 'n' Things  Online shopping for aviation books and movies.
  • World Airpower Journal Books and publications.
  • WWII Aviation Booklist  A number of WWII aviation titles and a brief review of each.

Sites Dedicated to Specific Books or Authors

  • The $100 Hamburger  "A Guide to Pilots' Favorite Fly-In Restaurants" This website was created by the author.  Restaurants, hotels, crew cars, golf courses, fuel prices, museums, air shows, conventions, adventures, product reviews.
  • Aardvark Memories  A trade paperback novel by a writer, artist, and captain for United Airlines.  The richly woven plot develops into a well-paced page turner that brings new appreciation for the simple, often overlooked blessings of life.  Read a more detailed description of this book and the author.
  • AeroCrafter Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook  More than 700 different models in 432 pages with over 1,000 photos and drawings.
  • Air Crash Mail Of Imperial Airways & Predecessor Airlines  This 225 page book lists all the known crashes, interruptions and forced landings of Imperial Airways and its predecessor airlines.
  • Air Combat  Stories by an aviation and military writer.
  • Air Force One  The Boeing site with background info, technical specs, fact sheet, and photo gallery.
  • Airwriter  Johnnie Johnstone served in the Royal Air Force from 1936 to 1968 and authored "Airship Navigator," "To Organise the Air," and "In My Element."
  • Airmen in Exile  A book on the exiled air forces in Britain during WWII.
  • Ask the Pilot  Patrick Smith, an airline pilot and author of Salon.com's popular air travel column, unravels the secrets and tells you all there is to know about the strange and fascinating world of commercial flight.
  • Attack Aircraft and Bombers of the World  A concise guide book to the current attack aircraft and bombers of the world's air forces.
  • The Aviation Book: The World's Aircraft A - Z  In this amazingly illustrated international survey, Irish artist Fia O Caoimh provides a comprehensive survey of all the main plane types, civil and military, from the pioneering years to today's transonic and aerospace flights.  Illustrations of planes and helicopters are accompanied by detailed technical specifications.  352 pages with over 900 illustrations.  Published by Thames & Hudson in the UK, Chronicle Books in the USA/Canada, and Hermes Publications in a French language edition.
  • Aviation Cartoons  "Good Landing" is a 160 page book with aviation cartoons by 20 artists from all corners of the world.
  • Barnstorming To Air Safety  A former barnstomer looks at the development of aviation from the early days of flying to the jet age: stories of barnstorming risk-takers, rum-runners, early Naval air schools, and descriptions of some of the first passenger flights.  Also, the development of air safety regulations.  The author, who joined the Bureau of Safety of the Civil Aeronautics Board (later the National Transportation Safety Board) provides the reader with details of aircraft accident investigations and findings while also affording a glimpse into how the government operates.
  • Barrett Tillman's Web Page  Site about aviation writer and speaker, Barrett Tillman.  View Barrett's aviation adventure books and novels, articles and interesting stories.  Purchase books such as Dauntless, Hellcats, Clash of the Carriers, and more.
  • The Belgian Alpha Jets' homepage  This full colour, 115 page book with 188 photographs and drawings is about the history and making of the Alpha Jet and its use in the Belgian Air Force.  Maintenance and armament technical details are included, as well as a detailed walk-around.  Available in English, Dutch, and French.
  • The Black Box  The story behind the crash of Western Airlines DC-10 Flight 2605 on October 31, 1979.
  • Breaking Free: The Aerial Photograpahy of Judson P. Brohmer  A coffee table book covering flight test at Edwards AFB.  Aircraft include covers the X-35 Joint Strike Fighter, F-22 Raptor, F-15 Eagle, F-117 Nighthawk, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-18 Hornet, SR-71 Blackbird, B-1b Lancer, B-2 Spirit, C-17 Globemaster.  A different kind of book where the authors are actual test pilots.  Includes a DVD.
  • Brian Powers Waters  This retired pilot has written several books on the problems with airline safety.  He has been hosted on several talk shows: Larry King, Good Morning America, and others.  His writings are very straight-forward and hard-hitting in regard to the safety issues he sees and has experienced.  Author of 93 Seconds From Disaster, Danger in the Air, Margin for Error: None, and Safety Last.
  • Buyer's Guide for Ultralight Aircraft  Shows over 250 ultralights, trikes, powered parachutes, gyros, and vintage ultralights.
  • Camera-Ready Art Company  IFR Pocket Guide: Fly Safe, Stay Safe review guide for instrument written, oral, and checkride.
  • Charting A Wiser Course  Kaye Shackford, a thirty-year industry veteran, believes our current managerial and behavioral models are operating at cross-purposes with our own strategic objectives.  To achieve those objectives, we must align our behaviors with our intentions.
  • Confessions of a Pilot  The account of a private pilot and his twenty year love affair with flying.  170 pages of memories, dreams, and fears, spanning two decades of adventures in a 1958 Piper Tri-Pacer.
  • Cruising Altitude: Diary of a Flight Attendant  This book explains what it is like to be a flight attendant in a unique and fun way.  Lively stories through the eyes of a real flight attendant.
  • Design for Impact  This book looks at the design and development of airline safety cards, from the first text-based cards in the 1930's to current cards.  (A big Flash download.)
  • Dictatorship of the Air  In addition to information and excerpts from the book Dictatorship of the Air: Aviation Culture and the Fate of Modern Russia, the web site includes a gallery of rare images of early Soviet aviation posters and a weekly blog devoted to Russian aviation, history, and related matters.
  • Dogs Don't Fly  In this book authored by a pilot for juveniles aged 8-14, a little beagle named Nevell dreams of adventure and wonders how cats are able to fly through the air.  Nevell meets an old crop dusting tomcat, and learns the lesson that anything is possible.
  • FinallyFearless.com  Help for nervous flyers through the book Going From Worried About Dying to Excited About Flying.
  • Fledging Eagle, The Politics of Air Power  This book by Mark Andrews offers a captivating perspective of military aviation, from the first powered flight to the present day.  Andrews' analysis looks at the evolution of military aviation and it's effect on the 20th Century.  It is centered around an argument outlining whether the overriding role of air power should be strategic in its own right, or serve to support the activities of armies and navies as a tactical device.  The book can be purchased from the publisher, Stamford House Publishing.
  • flightattendantcareer.com  The 165 page flight attendant career guide, The Essential Guide To Becoming A Flight Attendant written by American Airlines flight attendant Kiki Ward will steer you through the process of becoming a professional flight attendant - from the application process, to the interview, to training. An indepth look at the career itself is also included.  Specific airline interview overviews are available.  The Website maintains up to the minute hiring information direct from the airlines.
  • The Flight Attendants Complete Tax Guide  A 30 page ebook laying out all the lucrative tax strategies for the flight attendant.
  • Flying North South East and West  The biography of Captain Terry Reece, who spent more than forty years as a captain, chief pilot, check airman, smokejumper, airline training company president, and owner of a floatplane service.  From Amazon.com: "Reece's first flying lesson ended in a cloud of billowing dust, ripped metal, and broken Plexiglas.  But that didn't keep him grounded.  Over the next few years, he navigated his Lockheed C-130 to steamy nights in Rangoon, risky undercover aircraft deliveries to Libya, icy Arctic expeditions, and desperate flights out of the desert with machine guns pointed at his gut, to landing Boeing jets on short, icy runways on Alaska's Aleutian Chain.  Reece's entertaining biography delves into the fast-paced world of aviation and is filled with compassion, danger, bits of humor, and the follies of youth."
  • Flying by the Seat of My Pants: Flight Attendant Adventures on a Wing and a Prayer  This book was written by a flight attendant about flight attendants and flying.  Funny things happen, and she tells them all in this hilarious and insightful chronicle of her career as a naive flight attendant.
  • Flying: Just Plane Fun  A children's book on flying (by Julie Grist, ISBN 0-9725750-0-6) that shares both technical information and the joy of flying with young readers age 5-12.  Pilots and aviation buffs are buying it to share with their kids and grandchildren to get them interested in flight.
  • Following Amelia: A Modern-Day 'Round-the-World Flight  Escape on an extraordinary adventure that will make you think about how you're spending your own life.
  • Frank Steward  Buy the popular air travel books written by A. Frank Steward: The Plane Truth: Shift Happens at 35,000 Feet. Air Travel Tales by the Flight Crew, and Flying High with A. Frank Steward.  Steward has worked as a flight attendant with two major international carriers.
  • GEEZER and the KID: Adventures in Flight  The 3rd book by Ron Irwin is a vibrant action adventure tale of a trip by Ron and his 11 year old daughter across the sizzling Mojave Desert and the hostile terrain of Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico in their single Cessna Cardinal.  Irwin is an author, pilot, and photographer who writes about his passion for aviation and creates aviation themed images and paraphernalia.
  • Global Business Jet Yearbook  A pocket reference book for owners and operators of long-range business jets worldwide.  Contains information on airports, FBOs, charter operators, maintenance and completion centers, and more.  Also available online.
  • The Greatest Generation of Silver Wings  This limited edition book contains interviews with 28 World War II aviators, who are now in their seventies and eighties.  Over 250 pgs, with stories, photos, maps, and diagrams.
  • Guide To 900 Aircraft Museums  146 page book available for sale from the author.
  • Gulf Aviation Guide  Detailed business information, contacts, and services in the Arabian Gulf region.
  • Halfway to Heaven  Re-published edition of book about flying techniques and philosophies of a glider pilot, aerobatic expert and stunt flier, and Australia's first commercial skywriter.
  • Handbook of Business Aviation in Europe  A pocket reference book for owners and operators of turbine helicopters, twin engine aircraft, and business jets throughout Europe. Also available online.  The printed edition is available to purchase, and the content can also be browsed on the website.  Comprehensive airport data, listing handlers and FBOs, based maintenance centres, and charter operators.  Over 2,000 airports online.  Browse through every turbine helicopter, fixed wing twin, and business jet type, with links to manufacturers, new aircraft sales representatives, maintenance and charter operators for each.  Over forty categories of services for aircraft owners and operators.
  • Happy Landings The publisher of books by aviation humourist Garth Wallace, for pilots and people who like to laugh.
  • The History of Air Cargo and Airmail  This comprehensive work covers the subject over a 200 year period.
  • Hypersonic  Canadian author Brian Peters has written a fictional thriller about greed and organized crime in the airline industry.
  • Israel Air Force Art  A book containing 80 pages of art works about the history of the Israeli air force.
  • Jim Clonts  This former B-52 instructor radar-navigator has authored Virulent Winds, a military fiction novel of the near future.
  • Johnnie Johnston  Aviation and maritime books by a former pilot and specialist air navigator in the Royal Air Force.
  • Junior Pilot Adventures  A children's aviation book about two little pilots from South Africa who fly off on an exciting journey to fetch their friends from another city.  Along the way, they experience a number of situations which test their flying skills.  The story aims to educate little readers about some aspects of aviation with a safety theme throughout.
  • The Last Generation  The World War Two memoir of flying boat captain Alan Robertson.
  • LoriJakiela.com  The author website for the memoir of a flight attendant: Miss New York Has Everything (Warner Books).
  • The Lost Hopes  A book about Polish pilots flying over France in 1940.
  • The Man Who Flew The Memphis Belle  A book by Col. Robert Morgan, USAFR, Ret., detailing his experiences as the Eight Air Force Pilot who led his crew and their B-17 through 25 daylight missions over occupied France and Nazi Germany and then went on to complete 26 B-29 missions against Japanese forces.
  • Order of Airshipmen  A book about the next generation of airships and how they would be used.
  • Pilots "Free Flight" Atlas Europe  A handy chart book that includes European information for the VFR and IFR pilot.
  • A Pilot's Guide to Safe Flying  mCOVE Resources provides details about this internationally acclaimed book for GA pilots.  It summarizes the many ways of avoiding situations that can potentially impair the safety of a flight.  It covers topics relating to safe flying, and provides the single pilot with an extremely useful framework for gaining and maintaining knowledge in this important area.
  • The Powered Parachute Bible  The basics of powered parachute flying.
  • Purchasing & Evaluating Airplanes  Information on buying a used airplane written by a full time appraiser.
  • Qantas Jet Star  This book describes a suicidal 747 pilot (the author) and how he was kept flying by Qantas.  Mental illness can be disguised through non-medical means (booze), and perhaps more research and understanding should be given to this problem.
  • Ralph Hood  This award-winning columnist, salesman and sales manager, teacher, and professional public speaker has entertained and enlightened audiences around the world.  His book, Ground Clutter, includes favorite columns from Airport Business Magazine and it's predecessor, FBO.
  • Sarah Byrn Rickman  Author of Flight From Fear, "an engaging quest tale in which a western woman becomes a new kind of pioneer - a WASP pilot during World War II."
  • The Secret Layer  This novel by Simms Thomas is about a flight attendant and her adventures, the men that crossed her path and the many secrets she had to hide.
  • The Secrets to Employee Motivation  Read about the good, the bad, and the ugly examples of Employee Motivation in the airline industry and learn how to apply those lessons in your own workplace.  By David C. Forward.
  • Selbstverlag Lampoudi  A selfmade book about the McDonnell Douglas MD-80 and Boeing 717, in German, with 348 pages.
  • SFC Travel Publications Online  The Airport Transit Guide - 2001 covers over 450 airports and gives taxi rates to the city and to outlying points, tipping guidelines overseas, airport coach, limo and van schedules, parking rates at the airport, car rental agencies, inter-airport connections and more.
  • Skyguide  A subscription pocket guide to North American Airline schedules.  This site also offers news and information for the business traveler, frequent flyer promotions by airlines, travel website reviews.
  • Squawk 7700 - A Pilot's Adventure  An account of the author's 10 years as an aviator, from his adolescent dream of flying to a first officer on a major regional airline.
  • Tail of the Storm  This book is the story of the Military Airlift Command aircrews who flew airlift missions in the logistical tail of the 1991 Persian Gulf War.  It is written from the viewpoint of a crewmember, not a historian or a journalist.
  • This is Your Captain Speaking: A Common Sense Manual for Keeping Your Wings Level  The personal insights of a pilot with common sense who also knows how to have fun.  You might too.
  • The Unmanned Vehicles Handbook  Over 200 specifications for air, land, and marine vehicles.  Reviews of UAV programmes, product guide, suppliers' guide, market analysis, calendar of events.
  • Vantage Points  A site with information about a novel featuring a woman pilot in World War II.
  • Violet the Pilot  An adventurous girl flies different airplanes having different adventures in different countries.  For all ages.
  • War of Our Fathers  Pacific battlefield photographs by photographer Richard Marin.  Free Windows screensaver.
  • Whistling Turtles in Belgian Skies  A full colour, hard cover book with the history of it's use as a training aircraft and as a demonstration aircraft with the Red Devils and solo-display pilots.  Technical data, information for modelers, and photographs of the Fouga in Belgian service.
  • The Wings of Cranes and Eagles  An online graphic novel by Kaichi Satake about the friendship and rivalry between a young Japanese man and a young American, before and during World War II.
  • Wings of Discovery  A fictional story about an ordinary guy who confronts his fears and embarks upon an extraordinary journey.
  • Wings of History, the Air Museums of Europe  Tells the story of aviation in Europe through the historic aircraft that still exist in museums and collections.
  • You F'Coffee Sir?!!!  This "laugh out loud" pro-cabin crew book has been written by two stewardesses (Liz and Julie) that have chosen to remain incognito to protect their jobs.  They've got a blog and you can find them on MySpace.

Other Book and Publication Sites

  • Advanced Consultation Engineering  Specializing in locating hard to find aviation technical manuals.
  • FlightSimBooks.com  They make the full text of 16 classic flight simulation books available on the web.  Everything is available with permission of the copyright holders.  Titles include PC Pilot by Steve Smith, Jet Fighter School by Richard G. Sheffield, Realistic Commercial Flying with Flight Simulator by John Rafferty, and others.
  • French Aerospace Industry  This report RNCOS provides a comprehensive view of the aerospace market in France.  It comprises informative discussions on global and domestic demand/supply trends, futures markets, and micro economic analysis.
  • Jay Miller Aviation History Collection  Aerospace Branch Library, Aerospace Education Center Complex, Central Arkansas Library System.  Aviation and aerospace reference library with 6000 books, 50,000 journals and magazines, manuscripts, photogtaphs.
  • Jimmy Jay  Personal site by a pilot who writes.
  • Plane Talking  A blog devoted to aviation, aviation history, aeroplanes, and especially aviation books.
  • Plane Writing A site built around writings and biographies of vintage pilots.
  • Reviews of Aviation Books Aviation books indexed by title, author, subject.
  • The Shephard Group  Independent business information for the international aerospace community through publications, handbooks, events, and the Internet.