The birth of a book

The receptionist seemed amused by my proclamation and introduced me to Mike Walters, my first flight instructor, who made an appointment with me for my first lesson.

And then—using money I had saved from my newspaper route—I became the proud owner of a new E6B computer and a textbook titled Aeronautical Training by Charles Zweng. Unable to afford much more of this, I thankfully managed to get hired as a line boy for 50 cents an hour. Twenty-two hours got me an hour of dual in Bell’s Aeronca Champ.

The Zweng manual was comprehensive but no fun to read, a sure cure for insomnia. I was disappointed that my first aviation book wasn’t more interesting. As my career as an aviation writer evolved over the years, I planned to someday write a book that would be chock full of exciting photos and diagrams, a book that would excite the reader and encourage him or her to take that same trip to a flight school that I had taken so very long ago.

It was a 15-year project that kept me on the prowl for great photos that could be included. And so it is that I unabashedly and proudly announce that my latest book, An Illustrated Guide to Flying, is now available.

The book has chapters on aviation history, the science of flight, aircraft variety, aircraft engines, flight instruments, flight maneuvers, basic navigation, radio navigation, aircraft performance, weather, airports and air traffic control, aviation regulations, and learning to fly. Although this list resembles the table of contents of a textbook, it is not that kind of book; it does not prepare the reader for an FAA written exam. An Illustrated Guide to Flying is instead a colorful, fun, and exciting introduction to the fundamentals involved in becoming a pilot. It is intended for those of all ages yearning or learning to fly as well as those simply interested in aviation.

It is a concise, authoritative handbook replete with easily understandable explanations related to the basics of flight. The 216-page book is profusely populated with 350 color photographs and illustrations. It is available as a softcover book or an e-book at your favorite FBO, online retailer, or at the publisher’s website, asa2fly.com. This book has been a labor of love, and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed creating it.

I would also like to share with you one of the most hilarious experiences I ever had as an aviation writer. This was in 1978 when my close friend, Hal Fishman, and I were collaborating on our first novel, The Vatican Target. (We wrote our second novel, Flight 902 is Down, in 1982; both were published by St. Martin’s Press.)

Most of the writing of these books occurred during a year’s worth of lengthy lunches at K’s Deli in West Los Angeles, a popular eatery for those who flew out of nearby Santa Monica Airport—especially if you enjoyed kosher corned beef or hot pastrami on rye.

During one of our creative lunches, Hal and I were developing the plot for our first novel. It involved hijacking an airliner transporting the pope and his entourage. We apparently got excitedly boisterous as our scheme finally began to take shape. Unbeknownst to us, a pair of elderly ladies in a nearby booth became alarmed at what they had overheard and decided to report our “nefarious plans” to 911.

It wasn’t long before a trio of police officers appeared at our table to investigate the “skyjackers.” No joke. One of them, however, soon recognized Hal, a well-known television news anchor in Los Angeles (KTLA-TV).

This led to such a violent wave of laughter that it still hurts my stomach to think about it.

BarrySchiff.com