Aerodynamics

Authoritative and engaging, this popular history traces the science of aerodynamics from the age of Newton through the mid-20th century. The author, a well-known pioneer in aerodynamic research, addresses himself to readers acquainted with the facts of aviation but less familiar with the field's underlying theories. He employs straightforward, nontechnical language to recount the behind-the-scenes struggles of engineers and physicists with problems associated with lift, drag, stability, aeroelasticity, and the sound barrier. Other topics include the effects of speed on ailerons; the factors behind the phenomenon of a sonic boom; and the problems surrounding the inception of space travel. 1957 ed. 72 figures.