From the Introduction:
The beauty of light airplanes is that they belong to one of the last engineering fields where one individual with the determination to understand a relatively wide range of subjects, still today, is able to create the “whole thing” – From concept to design; from development to building and even to flying: The entire project, from beginning to end, can be done by just one person!
Acquiring the necessary knowledge takes work and applying it takes courage. Through sound thinking and perseverance, it is entirely possible to transform the dream to flying “on your own wings” into a reality. You need vision, knowledge and an active will: the vision is from the future, knowledge is largely based on the past, and the will of the present makes it possible to create in today’s sense-perceptible world. This is what this book is all about. In these pages, I hope to share some of my professional (and other) life experiences with “students” of all ages who wish to better understand light airplane design and flight behavior…
From the conclusion:
“No bird soars too high,
If he soars on his own wings.”
William Blake (1757-1827)
As we learn to cope with – and even master – the winds, gusts, and turbulence encountered when flying (figuratively the ups and downs in our everyday lives), we have little choice but to learn and better understand what great thinkers like Tolstoy, Blake, Emerson (and the many others quoted throughout this book) have so succinctly articulated. It is inevitable that as we design, build and fly our own airplanes, we will gain better insights into the world and into ourselves as well. For as we seek to achieve our dream and ask questions along the way, we are bound to find some answers.
(…)
A responsible designer must know the limits of the formulas and when it is safe to extrapolate them, or how to develop further connections which describe the physical reality applicable in understandable terms. Whenever possible, I have tried in this book to give the interested and serious reader enough information to allow reliable airworthy designs. But as the creator, you will still have to use sound and independent judgment.
My sincerest wish is that the pages you hold in your hands will help you to transform your vision, through sound thinking, into deeds.
“Always do what you are afraid to do.”
R.W. Emerson (1803-1882)
Acquiring the necessary knowledge takes work and applying it takes courage. Through sound thinking and perseverance, it is entirely possible to transform the dream to flying “on your own wings” into a reality. You need vision, knowledge and an active will: the vision is from the future, knowledge is largely based on the past, and the will of the present makes it possible to create in today’s sense-perceptible world. This is what this book is all about. In these pages, I hope to share some of my professional (and other) life experiences with “students” of all ages who wish to better understand light airplane design and flight behavior…
From the conclusion:
“No bird soars too high,
If he soars on his own wings.”
William Blake (1757-1827)
As we learn to cope with – and even master – the winds, gusts, and turbulence encountered when flying (figuratively the ups and downs in our everyday lives), we have little choice but to learn and better understand what great thinkers like Tolstoy, Blake, Emerson (and the many others quoted throughout this book) have so succinctly articulated. It is inevitable that as we design, build and fly our own airplanes, we will gain better insights into the world and into ourselves as well. For as we seek to achieve our dream and ask questions along the way, we are bound to find some answers.
(…)
A responsible designer must know the limits of the formulas and when it is safe to extrapolate them, or how to develop further connections which describe the physical reality applicable in understandable terms. Whenever possible, I have tried in this book to give the interested and serious reader enough information to allow reliable airworthy designs. But as the creator, you will still have to use sound and independent judgment.
My sincerest wish is that the pages you hold in your hands will help you to transform your vision, through sound thinking, into deeds.
“Always do what you are afraid to do.”
R.W. Emerson (1803-1882)
