WILD BLUE WONDERS: EXPLORING THE MAGIC OF FLIGHT Flying's Lane Wallace has just published Wild Blue Wonders: Exploring the Magic of Flight, dedicated to "every child who's ever run downhill, arms outstretched, and dreamed of taking flight." Igniting a passion for flying in young people is easy, but explaining flight and how planes work in simple terms is not. Lane succeeds in both areas, using plain language to explain complicated aerodynamic laws without formulas, illustrating them with color photographs, clearly drawn diagrams and humorous cartoons. Many individuals and companies contributed photographs, graphics and hard-to-find aircraft information.
The book covers broad topics such as atmosphere and comparing "G" or "gravity" forces with getting squished in your seat at the bottom of a rollercoaster. The section on "Designing an Airplane" describes wings and control surfaces and gives a step-by-step explanation of how piston engines work. The third section explains how to put it all together-how to create original designs and how to join a flying community.
Lane's conversational tone deftly avoids droning instruction. Visually, the book sidesteps a text-heavy feel with illustrations and photographs. Technical explanations are interspersed with short profiles on pilots-everyone from bush, glider, airshow and firefighters to balloonists, commercial airline captains and a NASA astronaut. Her enthusiasm conveys that flying and designing airplanes is a real possibility for anyone. The 140-page book is published by the EAA Aviation Foundation and costs $19.95 plus $5 shipping. To order, call 800/843-3612 or visit www.eaa.org.
NEW TILLEY HAT Tilley Endurables, maker of the famous Tilley T3 cap, has introduced a lighter-weight version, the LT3, made of Supplex nylon. Like other Tilley hats, the new cap features a wide brim for sun protection (UPF 50+), a patented neck strap (that really works) and a secret money-stashing pocket. For cockpit use, the Aussie-style brim can be snapped up and tucked under the headsets. The LT3 retails for $60. For more information, call 800/363-8737. -Robert Goyer
AVIATION WATERCOLORS Lonni Sue Johnson has taken to the skies as an aviator and watercolorist, with her business, Watercolor Farm Flying Notecards. Ms. Johnson has reprinted her original watercolors of farm flying on standard and long notecards, spiral notebooks, bookmarks and posters (10x24 or 5.5x14), which are signed and printed on archival paper. Each notecard has its own title; "A Cub for all Seasons" is pictured here. "Follow Me Home," featuring a SuperCub, a Fairchild and a Stearman, will be exhibited at EAA's AirVenture 2001.
When Lonni Sue was a new homeowner, her house painter/pilot took her for her first airplane ride. Immediately hooked, Lonni Sue became his first student. After purchasing a Cub, while looking for a hangar, she bought a home in Coopers- town, New York, complete with a dirt landing strip-latitude N 42-47.6, longitude W074-48.8, elevation 1,993', notations printed on the back of every piece. Individual cards are $4; they sell for $3 each if you buy 21-99 and $2.50 each if you buy more than 100. Order from www.lonnisue.com or call 607/264-3580 or 212/873-7749. Shipping is free. For discounts visit Sky Acres Airport, LaGrangeville, NY, the first FBO that featured Johnson's work.
