From Kitty Hawk to the edge of space — a complete guide to the science, history, and future of flight.
What keeps a 900,000-pound aircraft in the air? How did humanity go from twelve seconds aloft at Kitty Hawk to landing spacecraft on drone ships in the ocean? And what comes next — electric jets, air taxis, hypersonic travel, missions to Mars?
Soaring High: The Science and Wonders of Aeronautics answers these questions in plain language that requires no engineering background, no pilot's license, and no prior knowledge of physics. Written for students, curious professionals, and anyone who has ever watched a plane cross the sky and wondered how it works, this book covers the full sweep of aeronautics from its ancient roots to its extraordinary future.
Inside, you'll find:
- The four forces of flight — lift, weight, thrust, and drag — explained from first principles
- A complete history of aviation, from da Vinci's sketches to the Space Shuttle
- How airfoils, control surfaces, engines, and landing gear actually work
- The physics behind Newton's laws, Bernoulli's principle, and aircraft stability
- Every major aircraft type: jets, helicopters, gliders, drones, airships, and more
- Career paths in aeronautics — pilots, engineers, air traffic controllers, and emerging roles
- The technologies reshaping aviation: electric propulsion, eVTOL air taxis, supersonic flight, and commercial spaceflight
Whether you're a student exploring a career in aviation, an engineer expanding into a new field, or simply a lifelong learner, Soaring High gives you a foundation that will serve you for decades.
The sky is not the limit. It never was.
