The Your books Pool, with geodata

Getting there.

nobody@flickr.com (asr-cascadian) — Sun, 19 May 2013 07:24:04 -0700

Nearly all the books are at least out of boxes now. Leather chair moved from left to right side because of the space taken up by the bookshelves. Rug turned at an angle to fit better between the shelves and the sit-down desk (not visible).

I Like Big Books

nobody@flickr.com (patia) — Sat, 18 May 2013 16:30:10 -0700

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A Song of Ice and Fire

nobody@flickr.com (Lauren Louise Vipond) — Sat, 18 May 2013 04:59:53 -0700

Lauren Louise Vipond posted a photo:

Old Man and the Sea

nobody@flickr.com (Lester Public Library) — Fri, 17 May 2013 03:05:55 -0700

Lester Public Library posted a photo:

LPL Book Discussion, Lester Public Library, Two Rivers, Wisconsin

Учење

nobody@flickr.com (Гаврило) — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:17:32 -0700

Гаврило posted a photo:

17 мая (167 день)

nobody@flickr.com (Levani Lagvilava) — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:32:15 -0700

Levani Lagvilava posted a photo:

Book Steps

nobody@flickr.com (Lydie's) — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:00:27 -0700

Lydie's posted a photo:

Libreria "Acqua Alta"

Flood Tide

nobody@flickr.com (Gonmi) — Tue, 14 May 2013 08:14:06 -0700

Gonmi posted a photo:

Clive Cussler

Enjoy the Outdoors

nobody@flickr.com (Lester Public Library) — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:54:09 -0700

Lester Public Library posted a photo:

Lester Public Library, Two Rivers, Wisconsin

Lockheed Constellation - Jim Winchester

nobody@flickr.com (dlberek) — Sun, 12 May 2013 18:11:52 -0700

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The Queen as Star of the Skies

What? Another book on the Connie? Sure, why not. We propliner enthusiasts can never get too much of a good thing. But for a new entry into an already crowded market place (not to mention one's own bookshelves!), the book had better be worthwhile. And worthwhile it is. The book opens with a chapter on the design and the development of the Constellation, which is very intereseting, as it is the only book I know to feature some unusual nose designs Lockheed proposed for final version of what would become Lockheed's first four-engine airliner. What is surprising, however, is the omission of the earlier "paper airplane," the Lockheed Model 44 Excalibur. For that, readers will need to check out Stringfellow and Barrows's fine book. The chapter chronicles the building and testing of the earliest Connies, which would be taken over by the U.S. Army. The flight testing, working out bugs, and Howard Hughes's publicity stunt in setting a world record with an Army Constellation painted up with TWA markings make for interesting reading. This book does a fine job covering each major Constellation variant, including flight deck and cabin pictures and how the inside of the plane kept pace with the technological advances of the exterior. Included are a production list, a list of Connie survivors, and a compilation of accidents and incidents. Unfortuately the AMSA and Aerochargo (and other) Constellations that were still gracing the skies when this book was written have had their wings clipped. Aficionados of the military variants will also not be disappointed, as these are all described; unfortunately none of the books I have read show what these mysterious birds looked like on the inside. Overall, Winchester's book is a welcome addition to the stable of Constellation books out there. No single book covers everything, but having three (or more) books on this graceful airliner isn't such a bad thing either.

Constellation & Super Constellation - Scott E. Germain (AirlinerTech)

nobody@flickr.com (dlberek) — Sun, 12 May 2013 18:01:26 -0700

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It was this book that heralded the AirlinerTech series of books back in 1998. Maybe because it was the first of the lot, it does not have the detail and in-depth look at its aeronautical subject as later volumes in the series, especially Nicholas Veronico's outstanding contribution on the Boeing 377 Stratocruiser. I suppose those are some of the teething pains of just about anything new. If you want an overview with high-quality pictures, start with Winchester's or Stringfellow's and Bowers's books instead. If you are a propline enthusiast like myself, however, you probably cannot get enough. In that case, if you can find a reasonably priced copy of Germain's book, by all means purchase it. As I mentioned in my reviews of the other two Constellation books, no single volume offers everything; each has something to offer. The chapters on the L-049/649, 1049 (Super Constellation), and 1649 (Starliner) are short but give a well-rounded overview. This book, like the later volumes in the AirlinerTech series, offers some very nice period technical drawings of the exterior, interior, and flight deck. The book, however, fall short in discussing the Starliner (as another reviewer pointed out) and many of the military variants. Further, there is precious little on the development of Lockheed's first four-engine airliner and no supporting illustrations. The two other books also stand out in their charts of individual airframes, an omission that would be rectified in later volumes in the AirlinerTech series. In short, I enjoyed Germain's book and am not planning on selling my copy. I am happy to have it on my shelf. Nevertheless, I would consider this book as more of a supplement to the other two volumes. In other words, start with those. If you want to come back for more, pick up a copy of this book, too.

Boeing 747 -100/200/300/SP - Dennis R. Jenkins (AirlinerTech)

nobody@flickr.com (dlberek) — Sun, 12 May 2013 17:49:58 -0700

dlberek posted a photo:

An Inside and Outside View of the Queen of the Skies

As the Queen of the Skies, the Boeing 747 has been the subject of many books. However, for such a milestone airplane, a milestone book on the aircraft has yet to be published. Everything out there rates as terrible, mediocre, good, or very good, but none I would call excellent. The best one can do is to purchase the best of the lot and take the best each has to offer. Overall, I am happy with the book. It's strong points are a wealth of historic and technical detail and, yes, it's about the Boeing 747, one of my all-time favorite airplanes since my first flight aboard Pan American's Clipper Derby (Later Clipper Black Sea), N743PA. I enjoy re-reading sections and looking at the photographic and technical illustrations that are the hall mark of the AirlinerTech series.

The book opens with a fine introduction on the CLX, the military request for an ultra-high capacity freighter, which was the genesis of the wide-body, both in terms of fuselage design and powerplant technology. Though the Boeing 707 (and DC-8) are illustrated, little attention is given to the podded underwing design we take for granted nowadays. However, a good part of the folklore surrounding the visions of Boeing chief designer Joe Sutter, Boeing CEO Bill Allen, and Pan American World Airways's Juan Trippe are well chronicled; Sutter's distinctive voice comes through clearly. (For more detail on the parts of the major players, I recommend Sutter's book, as well as Clive Irving's "Triumph of the Widebody.") The only aspect missing was how the Boeing 747 took second place to the more glamorous SST projects in the late 1960s. Author Jenkins devotes separate chapters to the four major models of the "Boeing 747 Classic," the -100, -200, -300, and SP. The differences among them are explained. A separate chapter is devoted to the freighters; however only airframes built as such are covered; converted passenger planes were still in the future when the book was published, though the Convertible and Combi variants are discussed. The strong point of the book is the wealth of technical drawings; I also appreciated the many interior (cabin) shots, something too many other authors leave out.

What is not present, however, are tables allowing one to compare variants and look up the histories of individual airframes (at least insofar as manufacturer's serial numbers and first flights are concerned, as anything else would have been out of date even by the time the book first hit the bookstores). The book, unfortunately, suffers from several flaws. The first is the sloppy editing of the captions, with at least one aircraft registration incorrect. More serious, though, is that the captions perpetuate the misconception that 747s with the three-window upper decks are -100 models and those with the ten-window upper decks are -200 models. Phooey! Anyone who knows about the Boeing 747 should be aware that this was never, ever the case. Yet, this mistake keeps cropping up in books on the Jumbo; only I would have expected more from this book. Here's the story: When the Boeing 747 was first introduced, the three-window upper deck was the standard. And, yes, the first airframes off the Everett assembly line were series -100s. However, the first series -200s were not far behind and they, too, had the three-window upper decks - most notably the examples flown by KLM, Lufthansa, and Northwest. Then, a few years after the 747 first took to the skies, the idea adding windows (and, eventually, passenger seats) in the upper-deck areas surfaced. That soon became the standard configuration, and all subsequent airplanes, both -100 and -200 models, were built that way. Thus, both -100 and -200, some with three and others with ten windows were flying. In addition, the ten-window configuration was offered by Boeing as a retrofit to early aircraft; United was an early customer for this, so even its early -122s were soon flying with ten, not three windows upstairs. But wait! It gets even more complicated. When the ten windows was the standard on all new-build airplanes, TWA's order for -131s was still being filled. It the airline's desire to standardize its fleet, it had Boeing perform a reverse modification and fill seven upper-deck windows with sheet metal to create, yep, three-window upper decks! Furthermore, there is a little-known "beefed up" -100 that was offered in the late 1970s called the "-100B," offered long after production of the standard -100s had been superseded by the -200s; of course, those later model -100Bs had ten windows up there (Iran Air still flies one example of this black sheep.) And I won't even get into details of the two Japan Air Lines short-range -100s that were converted with the extended upper deck characteristic of the -300.

I also take issue with the chapter subtitles: "The 747-100: An Underperformer" and "The 747-200: Better but Still Not Perfect." Why the pessimism? Granted, the economics of the early 747s are not of the caliber of the Boeing 767, 777, and 787, not to mention the Airbus A330/340, but they were - and still are - very capable airplanes, performing the task they were designed to do.
With all my ranting, one might ask why I haven't sold my copy. Well, the book's strengths overshadow its weaknesses. It has a lot to offer and is well worth buying and reading. Maybe, like the subject itself, my expectations are larger than life. It's a good book, but will need to be supplemented with a few others out there.

Workhorse Props - Gerry Manning

nobody@flickr.com (dlberek) — Sun, 12 May 2013 17:16:16 -0700

dlberek posted a photo:

It all started back in 1984, when an Englishman named Stephen Piercey toured hard-to-reach areas of South America to photograph old propeller-driven aircraft that had been retired in most parts of the Western world. Some of these machines were World War II veterans; others were former airline flagships. These well-worn survivors were still earning a living, hauling cargo to remote areas not accessible by road. He set out to create a photographic record of these fine machines before they would disappear from the skies forever. A decade later, Gerry Manning, another aviation enthusiast who has traveled the world to see and photograph old aircraft, continued the tradition of the late Mr. Piercey, documenting propeller-driven aircraft, propliners, still around. As with the former book (and its posthumous sequel, Skytrucks 2), this book is a snapshot, documenting aviation history at a specific period of time. The advantage of this approach is that this book does not suffer the fate of other documentaries of this medium, namely, being out of date within a few years of its publication, a particular concern in today's age of instant information available over the Internet.

Fire Bombers in Action - Barry D. Smith

nobody@flickr.com (dlberek) — Sun, 12 May 2013 16:57:38 -0700

dlberek posted a photo:

These Old Aircraft Are Hot Stuff
Fire bombers are aircraft that play a specific role: they carry water or chemical fire retardant to put out brush and forest fires. The low-level flights over hot and high terrain, along with the up- and down drafts place a huge load on the airframe. Only the sturdiest of aircraft are up to such demanding tasks. Yet, it is worth noting that most of these aircraft are vintage machines – World War II bombers, military cargo planes, and Douglas civil airliners, for the most part, as well as Navy aircraft built to withstand hard carrier landings that are, in reality, controlled crashes. Barry Smith went out to photograph these hardy birds; in addition, he has written an informative text, making this volume more than a pretty picture book.

In introducing the reader to this fascinating and little-known area of aviation, Smith refers to the aircraft first used in this role, the mighty Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, an aircraft renowned (and much loved and admired) for its ability to absorb tremendous damage and bring her crew home safely. Most of these superb aircraft were scrapped right after World War II. However, a few lucky airplanes, built at the end of the Second World War, never saw military action and were first used for search-and-rescue duties. In the 1960s and 1970s, these stalwart workhorses found new work as fire bombers; after nearly two decades of front-line service, aviation historians became aware of the tremendous historic value of these planes, which exceeded their worth as fire bombers. These machines are now either museum pieces or expertly restored – if not rebuilt – war birds that fly the airshow circuit, earning their keep by offering pleasure rides for those lucky enough to afford the adventure.

Chapter 1details life at a tanker base; chapter 2 chronicles air tankers. Both chapters feature an astounding array of aircraft, machines that took over once the World War II planes earned a well-deserved retirement. These aircraft range from ex-Navy machines such as the Lockheed P-2V Neptune and Grumman S-2 Tracker, former Air Force transports such as the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, and civilian and military Douglas DC-4, DC-6, and DC-7 transports. Also featured is the Canadair CL-215, the only aircraft designed specifically for this role. Rarities, such as the Consolidated PB4Y Privateer and Fairchild C-119 and C-123 also make an appearance. Helicopters are also well suited to the task of picking up a load of water and dropping it at a precise location, the topic of chapter 3. The final section, chapter 4, tells the life of smokejumpers, those brave men and women who are transported to sites to fight the fires on the ground – they are either delivered directly by helicopter or parachute out of airplanes, such as the Short C-23 Sherpa.

The photography may not be artistic, but this is journalism in the true sense of the word. The scenes are spectacular; the text and photos do full justice in chronicling the men, women, and aircraft that are up to one of the most demanding and dangerous jobs in the world.

Chesterton

nobody@flickr.com (Layla Jaan) — Sun, 12 May 2013 15:22:19 -0700

Layla Jaan posted a photo:

The Haul

nobody@flickr.com (Layla Jaan) — Sun, 12 May 2013 01:23:09 -0700

Layla Jaan posted a photo:

Sky Truck 2 - Stephen Piercey

nobody@flickr.com (dlberek) — Sat, 11 May 2013 18:03:18 -0700

dlberek posted a photo:

From the Grandaddy of Propliner Fans

Back in 1980s, large propeller-driven aircraft were either simply old beasts of burden, relegated to flying local cargo routes in remote locations, or piles of unwanted aluminum rotting away at some aircraft boneyard. Fans with more than a little interest in these relics were part of an elite group. Foremost among them was Stephen Piercey, whose passion for these venerable birds took him to all corners of the world. Sad to say, Mr. Piercey, at age 27, died in an air crash photographing yet another skytruck. The editors at Osprey have collected a group of Mr. Piercey's superb photos that were not included in the original volume and published this sequel in his honor (as the title bears his and only his name). Like the first Sky Truck book, this beautiful volume is part of his legacy, a treat to today's fans of the wonderful old planes he loved so much.

These spectacular pictures (though some are marred by their placement over the book centerfold) are accompanied by interesting and amusing captions that also try to reflect the humor for which Stephen Piercey is fondly remembered.

Stephen Piercey, son of pilot and author Ray Piercey, documented propeller-driven aircraft at a time when most warbirds were sleek fighters, not lumbering transports with four thirsty and leaky radials. Interest in these larger aircraft is a comparatively recent phenomenon. Most of his photos are in Latin American countries such as Bolivia and Colombia; however, examples as far afield as India, several Caribbean islands, and northern Canada are included.

Stephen Piercey's photographs are breathtaking, portraying not only these venerable aircraft, but also cultures and life-styles in countries most Westerners know little about. Furthermore, many of these pictures are rare, as the aircraft depicted have since crashed or been scrapped, including a very rare shot of the world's last Boeing Stratocruiser shortly before she, too, fell to the scrapper's torch. A C-121, however, was luckier. The hulk shown in this book has been miraculously transformed into the shiny gem known as Columbine II. Two photos not taken by the author are included as tributes: one of Vickers Viscount G-APIM, renamed Viscount Stephen Piercey, and a window view from a Lockheed Constellation showing its Wright Turbo-Compounds a turning. Like the first volume, this beautiful book is a tribute to both Piercey and those wonderful old soldiers, a great addition to any aviation enthusiast's bookshelf.

Sky Truck - Stephen Piercey

nobody@flickr.com (dlberek) — Sat, 11 May 2013 17:54:46 -0700

dlberek posted a photo:

The Grandaddy of Propliner Books

Back in 1985, when large propeller-driven aircraft were simply old beasts relegated to flying local cargo routes in remote locations (that is, those planes lucky enough to escape the boneyard), there was little interest in these relics. Most warbirds were sleek fighters, not lumbering transports with four thirsty and leaky radials. Then there was Stephen Piercey, son of aviation writer Ray Piercey, who also flew a Vickers Viscount for a living. Mr. Piercey's passion for these unsung workhorses took him to all corners of the world to document a vanishing breed. He was also the founder of Propliner magazine, a subject that has garnered increasing interest over the past several years. Most of his photos are in Latin American countries such as Bolivia and Colombia; however, examples as far afield as India, Togo, and Kuwait are included.

Stephen Piercey's photographs are breathtaking, portraying not only these venerable aircraft, but also cultures and life-styles in countries most Westerners know little about. Furthermore, many of these pictures are rare, as the aircraft depicted have since crashed or been scrapped, including a very rare DC-6B Swing Tail. Extraordinary and rare types include a B-17 hauling meat in the Bolivian hinterlands and a Consolidated C-87 used as a repository for spare parts at La Paz. In addition to those two planes, another two are now museum pieces: the Vought-Sikorsky VS-44, shown derelict on St. Thomas and now beautifully restored at the New England Air Museum, Windsor Locks, CT, USA, and a Short Sandringham, now on display in Southampton, England.

These spectacular pictures (though some are marred by their placement over the book centerfold) are accompanied by interesting and amusing captions and anecdotes, reflecting the humor for which Stephen Piercey is fondly remembered. Mr. Piercey died in an air crash shortly after this book was published; this beautiful book is part of his legacy, a treat to today's fans of the wonderful old planes he loved so much.

The Airliner Book of the Boeing 747 - Mark Nicholls

nobody@flickr.com (dlberek) — Sat, 11 May 2013 17:44:03 -0700

dlberek posted a photo:

A King-Sized Overview of a King-Sized Airliner

When I first saw this book, my reaction was the same when I saw my first Boeing 747 (when the plane was still brand-new) - Wow! That thing is huge! That is probably the main weakness of the book; it will require a tall space on one's bookshelf. The publisher should have gone for a smaller format, say something like 12 by 9 inches and made it a little thicker. Now, one would expect an overview to be just that, an overview. In this respect, however, "The Airliner World Book of the Boeing 747," exceeded my expectations. There is a chapter for every major variant of the big fellow, the -100, SR, SP, -200, -300, and -400. Only the newest version, the -800 is not included, but that variant had not yet flown when the book was published in 2002; nevertheless, this book is more up to date than most others on the Boeing 747, a good thing to keep in mind.

Each variant includes good, detailed text, outlining the development, history, and sub-variants of each type, both later variants and modifications to existing airframes, along with a table of specifications and a list of airlines that operate or had flown the type and nice three-view drawing that remind readers of those found in the old "Observer's Aircraft" series - at least those of us old enough to remember those precious handbooks. Mr. Nicholls also deserves kudos for including many quality pictures of the aircraft in a variety of schemes, including some that are quite rare (including interesting hybrid schemes); that alone will make the book worth purchasing to many enthusiasts. The chapter on the -100 could have been more detailed, to include the reason for Boeing to offer the side cargo door option to Sabena, creating the Combi version. Nicholls, however, does describe the lesser-known -100B version. For the -200 version, Nicholls does an admirable job, but he does fall into the trap of the way of distinguishing a -100 versus a -200 is the number of upper-deck windows (it isn't). Can't any aviation writer get this right?

And there is more. There is a nice chapter on the construction of the Boeing 747, along with chapters on engines and engine development, flight decks and interiors (yes!), aircraft in airline service, and hull losses. The chapter on future variants is right in some places and a little off in others but, then again, who can predict the future. Overall, what you get is a feast of pictures - unusual ones, not the more common stock footage found elsewhere, and a text that goes beyond what one would expect in an overview. It's a fun book to read. Almost as much fun as riding in the real thing

Alaskan Props - Karl-Heinz Morawietz & Joerg Weier

nobody@flickr.com (dlberek) — Sat, 11 May 2013 17:34:29 -0700

dlberek posted a photo:

A Remembrance of Aviation Times Past

Continuing the tradition of photographing vintage propeller-driven aircraft still earning their keep started by Stephen Piercey in the early 1980s, two excellent German photographers, Karl-Heinz Morawietz and Joerg Weier set out to document propliner activity in the great white north. By going to Alaska, the authors document areas accessible only by air; that theme carries over from the Andes region and tropical rainforests of South America of the "Sky Truck" books, but offers a startling contrast with the much colder but equally forbidding wild areas of Alaska and the northwestern Canadian provinces. As of this writing, February 2013, most of the aircraft in this book are gone; a few continue to soldier on but nobody knows for how long.

Moraweitz and Weier have chosen an unusual method of arranging the book - by airline. The opening pages show a Quonset hut that served as the terminal of Reeve Aleutian Airways at Cold Bay, but further description of that legendary airline will have to wait until the end of the book. First off, there is Northern Air Cargo. The many pictures of its fleet of DC-6 and C-118 freighters are spectacular; there are even nice cockpit and window view shots from the most reliable of piston-engine airliners. This section, in my opinion, is the highlight of the book. Northern Air is still around, but the propliner fleet has been reduced to a single example, maybe two. Markair, a Canadian outfit, graces the third chapter with it mighty go-anywhere Lockheed Hercules transports; one is reminded when pioneering Alaska Airlines flew the type back in the 1960s and 1970s. The third chapter profiles a series of smaller companies - naturally, the local color is strongest here. A lesser-known but interesting little company is Stebbins & Ambler. Step aboard for a ride, as a Fairchild "Dollar-Nineteen" of "Alaska's First Native Air Transport Operation" makes its way out of a spectacular valley... just barely! At the end of the book is Reeve Aleutian. With the evocative picture at the front of the book, I was hungering for a healthy dose of that legendary airline's fleet of L-188 Electra prop-jets, the last passenger variants anywhere in the world. Here I was disappointed, as coverage was scanty and pictures few. The Airline's first - and most famous specimen, N1968R - is looking forlorn, patched up after an in-flight failure. That bird would be repaired and continue to fly for a long, long time afterward. I would have loved to have seen passenger and combi cargo cabin shots, flight deck views, and more than the one single window view. Reeve Aleutian certainly deserved more.

The photographs are superb, well worth the price of the book. There are decent captions, but little more on the history of the aircraft and airlines depicted. There you have the good and not-so-good, but with this book, the good certainly comes up the winner. This book is a wonderful snapshot of the final glory days of piston-engine aviation in Alaska, one any propliner enthusiast would be proud to own.

Daniel L. Berek
Freelance writer and reviewer