PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF AVIATION

Abstract

MR. DAVY'S book merits the attention of many people, for it is comprehensive. Those who are interested in the days previous to the invention of flight will find some very interesting chapters going back to the ideas of Leonardo da Vinci and tracing the subject through the great balloons of Montgolfier to the advent of the aeroplane. Then Mr. Davy deals with the historical production of flight, and here nobody has greater authority. I myself am very critical of the contributions by different people which have been very much mixed up lately with fallacious claims. Mr. Davy, with his knowledge and study of these early times, brought about no doubt by his association with the aeronautical exhibit in the Science Museum, gets everything right, so that I look upon his early historical side as something well worth preserving and referring to, should reference back be sought on any point.

Air Power and Civilization

By M. J. Bernard Davy. Pp. viii + 202 + 8 plates. (London: George Allen and Unwin, Ltd., 1941.) 8s. 6d. net.