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Date: Thu, 24 Sep 1998 09:08:25 -0500
From: Snowbird <snbird@ibm.net>
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Subject: Re: Groundschool matls for self study? 
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Bill Rodgers wrote:

> I took some sailplane lessons some years ago and would like to go for > a real license in the near future.  I learn well from books so I 
> thought I'd get a jump on groundschool by "hitting the books".  My > question is: Which books?

Bill, you are a lucky guy, because there's a lot of good stuff
out there, some of it free or very low cost.  Let me also recommend
to you Interlibrary Loan.  It turns out many aviation books are 
available to borrow this way, which can be a good inexpensive way
to decide which books suit you.  There is an element of personal
taste here!  A note on bulliten boards at local airports can also
produce used books at a better price.  I'm going to emphasize free
and lower-cost ways of obtaining good info, because for many of us
a dollar saved is 1/35 of a flight hour earned, and all the free
stuff I mention is worth having even if your budget is unlimited.

All of the books mentioned below are available from many sources,
including the Aviation Book Company (1-800-423-2708), the Outer
Marker Pilot Shops (1-(800)-441-2072), and several sources online
(search; this is already too durn long).

Buy a good PP training book.  My personal recommendation is Rod
Machado's Private Pilot Manual.  It has better technical explanations 
of many topics than some drier texts, and is written in a lively and
entertaining style.  I can't keep it in my house because my
pilot-wannabe friends keep borrowing it and won't give it back, and I
have to buy myself another copy for reference.  I asked Rod about a
volume discount, but he said only if I'm a CFI, which I'm not.  Sheesh.

If corny jokes make you gag, you might prefer the drier, but very
complete Jeppeson Private Pilot Manual.  I've heard very good things
about the new edition.  Rod's book wasn't published when I started
ground school.  I worked my way through the Jeppeson book and
accompanying exercises, and I never found any gaps in my home
ground-schooling, but my husband used to call it the "sleeping tablet"
because I studied late at night, and he'd invariably find me snoozing
with my head on the book.  When it came out, he bought me the Machado
book and that kept me awake.  It also answered all sorts of questions
and clarified points I didn't understand after reading the Jepp book.

Cessna has a pilot manual which used to be the exact same text as
the Jepp book, except with the exercise book included.  I don't know
if this is still true of the new edition.

Other popular PPL books are The Complete Private Pilot Manual by
Bob Gardner and The Student Pilot's Manual by William Kershner.
The former has the advantage of brevity-maybe too much brevity.
(it didn't have in-depth explanations of anything I had questions
about). Kershner's book has a weath of information, with critical
knowledge and interesting trivia intermingled and sometimes
indistinguishable IMO. But I have friends who are well satisfied with
both.  I read them through Interlibrary Loan.

If you get the impression there's an element of the Goldilocks
fairy-tale (and personal taste), you're exactly right.  Any of the
above are good books and will get you the info you need.  Buy one
and start reading; if you're a patient guy, order 'em through
interlibrary loan first and see what you like best.  The very newest
editions and Rod Machado's book may not be available from ILL.
 
As supplemental material, I would recommend Stick and Rudder by 
Wolfgang Langewiesche, "See How It Flies" by John Denker (FREE on the
net, but worth paying for: http://www.monmouth.com/~jsd/fly/how/ ), 
CFI Gene Whitt's material (FREE, $$ for postage requested, from
gwhitt@ix.netcom.com, and well worth it).  

When I had aerodynamic questions, I borrowed "Aerodynamics for Naval
Aviators" which I found helpful.

You may also find you want more information on weather.  There's
a government publication called "Aviation Weather".  It is
informational, but dry.  I've heard good things about the new 
Jeppeson book Aviation Weather.  It's not a text, but I found
Robert N. Buck's book Weather Flying illuminating.  Frankly
I'm still in search of the Holy Grail of Weather Understanding. 
So too are all the wx forcasters in my area, from what I can tell.

Eventually, you will need a copy of the relevant Federal Air Regulations
and Airman's Information Manual.  The former is available online at:
    http://www.faa.gov/avr/AFS/FARS/far_idx.htm
If you put a note on bulliten boards at nearby airports you may be 
able to acquire an outdated hardcopy now, and buy a current one when 
you actually start learning to fly.  I like ASA's edition the best.  
You really have to know the exact wording of some of the FARs to 
answer the FAA written test correctly!

The FAA puts out a series of excellent FREE publications,
many on basic topics useful to student pilots.  There is a 3 part
series on landings, as well as info on weather, thunderstorms,
windshear etc.  These are available from the local Flight Standards
District Office, obscurely listed under US Government-Transportation
Department-Federal Aviation Administration-Flight Standards District
Office in the local phone book, if there is one near you.  Many
flight schools stock these.  They are also available from the 
Government Printing Office.  Highly recommended.

The Airline Owner's and Pilot's Association (http://www.aopa.org 1-800-
USA-AOPA) is worth joining.  They put out an excellent monthly magazine,
and have an extensive online library of useful articles available to
members, as well as a hotline to answer student questions and help
with medical information.

The National Association of Flight Instructors puts out a monthly 
magazine, Flight Training.  CFIs can offer FREE 6 month subscriptions
to students (which they are glad to do, because it extends their own
subscription).  I subscribed after my freebies finally ran out.

You may also want either a computer program or (my preference) a
book of the FAA written test questions to study for the written
test.  Many of the FAA questions are very picky, and IMO to get a 
good score it is necessary to study specifically for the test.  I
don't have experience with different software or books to recommend
one over another.  There is free test practice software online at:
   http://w3.one.net/~kip/faatest.html
   http://www.abnormal.com/faatest/

When it comes time to start your flight training, you might want
to borrow Gregory Penglis "Complete Guide to Flight Instruction".
Make careful notes of his section on flying and especially on landing
(good tips there), and glance through his opinionated and cynical
description of various flight training options for ideas on what
you do (and don't) want in a CFI.

Hope this helps,
Snowbird


