| Winner of the AIAA 2004 Garner-Lasser Aerospace History Literature
Award Expanding the Envelope is the
first book to explore the full panorama of flight research history, from the
earliest attempts by such nineteenth century practitioners as England's Sir
George Cayley, who tested his kites and gliders by subjecting them to
experimental flight, to the cutting-edge aeronautical research conducted by the
NACA and NASA. Michael H. Gorn explores the vital human aspect of the history of
flight research, including such well-known figures as James H. Doolittle, Chuck
Yeager, and A. Scott Crossfield, as well as the less heralded engineers, pilots,
and scientists who also had the "Right Stuff." While the individuals in the
cockpit often receive the lion's share of the public's attention, Expanding
the Envelope
shows
flight research to be a collaborative engineering activity, one in which the
pilot participates as just one of many team members. Here is more than a century
of flight research, from well before the creation of NACA to its rapid
transformation under NASA. Gorn gives a behind the scenes look at the
development of groundbreaking vehicles such as the X-1, the D-558, and the X-15,
which demonstrated manned flight at speeds up to Mach 6.7 and as high as the
edge of space.
Michael H. Gorn, historian with the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, is
the author of The Universal Man: Theodore von Karman's Life in
Aeronautics. He lives in Camarillo, California.
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Reviews:“While NASA means space flight to the general public, this book well illustrates the sterling aeronautical work of the Flight Reseach Center.”—Air Power History
“A work of
profound and original scholarship by a historian who is a master in his field.
It is effectively organized, well-written, and moves deftly and smoothly in such
a way as to cover an enormous amount of material. Gorn has chosen a very broad
canvas and achieved a stunningly successful result. This is an excellent
book.”—W. David Lewis
“Captures it all—the Wright brothers, World War II,
Chuck Yeager’s historic flight—all written in Gorn’s easy-to-read style.
Expanding the Envelope will be a reference text for historians—and some real
pleasure reading for aviation enthusiasts.”—William H. Dana
“A
terrific addition to the collection of NACA and NASA histories as well as to the
literature of twentieth-century science and technology.”—Technology and Culture
“A very solid and original work. It is extremely well researched, adding new
information and perspective derived from hitherto unexamined or unappreciated
archival sources. More specialized work in the history of NACA/NASA flight
research will undoubtedly result from the influence of this book.”—James
Hanson
“Recommended for all readers curious about the development of
government-funded US civilian flight research.”—Choice
“Well-written and
beautifully researched, the in-depth study is a must-read for the flight test
aficionado, aviation historian, and general enthusiast as
well.”—Airpower
“Gorn has written a valuable book about flight
testing.”—Almanac of Seapower
“A welcome revisiting of flight research at
NASA.”—Public Historian
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