Expanding the Envelope

Winner of the 2004 Gardner-Lasser Aerospace History Literature Award given by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

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

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

Recommended for all readers curious about the development of government-funded US civilian flight research.

~Choice

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

A welcome revisiting of flight research at NASA.

~Public Historian

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 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