The 100-year anniversary of humankind’s first flight is in 2003. In celebration of that achievement, David Blatner turns his clever technical and mathematical expertise to the conundrum of flight in his newest venture, The Flying Book. Blatner explains how airplanes work, what happens in the traffic control tower, what the various bumps and noises of a typical flight mean, why you shouldn’t be afraid of flying, why airplanes do occasionally crash, what happens to your luggage after it is tagged and much more. He also gives a brief history of flight, describes the strangest aircraft ever invented and offers a peek into what the aerospace industry has planned for the future. Filled with a slew of anecdotes, sidebars and illustrations, The Flying Book will offer comfort and entertainment to those anxious about flying and enlightenment to all who read it.