Rod Machado's How to Fly an Airplane

I only gave this FIVE STARS because there wasn’t an option to give TEN STARS!!THIS BOOK SHOULD BECOME REQUIRED READING FOR EVERY STUDENT, PILOT, AND INSTRUCTOR!!I’ve only been flying 50 years, and this is the absolute best how-to book I’ve ever read. Magnitudes better than second best!! I’ve tried unsuccessfully to get instructors to use the “horizon dot on the windscreen” technique that Rod recommends (I used it for years in the F-111 to make very-high-speed, very-low-level, high G-turns without descending into the ground or climbing into SAM territory). Now, Rod recommends this same procedure. Rod also explains how (and why) angle of attack rises exponentially when you approach stall speed (vital information that could have saved many pilots as a stall/spin accident just “sneaked up and surprised them”. I had only seen this AoA vs airspeed data published once before on an obscure website). And, Rod adeptly confronts the never-ending dispute about whether to use pitch or power for airspeed. He provides 3 techniques, and he explains his unbiased rationale for/against each in detail.Every maneuver is explained in easy-to-read, humorous dialog with explanatory pictures. I wish the FAA’s Airplane Flying Handbook would be re-written using Rod’s words and style!Students using this information should be able to save hours of dual flight instruction (at about $150+/hour), so this book will pay for itself, many times over!

This book is so well-written and easy and fun to read. Though to be frank I don't care for the author's corny humor, it's so great in every other respect that I strongly recommend it for anyone learning to fly, or even flight-simulator hobbyists who want to fly with more realism and precision.

While maneuvers more or less are something one should get from a CFI, this book provides an excellent reference and backup material. It's well written and the traditional Rod jokes take a back seat to the knowledge provided.The quality of the physical book is very high where the paper it's printed on is substantial.Overall a great addition to my library.

Rod Machado explains the maneuvers in such an understandable way, it is amazing! He even teaching you whether or not you are seated properly in ther cockpit. I highly recommend this book for student pilots, private pilots and CFIs, even experienced pilots.

Years ago while in college, I soloed and got a few hours in light aircraft. The desire to get my private license, and indeed own my own Piper Cub, has never left me. But things get in the way--work, family, expenses, time, and I have never completed that wish. I have built hundreds of model airplanes and gone flying at every opportunity, and even worked for 12 years for an airline. I am still getting ready and this new book of Rod Machado is exactly what I need. While it is an expensive purchase, it provides your own instructor at your side on every page, and as such it is a bargain. It is clear and easily understood, has excellent pictures and photos to further explain each point. Such heavy tech can be exhausting, but the author adds humor to lighten the learning sessions while getting across the necessary point. And so each day, I go to "my lesson" and then to practice it on my flight simulator and await the day when I will be ready to continue my ambition to sport or private pilot. Thanks, Rod, for enabling this dream to stay alive. This book is highly recommended for any pilot, wannabee, or one day could be.

Simply the best book written for learning how to fly a plane. Great diagrams with awesome written explanations. Rod's writing make reading enjoyable and he clearly loves what he does and knows how to explain it well.

I haven't found any other that comes close in clarity of explanation. Each procedure is explained step-by-step using text and high quality graphics. Difficult or supporting points are explained further in separate boxes when necessary.

Great help for a student pilot. Think of it as a more detailed and updated version of the classic flying manual titled “Stick and Rudder”. Will continue to be a reference for years to come!