The Aeronautical Annual 1897: A Book That Helped the Wrights Take Off

FOREWORD --- The Aeronautical Annuals of 1895-96-97 are among the most important pre-Wright era aviation books ever published. Prized by collectors, original editions are extremely rare; a pristine original set could be worth $3,000. In tribute to the brave early aviation pioneers, I am delighted to re-publish these treasures and make them available to everyone. In a letter to James Means's son, Philip, dated November 12, 1921, Orville Wright wrote: "The Aeronautical Annuals of 1895-96-97 contained the best collection of reprints from the work of the earlier experimenters in aviation..., and I do not know of a better collection today. Your father showed rare good judgment in his selections, separating most of the good work from the mass of worthless matter which had been published. "Your father's work was of great benefit to us, and I think of my personal acquaintance with him with affection." After stumbling upon an original set of these amazing books in 1972 in an old, out-of-the-way bookstore in Boston, with Tom Peghiny, my first student and great friend ever since, I committed to advancing ultralight aviation. Tom went on to become a world champion hangglider pilot, maker of ultralight aircraft, and founder of light sport aircraft leader Flight Design USA. These three books, along with Otto Lilienthal's landmark Birdflight as the Basis of Aviation, inspired me to leave my job as an aerospace engineer to design and manufacture hanggliders. I then wrote The Hang Glider's Bible, and started publishing books. In 1899 the Smithsonian recommended the Annuals to Wilbur Wright when he wrote asking for information on human flight. These three volumes are books of vision, featuring the plans, dreams, and schemes of some of aviation's visionaries-Da Vinci, Cayley, Henson, Langley, Maxim, Herring, Chanute, Lilienthal, and others. The Annuals provided the Wrights with a wealth of knowledge about the thinking and experiments which had been done up until that time, giving them a foundation on which to formulate their own ideas. Each volume is packed with incredible information, drawings, and photographs of the pre-Wright era, making them must-reads for all aviation enthusiasts. Blue skies and tailwinds- Mike Markowski The Aeronautical Annuals of 1895-96-97 contained the best collection of reprints from the work of the earlier experimenters in aviation..., and I do not know of a better collection today. Your father showed rare good judgment in his selections, separating most of the good work from the mass of worthless matter which had been published. His work was of great benefit to us, and I think of my personal acquaintance with him with affection."-Orville Wright, in a letter to James Means's son Philip, dated November 12, 1921. The Aeronautical Annuals of 1895-96-97 are among the most important pre-Wright era aviation books ever published. Prized by collectors, original editions are extremely rare; a pristine set could be worth $3,000. In commemoration of the Wright Brothers' giving us wings, I am delighted to republish these treasures. When Wilbur Wright when he wrote to the Smithsonian Institute on May 30, 1899 asking for information on human flight, they recommended the Annuals. These three volumes feature the plans, dreams, and schemes of some of aviation's greatest visionaries-Da Vinci, Cayley, Henson, Maxim, Herring, Chanute, Lilienthal, and others. The Annuals gave the Wrights a wealth of knowledge about the thinking and experiments which had been done up until that time-providing them with a foundation on which to formulate their own ideas. Each volume is packed with incredible information, drawings, and photographs, making them must-reads for all aviation enthusiasts."