My new book from Springer Verlag, Modeling Ships and Space Craft: The Science and Art of Mastering the Oceans and Sky, is out!

This book examines the theory and practice behind scale model testing and the design of ocean going, air, and space craft. Fluid dynamic principles are presented in plain, non-technical language. It traces the introduction of scale model testing by William Froude at the end of the nineteenth century, the use of the Experimental Model Basin in the US at the start of the last century, the use of modeling by the Wright Brothers, the use of prototypes by Goddard, and the computational fluid dynamic models in use today.

I know. Sounds like a snooze fest but there is plenty of info about early aviators, the personalities involved in promoting the science of the day, and the way it all comes together to form a cohesive body of knowledge.

Check out my fluid dynamics blog and more info on my book.