Fly the Wing

Rating:
Summary: How to fly large airplanes and pass check rides
Review: "Be your own greatest critic. Accept each flight as a challenge. . . . Work to your maximum ability; endeavor at all times to fly clearances exactly; stay right on your heading and course and altitude; try to fly so smoothly that the passengers will never know when you've made a mistake. You will know when you've flown a good flight, and your self-satisfaction will surpass any complement that may be given you."

Where 'Stick and Rudder' is perfect for a Cub student 'Fly The Wing' is perfect for the SAAB 340 or B-757 student. It's one of my most dog-eared books, as I try to read it before every training session. Covers in detail all major procedures required to master handling a large airplane. Written by a master who learnt to fly with a barnstormer, earned two Distinguished Flying Crosses flying B-24's, and retired as an airline check airman with 35,000 hours and 500 students taught. If you are going from a Cessna to an RJ, buy this book now.

Rating:
Summary: If I had only one book
Review: As a Check Captain for a major airline I have to stay up on procedures and techniques. This book has been my constant reference source for over 18 years. Every time I pick up my dog-eared copy I am astounded at the wealth of information that is contained between its covers. It is a postgraduate course in flying in the real world and should be on every pilot's bookshelf. I recommend it to all the new hire First Officers I work with. The other book that belongs on your shelf is Robert Bucks "Weather Flying".

Rating:
Summary: The Best Book on Transport Category Flying, Period.
Review: I have read many books from introductory student pilot texts to Operating Manuals for the A-320, L-1011 and B-747-400 in my aviation career, but if I had to pick any one book that best explains the nuts and bolts of advanced turbine flying, this is my pick, with no close second. This book has no peer.

Jim Webb makes this information come alive and makes often difficult to grasp (or remember) concepts like weather and aircraft performance second nature. I have instructed in many models of jet transports, and when I can't find an answer to a tough question, I never fail to refer to my well used copy of "Fly The Wing." Many of Webb's examples reference information specific to the DC-9 and L-1011, but understand that the general points being made translate equally well to all commercial jets. As a side note, I have been to school on both the DC-9 and L-1011, and Webb's information is as good as gold, which reinforced the solidness of the underlying text for me.

If you are a turbine pilot now or have any interest at all in becoming one, this book is absolutely indispensable to have on your bookshelf. If you are a student, private, or new commercial pilot, this book has loads of accessible, relevant, and important information for you. Don't worry about the turbine specific information and you will still find this a most worthwhile book to read. No pilot should be without it!