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CHris Heintz' book

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Z601c(at)anemicaardvark.c
Guest

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 2:41 pm Post subject: CHris Heintz' book

I received a review copy of Chris Heintz new book, which is entitled something 

like "Flying Your Own WIngs." I'll post a review here as soon as I get a 

chance to read it.

-- 

========================================

                                       Jim B. Belcher

                                       BS,MS Physics

                                            A&P/IA

                      General Radio Telephone Certificate

                               Instrument Rated Pilot

                     Retired Aerospace Technical Manager

                         Semi-proficient Househusband

========================================

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Z601c(at)anemicaardvark.c
Guest

Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 7:49 am Post subject: CHris Heintz' book

I said I'd publish a review of this book as soon as I read it. I spent quite a 

bit of time with it last night. I've posted a review on Mr. Heintz website 

(www.flyingonyourownwings.com), and on Barnes and Noble, per their request.



I don't believe humans write perfect books, and I've tried my best to give 

this book an honest review. I like it, and I recommend it, but as you will 

see, I think it could be made better.



===========================================

Chris Heintz' book, Flying on You Own Wings, is subtitled: “A Complete Guide 

to Understanding Light Airplane Design.” The subtitle is a very accurate 

description of the book's contents. I'm going to first tell you my basis for 

review, and what I believe is good about the book. I'll then tell you what I 

believe could be improved. 



I won't hide my conclusion from you, or make you wait until the end of the 

review. Your wife has been hiding money in the sugar bowl so she can buy a 

second dress. Wait until she is fast asleep, sneak out $39.95, and buy the 

book. Who needs a second dress? You need this book.



His first chapter, Mathematics, is a review of freshman and perhaps sophomore 

level college math, and physical symbology. Those already possessing this 

information could easily skip over this chapter and the following chapter.



However, I feel it and the second chapter on units would help introduce many 

to these subjects, and provide a generally good basic grounding. In fact, I 

intend to buy a copy of this book, and provide it to our son, who is a first 

year engineering student, trying to come to grips with where all this math 

came from, and what it really means. 



Mr. Heintz hits his stride in the third chapter on aerodynamics and air loads, 

followed by chapters on structural stress analysis, and human factors. 

Although his approach provides reasonably rigorous mathematical backup, it is 

common sense, and has real world examples.



He concludes with chapters on a sample design, and flight testing. 



I can't absorb all this book at a single reading period. It's going to take 

days or weeks to think some of this through. I am confident that this book will 

provide me with background missing in many areas. It's certain I will have a 

much better understanding of aircraft design when I finish. 



You should be aware that the reviewer holds degrees in physics, with minors in 

math and computer science. What I consider common knowledge may not be common 

to everyone, and you should adjust the opinions I express accordingly. 

Conversely, some of you may have much more knowledge than I, and find the book 

too basic.



Now for the down side of things. First, it's clear the author's primary 

language is not English. This results in occasional odd turns of phrase which 

may hinder the readability of the book. Engineers are not known for being the 

best communicators, and don't always break things up into short, manageable 

segments. This book is no exception: it appears to badly need a technical 

editor. It's far, far, too pedantic. But so are a lot of technical books.



The lot of the author of a  book on a technical subject is a challenging one. 

If the book is too technical, it becomes turgid, and difficult to read, even for 

those knowledgable in the field. If the author writes on too broad a level, 

some of the technical content is lost. 



It's even worse when math is involved. Mathematicians are less concerned about 

the real world value of their work than its theoretical value. Those of us in 

the real world must pick our way very carefully through a mine field, selecting 

those areas of math which have physical meaning, and those which do not. 

Unfortunately, it's too easy to dismiss something of value in another 

discipline, which is meaningless in our own. That's an error Mr. Heintz has 

made. 



An example of this is on page 32, where imaginary numbers are dismissed. 

Students of engineering and science need to be aware that these numbers have 

real physical meaning in some fields. There really are things that work this 

way.  Where there is one error of this type, there are likely to be others. 

Study this book carefully, and focus on the aircraft design portions.



I agree with his premise that the metric system is easier to use in most 

engineering calculations. But I wonder why, in a book whose largest audience 

is likely to be in the United States, this system was used. Maybe I 

underestimate the ability of aircraft builders, but those I know don't use the 

metric system, and most rather frown on its usage. Perhaps one purpose of the 

book is to educate on the use of the metric system, or to promote it.



I think it might have been more accurate to introduce the subject by saying 

that calculations are more readily done in the metric system. For this reason, 

the book is written around that system, to make the calculations easier to 

understand. I do most of my own calculations in the metric system, but convert 

the results to a more familiar form, because most materials available to me 

only come in feet, pounds, and inches.



Some of the philosophy strikes the mark very well. For example, an aircraft 

should not only perform well, it should be handsome in appearance. But some of 

the philosophy is very cryptic, and I have no idea what its intent may have 

been.



Unfortunately, some of the philosophy borders on metaphysics, and would put 

Shirley McClaine to shame. On page 51, there is speculation that the number of 

calendar years in a sidereal year are the approximately the same as the number 

of breaths a human takes in in one day. This is hardly a causual relationship, 

and included in a book on light aircraft design, throws the technical 

credibility into question. If I breathe more slowly, does the universe slow 

down?



More of this appears on page 53, where Mr. Heintz observes “Note: Although the 

gravitational pull of planets does not affect aircraft design, its action on 

the life forces (plants, animals, humans) and soul forces (animals and humans) 

is not much recognized in our western culture. Some cultures are more attuned 

to this....”



First, if it has nothing to do with aircraft design, why is it here? Second, 

it's possible to find a lot of cultures with some pretty strange ideas, but 

that doesn't make them correct. The book needs to be more focused.



Do not take this criticism as damming the book with faint praise. It's a good 

book, and, if you want to understand aircraft design, well worth studying. In 

fairness, the answer to many of these issues is that children should not read 

books written for adults. When you read Mr. Heintz' book, you should simply be 

mature enough to recognize his rather unique outlook. Absorb the parts about 

aircraft design, and filter out some of the rest.



This is a good book, and worth studying (reading is too light a word).  My 

regret is that what is now a good book could have been an excellent book with 

the services of a good technical editor.



-- 

========================================

                                       Jim B. Belcher

                                       BS,MS Physics

                                            A&P/IA

                      General Radio Telephone Certificate

                               Instrument Rated Pilot

                     Retired Aerospace Technical Manager

                         Semi-proficient Househusband

========================================

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n801bh(at)netzero.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 8:59 am Post subject: CHris Heintz' book

I am living proof that Chris designs a strong airframe... <<GG>>

But this statement flys in the face of reality...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Some of the philosophy strikes the mark very well. For example, an aircraft 

should not only perform well, it should be handsome in appearance. But some of 

the philosophy is very cryptic, and I have no idea what its intent may have 

been.



Unfortunately, some of the philosophy borders on metaphysics, and would put 

Shirley McClaine to shame



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After all , he did design the 801 and its 'less then handsome' looks. <G>

Thanks for the write up though, I will one day get the book and read it.

Ben Haas

N801BH

www.haaspowerair.com



--------

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psm(at)att.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 9:27 am Post subject: CHris Heintz' book

Hi Jim,



Thank you for the great review of Chris' book.  My immediate reaction was to order a copy from Amazon.com.



The biggest reason I did that was one small comment you made about Chris nixing imaginary numbers.  I did the same thing in my career as an electrical engineer.  You see -- My education is in mathematics.  All of mathematics is based on 4 axioms.  To get imaginary numbers to work you need to add a 5th axiom (that i-squared is equal to -1).  This is totally unacceptable from a philosophical point of view.  In my opinion it invalidates all the math used after making this outrageous change to the rules.  (There is a reason they are called imaginary.)



I am still very angry over my experience with the Zodiac XL and the business conducted by ZAC/Zenair.  Still, my original reason for selecting this design was Chris' reputation for design of this type of aircraft.  I really look forward to reading his thoughts on airplane design.



Paul

XL - installing upgrade kit



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kmccune

Joined: 22 Sep 2007
Posts: 577
Location: Wisconsin, USA

Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 2:36 pm Post subject: Re: CHris Heintz' book

Ben,

I for one, hold to the beauty of function over form! And the 701/750 and 801 are beautiful technical designs! 



Sorry couldn't resist.

Kevin





 	  n801bh(at)netzero.com wrote: 	
		  I am living proof that Chris designs a strong airframe... <<GG>>

But this statement flys in the face of reality...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Some of the philosophy strikes the mark very well. For example, an aircraft 

should not only perform well, it should be handsome in appearance. But some of 

the philosophy is very cryptic, and I have no idea what its intent may have 

been.



After all , he did design the 801 and its 'less then handsome' looks. <G>

Thanks for the write up though, I will one day get the book and read it.

Ben Haas

N801BH

www.haaspowerair.com



--------

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Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

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_________________
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"Real freedom is the sustained act of being an individual." WW - 2009

"Life is a good deal...it's worth it" Feb 1969
Dorothy McCune

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