Wolfgang Langewiesche
Encyclopedia
Wolfgang Langewiesche aviator, author and journalist, is one of the most quoted authors in aviation writing. His book, Stick and Rudder
(1944), is still in print, and is considered a primary reference on the art of flying fixed-wing aircraft
.
Born in Düsseldorf, Germany in 1907, he migrated to America in 1929. He was a graduate of the London School of Economics
and earned his master's degree from Columbia University
. He was in a doctoral program in the University of Chicago
when he decided to learn to fly and pursue a career in aviation.
Mr. Langewiesche wrote for Air Facts magazine, an aviation safety-related publication edited by Leighton Collins, and his articles were the basis for most of Stick and Rudder. The basic facts about flying that he emphasized in 1944 have withstood much criticism since then. Over 200,000 copies of the book had been printed as of 1990.
He taught ground school in the U.S. Army aviation school during World War II
, and test flew F4U Corsair
s for the Vought Corporation. He later worked for Cessna
as a test pilot. In the 1950s he became Reader's Digest
s roving editor, retiring in 1986.
His son, William Langewiesche
is also a well-known author, journalist and pilot with an award-winning career with the Atlantic Monthly and Vanity Fair
magazines.
Stick and Rudder
Stick and Rudder: An Explanation of the Art of Flying is a book written in 1944 by Wolfgang Langewiesche, describing how airplanes fly and how they should be flown by pilots...
(1944), is still in print, and is considered a primary reference on the art of flying fixed-wing aircraft
Fixed-wing aircraft
A fixed-wing aircraft is an aircraft capable of flight using wings that generate lift due to the vehicle's forward airspeed. Fixed-wing aircraft are distinct from rotary-wing aircraft in which wings rotate about a fixed mast and ornithopters in which lift is generated by flapping wings.A powered...
.
Born in Düsseldorf, Germany in 1907, he migrated to America in 1929. He was a graduate of the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
and earned his master's degree from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. He was in a doctoral program in the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
when he decided to learn to fly and pursue a career in aviation.
Mr. Langewiesche wrote for Air Facts magazine, an aviation safety-related publication edited by Leighton Collins, and his articles were the basis for most of Stick and Rudder. The basic facts about flying that he emphasized in 1944 have withstood much criticism since then. Over 200,000 copies of the book had been printed as of 1990.
He taught ground school in the U.S. Army aviation school during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and test flew F4U Corsair
F4U Corsair
The Vought F4U Corsair was a carrier-capable fighter aircraft that saw service primarily in World War II and the Korean War. Demand for the aircraft soon overwhelmed Vought's manufacturing capability, resulting in production by Goodyear and Brewster: Goodyear-built Corsairs were designated FG and...
s for the Vought Corporation. He later worked for Cessna
Cessna
The Cessna Aircraft Company is an airplane manufacturing corporation headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, USA. Their main products are general aviation aircraft. Although they are the most well known for their small, piston-powered aircraft, they also produce business jets. The company is a subsidiary...
as a test pilot. In the 1950s he became Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest is a general interest family magazine, published ten times annually. Formerly based in Chappaqua, New York, its headquarters is now in New York City. It was founded in 1922, by DeWitt Wallace and Lila Bell Wallace...
s roving editor, retiring in 1986.
His son, William Langewiesche
William Langewiesche
William Langewiesche is an American author and journalist, and was a professional airplane pilot for many years. Since 2006 he has been the international correspondent for Vanity Fair magazine.-Career:...
is also a well-known author, journalist and pilot with an award-winning career with the Atlantic Monthly and Vanity Fair
Vanity Fair (magazine)
Vanity Fair is a magazine of pop culture, fashion, and current affairs published by Condé Nast. The present Vanity Fair has been published since 1983 and there have been editions for four European countries as well as the U.S. edition. This revived the title which had ceased publication in 1935...
magazines.
Books authored
- I'll take the high road (1939)
- Stick and Rudder : An Explanation of the Art of FlyingStick and RudderStick and Rudder: An Explanation of the Art of Flying is a book written in 1944 by Wolfgang Langewiesche, describing how airplanes fly and how they should be flown by pilots...
, McGraw-Hill, New York, Copyright 1944 & 1972, ISBN 0 07-036240-8 - A flier's world (1950)