From the Wright brothers' first powered flight, to Concorde's final voyage and the tragic crash of the Columbia, Flight takes you on a sky-high journey through the history of aviation. Charting the trailblazers, jet test pilots and constant progress at the cutting-edge of technology, every aspect of flight is explored in this stunning book. Recalling memorable events - record-breaking flights, aerial warfare and hijackings - Flight is the story of how man's dream to fly became a reality.

On the 100th anniversary of the very first nonstop transatlantic flight, and the 50th anniversary of the debut flights of the Boeing 747 and Concorde, this lavishly illustrated volume celebrates the wonders of aviation. Witness the daring exploits and dangerous challenges that form the story of flight in this beautifully illustrated book, filled with rare photographs and historical documents that include groundbreaking designs, patents, and logbooks. Published in the year that marks 50 years since the first flight of the Boeing 747 and of Concorde, it describes the early pioneers, such as the Wright brothers and Alcock & Brown, as well as the highly skilled engineers developing aircraft today. From the early hot-air balloons of the Montgolfiers to the complex technology behind military jets and space rockets, Flight reveals how air power emerged as a new means of military combat and how it became the leading mode of international travel, all in the space of less than a century.

From the earliest dugout canoes and the boats of the Ancient Egyptians, to the most technologically advanced modern battleships and cruise-liners, this is the ultimate guide to every aspect of the ship, and those who have sailed them. Embark on an epic voyage to find out all about the endeavours of the great explorers as they mapped the globe, and see the impact ships have had on trade and industry across the years. Learn about the dramatic historical conflicts in which ships played a vital role, and take a look at seafaring for pleasure and trace fishing through the ages. This new compact edition is produced in association with the National Maritime Museum, and features every conceivable type of sea-going vessel, from caravels and galleons, warships and yachts to clippers and cruise-liners.