Global Aviator South Africa - April 2018

64 Vol. 10 / No. 4 / April 2018 Global Aviator

Book reviews

Author Bob Nuckolls

has over 50 years of

hands-on experience in

electronics and aircraft

electrical systems.

It is a complete, thorough, and

easy to understand book. It is basic

enough for the beginner with little

electrical experience yet in-depth

enough for the seasoned technician

who wants to update his/her

knowledge to today's levels. The

AeroElectric Connection offers a

wealth of information on the wiring of

homebuilt/experimental aircraft. It is

written in a readable, conversational

style accessible to both novice and

experienced builders alike. If you want

to wire your own aircraft - and want to

do it safely – this is the book you need.

Each chapter begins with a basic

primer on the where and wherefores

of the devices to be discussed, then

progresses into a discussion of how

this information fits into the electrical

scheme of our planes. He drops

several interesting tidbits from his

long exposure to aviation electrics and

generally does a good job of removing

the mystery of electrical systems. An

example of this is found in the "Electrical

System Instrumentation" chapter.

One of the most useful chapters for

me was the discussion of the relatively

new RG batteries. There is a lot of

misinformation concerning the care

and feeding of these new-technology

units. Another interesting section

concerns the use of "fusible links".

Numerous diagrams are provided

to demonstrate the principles being

explored. The illustrations are well-

drawn and are satisfactory to prepare

the reader to explain the wiring

diagrams at the end of the book.

Several architectural wiring diagrams

are provided that are applicable to the

simplest aircraft all the way to multi-

engined aircraft. Each of these diagrams

incorporates Nuckoll's trademark

"essential bus" which is a feature that

provides power to basic instruments and

radios even if the battery contactor fails.

For people who build aeroplanes,

education is powerful and essential.

All pilots realize the consequences of

serious electrical problems in-flight,

and the necessity of fabricating reliable

wiring is recognized by most builders.

This book will help you understand

how to wire your project so it will

perform reliably for a long time. •

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The AeroElectric Connection

Rev 12 Book

Global Aviator regular Guy Gratton’s book Initial Airworthiness comes out in early May

as a new second edition, and is available for pre-order in hardback and as an eBook from the

usual places, or publisher Springer at http://www.springer.com/gb/book/9783319756165

Initial Airworthiness is a textbook aimed at academics and practitioners who need to

understand how aircraft are assessed for safety and fitness for purpose. It covers European and

American civil regulations as well as the differences between civilian and military certification

practices. All of the major areas of aircraft assessment are covered – including atmospheric

structure, pitot-static systems, life support, standards compliance, stress analysis of flight and

landing structures, stability and control, aeroplane asymmetry, stalling, and systems – as well of

course as enabling subsequent continued airworthiness. Appendices cover lots of standard

lookup data such as the standard atmosphere, material properties, unit systems and conversions,

and all of those acronyms without which all aviation would be incomplete.

This new edition has added three completely new chapters: on programme management,

professional ethics, and the environmental impact of aircraft. The crash-worthiness chapter has

been expanded to cover airborne abandonment, and the stalling chapter now includes the spin,

spiral dive and tumble and is renamed “departures from controlled flight”. Several sections have

been updated, including for the new “consensus standard” part 23, developing ETOPS

regulations, and light aircraft deregulation around the world. A further addition has been direction

to many references for readers wanting to explore topics further. The book also now includes

many new references and case studies – in all about 30% more material than the first edition.