Where can I find rare Aero books? - Aircraft engineering FAQ

References

Where can I find rare Aero books? by SparWeb

Posted: 14 Mar 04 (Edited 18 Feb 05)

When looking for reference material on aeronautical subjects, I have two main sources: Amazon and Alibris. For those who don't know about Amazon, it's a major internet-based book-seller that should be checked first when searching for any technical book - their inventory is vast.
Alibris is lesser-known. They tie together an international network of libraries and independent bookstores that have used books to sell. I have now purchased half a dozen books from Alibris and every one has been in fantastic condition (keep an eye out for bargains - and overpriced books, too).

I know that the following very useful books can be found on Alibris:

Perkins & Hage, Airplane Performance, Stability, & Control

Abbott & Von Doenhoff, Theory of Wing Sections

Marks' Standard Handbook for Mechanical Engineering

Roark, Formulas for Stress and Strain

Bingelis, Firewall Forward

A subtle advantage of Alibris is that it's possible to find previous editions of things that have since been updated.  I am told that this is important for books such as Roark's (there are some purists who believe the later editions are too theoretical).

There are, though, certain texts in aeronautics that are both highly valuable, and very  hard to find.
Among these are the texts that have been independently published by their authors, therefore don't show up through the regular search pathways.
To make it easier for members to find these books, here's a list of sources for the rare books that every aeronautical engineer must have.
A company named DARcorp has many rare books available (including some in this list). www.darcorp.com
I will do my best to add new links whenever I find them.  Thanks to BVF, terning, Wittenborn, and edbgtr for their input.  Anyone with additions can e-mail me (see my "profile").

Analysis & Design of Flight Vehicle Structures, by E.F. Bruhn

1973 Edition
ISBN #0-9615234-0-9
<http://www.jacobspublishing.net>
Jacobs Publishing
11405 N. Pennsylvania St., Suite 102
Carmel IN 46032
Phone: 317-815-9400
Fax: 317-573-2299
Price for 1-9 copies - $70.00 each
Ten or more copies - $65.00 each

A Supplement to ADFVS (Bruhn), For Increased Scope and Usefulness, and
Engineering Column Analysis - The Analysis of Compression Members, by William F. McCombs

Published by Datatec
Dallas, Texas, 75224
(214) 337-5506
Price (Supplement) $18.95, (Columns) $24.95
Shipping in US, $3.00, International, variable

Fluid Dynamic Drag, and Fluid Dynamic Lift, by Sighard F. Hoerner

1965 Edition
<http://members.aol.com/hfdy/home.htm>
Copyright Liselotte A. Hoerner
P.O. Box 21992
Bakersfield, CA 93390
Phone (661) 665-1065
Price $95.00(each)
Shipping in US, $5.50, Canada, $12.00, Overseas, variable

Design of Light Aircraft, by Richard D. Hiscocks

<http://www.ee.ryerson.ca/~phiscock/aircraft.html>

ANC-5: Army-Navy-Civil Committee on Aircraft Requirements, Oct 1940, Strength of Aircraft Elements
ANC-18: Munitions Board Aircraft Committee, June 1951, Design of Wood Aircraft Structures