The content for this reference was drawn from the extensive collection the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC (with which both authors are affiliated), as well as news articles and personal collections. The year 2003 marks the centennial of the experiments in flight of the Wright Brothers, the history of whose invention begins the book. The survey is organized as a timeline, with entries for each month or date of significant events or inventions. Each chapter covers a decade and begins with an introductory essay. Numerous boxes feature the stories of notable individuals, events, or machines. Annotation (c) Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)