“Relax. Loosen your muscles and sit quite calmly in your seat. And relax. That is the secret of enjoying flying from the first moment that you sit in an aeroplane.”
~ Wing Commander Nigel Tangye, Teach Yourself To Fly, 1938.
This was the first book in the Teach Yourself series. It was so good that in World War II the British Air Ministry recommended pilots to buy a copy, and Tangye was asked to train prospective RAF pilots.
The funny little book series rapidly expanded, the yellow and blue Teach Yourself books covered all kinds of subjects, selling millions of copies. It was the original For Dummies book series concept.
And the advice is solid. Flying with master glider pilot, and 5-time US Aerobatic champion, Jason Stephens I was hoping for advanced instruction. The real high-level secrets. “Relax,” he said. Sitting behind me he was watching my shoulders tense up. “Relax . . .