This post is going to start off a bit weird...I've been going to the library as far as I can remember (I can't remember anything past 5 lol), but when I stopped visiting it as often around 13 or 14. I guess this may have been due to technology; I read a lot of things on the computer and school required a lot of computer use and reading on the computer. Now don't get me wrong I love the computer and the PC, if I didn't I don't think I would be as much of an FSX addict as I am :(, plus I wouldn't be taking programming classes, and classes for HTML, Dreamweaver and Adobe Flash. It's good to learn and acquire knowledge, but I think its good to also read things in paper form where its physically available and in my opinion easier to read. Anyway... I've been reading a lot of resources online... mostly for aviation but also for history and other subjects in school. There are many resources online for aviation such as the FAA Aeronautical Information Manual (FAA AIM), Weight and Balance Handbook, Navigation Handbooks and other things. They are great resources but sometimes that might be vague or seem like they were written by robots :( . For a long time I've been looking at aviation story books, handbooks, and other resources on amazon.com, bookstores, aviation stores, etc. They all cost money, and even though I've bought a few with my own money, they were depleting my money for other things, which relates back to my first statement.School is over and summer is here, this summer I plan to do many things such as learn how to make music in FL Studio with some friends, study history to catch up for next year, but one of the big things is to study up on aeronautical things. I saw many resources online but I felt like something was missing from them, some were short, worded weirdly, and some very vague. Some books cost a lot of money than most books, some are exceptional but not what you wanted, and for some you want your money back. I was recommended to read books this summer because I was told that the most successful and knowledgeable people in life a read a lot of books (the ones you can put in your hands, not the ones you read on the internet, although I guess those e-book readers like the Amazon Kindle are an exception). I then remembered the library and what a great resource it is. I never thought they would have good aviation books though and they did. I checked out a great Aviation Handbook, put Captain Sullenburger's new book on hold, and I also checked out a book on African American Pilots... and it's all free!!So basically what I'm trying to say is all you people interested in aviation, looking to become future pilots, or kids/teens wanting to learn more. Don't forget your local library. You may not think they have a good aviation book, but I probably bet they do!!BTW: The book I'm reading right now is The Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (Fourth Edition) by Paul E. Illman. I'm only a few pages in but its a great handbook, and it talks about how being a pilot is a great way to show you have discipline since pilots are more skilled than drivers. The book also talks about how being a young pilot makes you unique since everyone at school is doing the same thing yet you are flying the skies, staying away from trouble, not giving into peer pressure to do things such as popping pills or doing drugs just to be accepted or "cool" (and i guess this applies to work). That's only the 1st Chapter though, the rest is aeronautical knowledge such as GPS, airport signs & markings, FARs and much more. The book is also helpful because I decided to stop playing FS for a few months until school let out :(. I'm a bit rusty.B)

google books is great, but wandering around the stacks of your main library has advantages of its own. Plus, you have access to Google on steroids, that is, a librarian.scott s..

google books is great, but wandering around the stacks of your main library has advantages of its own. Plus, you have access to Google on steroids, that is, a librarian.scott s..

Haha, very true. The librarians are a great key to finding information on a wide variety of topics. I wonder how much they know about aviation though :(

Haha, very true. The librarians are a great key to finding information on a wide variety of topics. I wonder how much they know about aviation though :(

Gman-I think what you are doing is great and shows that whatever you end up doing in life you will be a success!

Check out these books by Noel KruseVery informative and FREEhttp://flybetter.com.au/

Check out these books by Noel KruseVery informative and FREEhttp://flybetter.com.au/

Yes, these are very good. I really enjoyed the 3rd book - 'The Art of Aerial Navigation'.I am waiting for books Four and Five to be released, particularly book 4 'Aerobatic Techniques'.

Thanks for the kind words and links folks :(

I don't mean to change the topic of the thread, but I'd rather continue on this one rather than make a whole new one, and since this thread is about learning aviation and futures for aspiring pilots I have a question. My final year of high school is coming up, and I'm looking through colleges and universities to see which ones are right for me. The thing is, I am great with computers and have a little bit of programming experience (I'll have more by the end of the upcoming school year), and I was thinking that I should do a major in something like computer science or some kind of programming/physics course. I'm doing this because my plan is to get a job programming avionics for aircraft to make money and then soon start my flight training and become a pilot. I'm not sure if this is a good plan. My other plan was to see if any institutes, colleges, or universities have some kind of aeronautical classes/major that involves programming or something with computers. So my question is which plan is better?The only problem is some of these aviation schools are so far away, and some are very expensive too. If they were cheap and close I would definitely go and get a degree in some aviation related field instead of programming probably. I would prefer schools with some aeronautical course that was within 3 hrs of Northern Virginia or even Connecticut (I have family there), but any distance is fine for now.Thanks for the help :(