The Library Shelf

The Handbook of Supersonic Aerodynamics, when complete, will contain twenty‐one Sections comprising six volumes. The U.S.A. Naval Bureau of Ordnance is responsible for its publication and distribution; the general editorship is is in the hands of the Johns Hopkins University; specialist individuals or organizations prepare the Sections. The latter are published, not in any particular order, but as they become available; so far, from 1950 onwards, Sections 1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6, 7, 12, and 15 have appeared. With the exception of Section 15, which is mainly a set of tables, they have been reviewed in aircraft engineering, in May 1952, November 1952, November 1958, and February 1960. Taken as a whole, the Handbook promises to be a most important document. It gives basic ideas, quotes appropriate formulae and gives references to the literature, and contains extensive charts calculated from the formulae quoted. It is, therefore, much to be regretted that many Sections are so long in appearing: we still await about half the Handbook, and already the reviewer is informed that several of the earlier Sections are now out of print.