The navigation structure of the package takes some getting used to, although links are often available from one topic to other related materials within the CD-ROM, and you have the option of further exploration if the overview of the subject yields a particular interest. A strong search facility allows users to look up their favorite topics or aircraft, and it is a straightforward process to print or export some brief background information and a line drawing. The package also links to the Internet, allowing users access to a large number of links to other aviation Web sites. --Matthew Abbott

Place the aviation adventure in its wider historical context by examining its relationship to the great movements of the 20th century: national rivalries, voyages of discovery, the arms race, and the battles between commercial carriers. Discover the major players in the sector: the main airlines, including American Airlines, British Airways, Pan Am, TWA, United Airlines, Lufthansa, Alitalia, KLM; civil and military manufacturers, such as Airbus, Aérospatiale, Boeing, British Aerospace, Douglas, Matra, McDonnell, and Rolls-Royce.

Admire more than 200 legendary airplanes: the DC3, the Superconstellation, the Spitfire, the French Mirage fighter jet, the Russian Mig 21, the Concorde, and others. You will learn all about their technical characteristics, their performance, and the technological advances achieved from one generation of aircraft to another. You can compare their vital statistics, cruising altitudes, and speeds. These flying machines will keep you fascinated for hours.

John batspad