Saturday, December 08, 2012
GREAT book!
by Thomas from Hiram GA USA 
Review: From the time I took the book out of the box I was impressed. Paper stock was heavy. There are "hundreds" of figures in this volumne. The artwork was well done and very detailed. Text is up-to-date with reference to T routes. Well worth the price. Would recommend to any instrument student or instrument rated pilot who wants to brush up on the details.
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Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Good substance, But . . .
by Forrest from Bastrop TX USA 
Pros: Content is good, once you find it.
Cons: See above.
Review: There is waaaaaaay too much annoying humor/chatter. I have found myself going to other sources, with this book left on the shelf. It's a shame, because the layout of the book is very good, with helpful pictures and graphics.
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Thursday, August 30, 2012
by Michal from Bratislava Slovakia Slovakia 
Review: Good information, helps to improve the skills.
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Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Great book but silly comedy overload
by Luis from Nashua NH USA 
Pros: Well Written Illustration
Cons: Overuse of comedy
Review: Great written book jam packed with information that is easy to digest. Rod explains difficult concepts well. Lots of illustration to make the points. However, he is overly comedic and sometimes gets in the way of the great content. I am fine with humor, just dont overuse it.
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Thursday, August 18, 2011
2 for 2
by Jim from Arlington VA USA 
Pros: Explains topics in a way that is easily understood.
Review: I first purchased Ron's Private Pilot Handbook, which was fantastic. Having earned my certificate, I've started reading Ron's Instrument Pilot's Handbook and find it equally enlightening. I recommend both books.
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Thursday, January 20, 2011
I would buy this product again
by John from Birmingham AL USA 
Review: I have never flown an airplane, but I love to try all sorts of problems flying Microsoft Simulations such as #10. I like to plot trips to VORs and Cities. I have a plan that requires me to have to land if I take off from anyplace. The new front panels have me stumped sometimes. How about a book that gives explanation of all panels in the most planes especially simulations such as Flight Simulator 10. I am 83 years old and have never been in a small plane. I can use GPS, also
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Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Nobody Does It Like Rob
by Terry from Encinitas (San Diego) 
Pros: Witty, remarkable, interesting, thorough, precise, understandable.
Cons: None, except it is HEAVY and hard to read in bed.
Review: Got Rob's book for my Private Test after slogging through the FAA manuals for 6 months. He makes difficult concepts easy. All I used to pass the Instrument Written was Rob's book and Gleim's kit with test book and test CD. The two combine to be at once interesting, informative, and practical. Rob's "real life" explanations make me feel like I'm talking to him. There are not many questions that I can think of that Rob does not answer perfectly, with great humor (that I believe reinforces the learning).
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Monday, November 29, 2010
"Informative, yet extremely corny"
by Bill from Folsom, CA, USA 
Pros: First book read on instrument flying. Very informative.
Cons: Ron Machado's jokes would NEVER make it on the BIG stage.
Review: Ron's book is my introduction to instrument flying. It contains a wealth of information for the beginning reader on instrument training. I learned (and am still learning) a great deal from it. It will go along way in helping to reach my instrument rating. However, the constant bombardment of corny, B-rated jokes actually distracted me in my reading of the book. While some (about 5%) of the jokes made me chuckle, most of them were really, really NOT funny (except maybe to Ron himself). On my second reading, I am lining out all the unnecessary "humor" so that I can skip over it and concentrate on my training.
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Thursday, March 04, 2010
He makes you laugh when you feel like crying
by randall from Richland Center WI USA 
Pros: LOTS of pictures, diagrams, examples, and of course... HUMOR.
Cons: Maybe a little TOO much humor... and quite a few typos as well.
Review: As usual, Mr. Machado has artfully taken a very challenging curriculum and made it approachable. Though he does not skimp at all on rigor, he manages to get you to smile time after time, right when you are on the verge of giving up. I can see where the more "serious types" might find his writings to contain too much "fluff", but for those of us who enjoy laughter... even if we are laughing at ourselves as we work toward becoming better pilots, Rod Machado provides a spot of blue sky in the murky greyness of attaining new knowledge. Thank you so much Rod for seeing the value in humor, and the strength that comes with being able to laugh at yourself as you grow as a human being. Aristotle once said... "There can be no learning... without PAIN"... and though I agree with that statement... I see nothing wrong with a little laughter infused between intellectual beatings.
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Monday, March 01, 2010
Worthwhile book
by Jody from Sterling VA USA 
Review: He does make a lot of dumb jokes. But the book is very long and detailed. Without the jokes, I probably would have had a tougher time staying focused. Good read, good reference.
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Friday, September 25, 2009
Great Book
by A Customer from madison IN USA 
Pros: Puts complex issues into an easy to understand format
Cons: A little too humorus at times.
Review: Love this book. I am currently studying/reviewing for the checkride. Rod's book really lays it out in an understandable way. Wish I had it when I was studying for the written.
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Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Good Material Coverage, Too many bad jokes
by Christopher from Grayslake IL USA 
Pros: Very good at getting info across in a pragmatic manner.
Cons: Too many bad jokes - lots of fluff
Review: Great book at getting the info to you. A lot of pictures that identify runway details, approach equipment, radio antenna etc. The book could probably be a 2/3 of it's current length if there weren't SO MANY bad jokes. It is overkill.
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Thursday, March 19, 2009
Good Book.
by James from Fulton MD USA 
Pros: Entertaining
Cons: Expensive
Review: It is one of the only training books that keeps me from falling asleep.
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Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Good stuff
by Peter from Williamstown VT USA 
Pros: Good quick reference without online baloney.
Cons: None I can think of.
Review: Does the job.
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Friday, February 13, 2009
Good supplemental reference if you have the money to burn
by Dr. Rich from Lansdale PA USA 
Pros: Highly illustrated
Cons: Over priced
Review: Corny humor is way over done. For a book published by the Aviation Speakers Bureau the amount of errors in the book is a little disconcerting. What it lacks in quality it makes up in quantity. Easy reading. Nice, large illustrations throughout.
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Monday, September 15, 2008
Pound For Pound - Good Value
by Rayson from Hebron IN USA 
Review: A very well written book. However it should come with a small trolley on which to move it around. It could be re-marketed as a strength developing aid. Herin lies the trickery of Mr. Machado for when one is exhausted from carrying this tome one is tempted to set it down and flip through the pages. That is when ones interest is peaked and, flyer or not, one becomes enthralled. A good book that acheives its aim.
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Monday, July 07, 2008
Very tangential, dry, humor, Rod needs to back up some.
by Arsenio Delgado Sr. from Tucson, AZ 
Pros: Technically correct.
Cons: Too much dry, boring humor.
Review: Good technical information,as always. Rod is always giving good info from ATC's point of view... Book would be easier to read without trying to put humor in every page. Rod tries too hard to be funny, it's very distracting and after a while, it's not even funny, just wondering if I paid for an IFR book or for someone trying to break into the comedy scene.
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Friday, June 13, 2008
Great book
by A Customer from CA USA 
Review: Fantastic book for IFR review
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Thursday, May 15, 2008
Great book at a great price
by Darbar from Crestwood KY USA 
Cons: Rod's trademark sense of humor can be a bit dry
Review: There are a few typos but the information is exact.
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Tuesday, May 13, 2008
by Claudio from Burbank CA 
Review: One of the best aviation related texts I have ever read.
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Friday, April 25, 2008
Outstanding Resource
by Wally from Fayetteville GA USA 
Pros: Great style and humor
Cons: Voluminous
Review: This is a great resource book for both the new IFR pilot and the experienced pilot. It answers all the questions that might surface during any IFR checkride.
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Sunday, March 09, 2008
I like Rod's personal writing format
by William Allan Chambers from Palm Coast FL USA 
Pros: Authoritative , illustration Rich
Cons: Too many short interuptions for humor (although funny sometimes its just slightly too much).
Review: Rod Machado's style of writing leads to instant understanding of some complex subject matter. No doubt his years of experience teaching students in the intricacies of various aviation subjects.
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Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Well written
by Jayant from San Jose CA USA 
Pros: pictures and good explanation
Cons: humor sidetracks issues sometimes but can keep things moving
Review: Anyone starting with IR would benifit from reading this book.
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Thursday, February 14, 2008
Very thorough
by Mike In AZ from Peoria, AZ 
Pros: Comprehensive
Cons: Lots of typos. Cover printing started to separate from paper backing
Review: The depth of material and how Rod is able to illustrate a concept really helps it to flow very well. It still took me two months to read it cover to cover. Although, I'll need to re-read it again so it soaks in some more. It was great knowledge to know past PTS. We should all be more proficient pilots and not just accept the minimums right? ;)
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Monday, February 04, 2008
Best IFR Book for Me
by A Customer from Santa Clara CA USA 
Review: Rod does it again, Very similar to style in his private pilot book. I'm in middle of training and this is by far the most useful book i've purchased.
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Tuesday, January 22, 2008
More Than a Paper Weight
by Carl from Galt CA USA 
Pros: Exceptional graphics and explanations
Cons: The book is heavy and should have been made in two volumes
Review: Excellent details and tips, though you may need a bucket to gag in because of his gags. I needed a new book with more on GPS and changes in the system. I chose his book as review prior to taking up instructing after a long hiatus and forgetting more than I knew.
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Monday, January 21, 2008
Good writing, bad editing
by A Customer from Columbia MO USA 
Pros: Writing, figures, humor
Cons: Editing
Review: Rod Machado's writing is wonderful. I cleary understood things that I couldn't even get a handle on during my private training. The figures are plentiful and very helpful. However, it seems like they forgot to edit the book, as there is a typo at least every other page. It detracts from the overall reading experience of the book. Hopefully they fix this soon, as it really is a great product.
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Monday, January 21, 2008
by Phil from Greensboro NC USA 
Review:
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Friday, January 18, 2008
Great Read!
by Kenneth Stec from Indian Head Park IL USA 
Review: Great way to learn! Informative and lively writing style makes the subject matter jump off the page.
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Monday, December 17, 2007
Packed with good info and insights
by Joe from Glendora CA USA 
Review: Overall a great book. My biggest criticism is that there were/are a number of errors that seemed to be more related to inadequate proofreading rather than mistakes in facts by the author.
Rod Machado is very good at illustrating concepts and this book is no exception.
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Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Classic Rod Machado
by A Customer from Arizona 
Pros: Very clear explanations of instrument topics.
Cons: Rod's humor can be a bit trite at times, but it's worth enduring for the rest of the content.
Review: In his typical style, Rod Machado tackles all the intricacies of instrument flight. I haven't yet found an aviation author who explains things more clearly. More comprehensive than his previous "IP's Survival Manual".
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Wednesday, December 05, 2007
everything you thought you knew about IFR is in this book
by Bill from Gladstone NJ USA 
Pros: Well Written---great graphics
Review: Far exceeded expectations.
Graphics are great---the explanations of why things are done they way they are in IFR flying provides a depth knowledge beyond the mechanics.
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Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Every instrument pilot needs this!
by Laurie from Waukesha WI USA 
Pros: Breaks down complicated information in an easily understandable format.
Cons: Couldn't really come up with any!
Review: Rod's sense of humor and easy-to-understand explanations of the technical aspects of instrument flying make this a MUST have for instrument students, as well as seasoned pilots. The color graphics and vignettes add to the overall quality of the layout and content. If you can't work with Rod himself, this is definitely the next best thing!
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Wednesday, September 26, 2007
A Clear and Concise Guide to Flying in the Clouds
by Tom Gilmore, MCFI from Stuart, FL 
Pros: A must have for a new instrument pilot or one considering the training.
Cons: So big it will hog ten spaces on your bookshelf!
Review: Rod has outdone himself on this book! The graphics and simple explanation of many complex instrument flying tasks are worth the cost of this publication alone!
This book will serve the instrument pilot community with a great addition to their aviation library. I loved the layout and presentation of vital information in a fun and factual format. As a welcome addition, all of the latest technology is described in an easy to assimilate style for the reader.
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