Applied Illustration: Leading Questions

What do you already know?
A little residual knowledge on aesthetics and inner workings of aircraft.


What would you like to know more about?
The pilots who flew them, why where and when.


What will you do to find out about it?
Visit the Yorkshire Air Museum.


What themes are you interested in exploring?
Conflict
Exploration
Speed


What subjects are you interested in exploring?
Aeroplanes (Inner machinery / variety of models, engine etc)
Pilots (Biography / Uniforms / helmets / goggles / masks)

What texts have you been exploring?
I have recently read Bill Brysons' 'One Summer: America 1927,' which deceptively deals with the greater history of aviation, as well a broad spectrum of historical and social context.
In essence; Bryson writes about the atmosphere of the time, a brief mania between wars in which radical technological advances produced a battle of ingenuities and nerves. The prize of the decade; the title of first to fly across the Atlantic without pause.
In addition, I read 'Catch 22' for the first time, telling of Yossarians' exploits as a member of a bombing crew in the second world war. The book is a great insight into the absurd reality of air-based conflict. Rather than glorifying war, as countless novels and films have, the book draws attention to the unrelenting horrors and insanity, with brilliant non-sequitur humour.