The Complete Handbook of Altimeters

I'll admit I bought this because I needed one specific fact about static port installation for a survey drone. The book gave me that and a whole lot more—but it also left me feeling like it was a bit too much for my needs. Half the material on business opportunities and radar altimeters was overkill for my small operation. That said, the installation chapter was worth the price alone. It's solid, just dense.

Finally, a reference that treats altimeters like serious instruments instead of toys. I'm a glider pilot and instructor, and the chapter on pressure settings (QNH, QNE, the works) is the clearest explanation I've seen outside a proper flight manual. The comparison of radar and GNSS fused systems was incredibly useful. I've already referenced it three times this week. This is going to stay on my desk, not on a shelf.

Three stars, not because the info is wrong, but because it's all... fine. It's comprehensive, but I found myself skim-reading through the maintenance chapter looking for something new. There's a lot of 'common sense' advice dressed up with technical terms. However, the chapter on choosing between a pressure altimeter and a GNSS system for field geology was well-tailored. It was useful as a second opinion, but I don't think it changed my choice.

As someone who calibrates instruments for a living, I have zero tolerance for fluff. This book has none. The chapter on specifications is fantastic, especially the parts about temperature drift and refresh rates that most spec sheets gloss over. The troubleshooting flowcharts for erratic altitude readings were spot on. It's not just a handbook; it's the kind of tool you pass down to the junior tech when they're ready.

I bought this for my husband who is a serious paragliding enthusiast, but I ended up reading most of it myself. I found the explanations extremely clear, even for a non-engineer. I particularly liked that they didn't just tell you an altimeter is important, they show you what happens when the data goes wrong. The only small issue I had was that some of the aviation-specific jargon in the brand chapter wasn't fully explained before being used. Otherwise, a very informative book.

It's a decent general overview, but I was hoping for more hard data on the specifics of drone altimetry. The concepts are all there, but some sections felt more like an introduction to the physics of pressure than a deep dive into sensor fusion for UAVs. The section on GNSS accuracy and multipath errors was good, but I wanted more detail. It's a good primer, but I'll likely need an engineering textbook for my specific work.

I run a small business renting surveying equipment, and I bought this to understand the maintenance side of barometric altimeters better. The business chapter was a clever surprise—it gave me a few ideas about calibration services I hadn't considered. The troubleshooting guide is practical and has already saved me a fee by helping me clean a clogged pressure port myself. Definitely a worthwhile investment for a small business owner.