Research Guides: Aviation History: Databases

Recommended Databases

Articles & Papers
eBooks & Videos

The following are recommended databases for locating scholarly articles, dissertations, theses, and conference papers for this subject.

Advanced Technologies & Aerospace Database This link opens in a new window
Provides citations, abstracts and some full text articles to aeronautics, astronautics, computer & information technology, meteorology, communications and space sciences journal articles, conference proceedings, NASA documents, and technical reports.
Search Tips
- Use an asterisk (*) at the end of the root of a word to find all variants: automat* will find automate, automated, automatic, and automation.
- Enclose terms in quotation marks to search for exact phrases: “crew resource management.”
- Use connectors AND, OR, NOT to separate terms and phrases: "flight crew" AND fatigue.
- To locate a complete issue of a journal, click on Publications at the top of the screen.
Credo Reference This link opens in a new window
Reference books including encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauri, etc., covering art, history, law, psychology, science and technology.
Search Tips
- Search by Keyword using the dialog box next to "Search for".
- View Books using "Find a Book" at the top of the page and select a subject area from the left hand side of the screen. Click on the title of the book to view.
- For help using and searching in the database, click on Help in the upper right corner of the screen.
Evolution of Flight, 1784-1991 This link opens in a new window
Part of the Smithsonian Collections Online, this database contains primary documents such as photographs, diaries, correspondence, scrapbooks, draft technical specifications and government documents related to early flight, inventions, the military and the commercial airline industry and much more.
Search Tips
- Enclose terms in quotation marks to search for exact phrases: “Montgolfier brothers”
- Use an asterisk (*) at the end of the root of a word to find all variants: balloon* will find balloon, balloons, ballooning etc.
- Connect search terms with AND: balloon* AND airship*
Browsing
- To browse a specific collection, click on it to view information about the collection and view documents in the collection.
- To search within the collection, use the “Search within collection” box located below the collection title.
Searching
- Click on Advanced Search to the right of the search box.
- Change the Keyword Search drop-down menu to Entire Document.
- Use the search tips above for targeted searching.
- To filter search results, use the Filter your results section on the right, i.e. Document Type, publication date, etc.
- In the search results, click on the title of the document to open the entire document.
Gale eBooks This link opens in a new window
Specialized reference sources such as almanacs, encyclopedias, and books on a variety of topics.
Good to Know
Always clear your searches after printing, emailing, or saving.

Search Tips
- Use an asterisk (*) at the end of the root of a word to find all variants: pilot* will find pilot, pilots, piloting, etc.
- When two or more words are entered, the database will search for them as an exact phrase. If you wish to avoid this, place AND between the words.
- Browse books by clicking on one of the subjects in the center of the page. Click on a title to view the book then choose Table of Contents to access chapters of the book.
- For help using and searching in the database, scroll to the bottom of the page and select Help from the menu.
Aeronautics and Space Flight: Global Origins of Modern Aviation and Rocketry, 1957-1995 This link opens in a new window
Digital archive of primary source materials related to the history of modern aviation, aeronautics, and space sciences during the second half of the 20th century.
Good to Know
- Click on Suggested Searches to view main topics
- Clicking on a Main Topic will provide a list of subtopics.
- Click on the article title to view the full text.
- Use the icons on at the top of each full text article to cite, download, print or email.
Search Tips
- Use an asterisk (*) at the end of the root of a word to find all variants: automat* will find automate, automated, automatic, and automation.
- Enclose terms in quotation marks to search for exact phrases: “crew resource management.”
- Use connectors AND, OR, NOT to separate terms and phrases: "flight crew" AND fatigue.
ProQuest Central This link opens in a new window
Provides citations, abstracts, and some full-text items covering all subject areas including business and economic journals, magazines, trade, and journals in psychology and computing.
Search Tips
- Use an asterisk (*) at the end of the root of a word to find all variants: automat* will find automate, automated, automatic, and automation.
- Enclose terms in quotation marks to search for exact phrases: “crew resource management.”
- Use connectors AND, OR, NOT to separate terms and phrases: "flight crew" AND fatigue.
- To locate a complete issue of a journal, click on Publications at the top of the screen.
HathiTrust Digital Library This link opens in a new window
A digital repository of over 10 million volumes of searchable books, journals, and government documents with more than 3 million available full text online.
Good to Know
- Embry-Riddle is not considered a partner institution of HathiTrust. This may affect access to certain works and download availability.
- Download options become available once you enter into the Full View.
- Downloads may be restricted to one page at a time.
Search Tips
- Use an asterisk (*) to search for variant word endings: safe* will find safe, safer, safety, safely, etc.
- Enclose terms in quotation marks to search for exact phrases: "pilot fatigue."
- Connect search terms with AND: "flight crew" AND fatigue.
- Place a check mark in the box labeled "Full view only" below the search to limit your search to full text items.
- For help in searching or using this database, click on the Help link located along the top.

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Browse Databases

eBook Databases

Ebook Central This link opens in a new window
Extensive collection of ebooks on a variety of subjects, such as aviation and human factors.
Good to Know
- Bookshelves are based on your ERNIE login. (Older versions of bookshelves were overridden.)
- A separate Ebook Central account is no longer required for the use of Bookshelf, highlighting, and downloading features.
- You can add books to your Bookshelf by clicking on the Add to Bookshelf link located on the left of the book’s Detail Page or by placing a bookmark on any page within the book.
- For most books the print/download limit is 40% of the book's pages. Printing or downloading a chapter or page range do the same thing and deduct in the same way based on the pages allowed. Both options create a PDF that does not expire.
- Check the "Availability" section, on the Detail Page, or in the Book Details side panel to see how many copies are available and if it is for Online reading or Download, or both.
- You can change the language of the interface by clicking on Settings in the naviagation bar and clicking on Language. Choose your language and save the changes.
Search Tips
- Enclose terms in quotation marks to search for exact phrases: “crew resource management.”
- Use connectors AND, OR, NOT to separate terms and phrases: "flight crew" AND fatigue. Connectors must be capitalized.
- Use an asterisk (*) at the end of a word root to find all variants: automat* will find automate, automated, automatic, and automation.
- Click the Read Online button to view the full text of a book. Or, click on Full Download to download, if available.
- Use the table of contents or navigational arrows to browse.
- Use the "Search within book" search box to search for a term or phrase within the book.
- For help using and searching in the database, click the question mark icon (?) in the upper right corner, or use their Help Guide
Request Items
- Books not available full text online in this database may be available in print. Search for the title in EAGLEsearch to see if the library owns a print copy. Visit the Borrow and Renew (Access Services - Circulation) page for help in checking out material.
- If you see that a book is "Available on request," you may read the book online for up to 5 minutes; click Read Online to do so.
- Click on the Request button or request this book link to fill out the form to request the library purchase it if you cannot locate it in our catalog.
HathiTrust Digital Library This link opens in a new window
A digital repository of over 10 million volumes of searchable books, journals, and government documents with more than 3 million available full text online.
Good to Know
- Embry-Riddle is not considered a partner institution of HathiTrust. This may affect access to certain works and download availability.
- Download options become available once you enter into the Full View.
- Downloads may be restricted to one page at a time.
Search Tips
- Use an asterisk (*) to search for variant word endings: safe* will find safe, safer, safety, safely, etc.
- Enclose terms in quotation marks to search for exact phrases: "pilot fatigue."
- Connect search terms with AND: "flight crew" AND fatigue.
- Place a check mark in the box labeled "Full view only" below the search to limit your search to full text items.
- For help in searching or using this database, click on the Help link located along the top.

Video Databases

Films On Demand This link opens in a new window
Educational films and documentaries for all academic disciplines. Content from PBS, TED, the BBC, National Geographic and more.
Good to Know
- Titles play in their entirety by default, but can be played by segments.
- To create a Films On Demand account, click on the Your Profile link in the upper right corner in desktop view or on the menu icon in mobile view.
- By creating an account you can create customized playlists, which can be shared by a persistent URL.
Search Tips
- Use an asterisk (*) at the end of the root of a word to find all variants: vision* will find vision, visionary, visioning, etc.
- Enclose terms in quotation marks to search for exact phrases: "virtual reality".
- Browse by Subjects, Popular Categories, or Featured Producers by clicking on the menu icon.
- For help using and searching this database, click on Help in the lower left corner.
PBS Video This link opens in a new window
Select PBS episodes from series such as Masterpiece, FRONTLINE, American Experience, Secrets of the Dead, Austin City Limits, Need To Know, NOVA, NATURE, and Independent Lens.

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Aviation History

RefWorks

Recommended Databases

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eBook Databases

Video Databases

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