Book excerpt: This book is one of the first to explore aviation and aircraft leasing and its values establishing it as a standalone investable asset class within the larger real assets industry. Airplanes are a crucial but capital-intensive component of the global economy. The author, as an academic, researcher, appraiser, advisor and businessperson in the industry, bridges a gap in the existing literature with his analysis of the underlying aviation asset class return and risk profile. The book describes the characteristics, dynamics and drivers of the global, Asia and China specific aviation and leasing landscapes. Recent effects of COVID-19 on aviation and an analysis of the drivers affecting cross border mergers and acquisitions in the industry are also investigated. The book includes 20+ years of empirical aircraft valuation evidence and analysis of its characteristics establishing the aircraft and sub-segments as asset classes. In addition, characteristic comparisons to other real asset subclasses and benchmarks are examined. This book will be of interest to academics, financiers, investors, industry participants and more general aviation enthusiasts.