Aircraft and aviation Books

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn June 1940, the German Army had brought the rest of Europe to its knees. ''Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world will move forward into broad, sunlit uplands,'' said Churchill. The future of Europe depended on Britain. A self-confident Herman Göring thought that it would be only a matter of weeks before his planes had forced Britain to surrender. The courage, resourcefulness and brilliant organisation of the RAF were to prove him wrong. By late September 1940, the RAF had proved invincible, thanks to the Vickers Supermarine Spitfire. It exceeded anything that any other air force possessed. RJ Mitchell, a shy and almost painfully modest engineer, was the genius behind the Spitfire. On the 5th March 1936, following its successful maiden flight, a legend was born. Prize-winning historian Leo McKinstry''s vivid history of the Spitfire brings together a rich Trade ReviewPraise for ROSEBERY: * . *Stunning ... As well as being meticulously researched, it is beautifully written and has tremendous pace * Literary Review *Absorbing ... McKinstry has here proved himself to be a first-class historical biographer * Mail on Sunday *With masterly skill and sympathy, Leo McKinstry resurrects him as the Hamlet of late Victorian England * Daily Mail *An authoritative and original biography which is also a riveting read' * Spectator *Superbly well-researched and well-written ... A truly first-class addition to the genre of Prime Ministerial biography * Sunday Telegraph *'An absolutely wonderful biography ... gripping and entertaining' * Evening Standard *'A first class biography, scholarly, judicious and always interesting' * Glasgow Herald *'Remarkable' * Country Life *'Judicious, well-researched and engrossing' * Sunday Times *'This is undoubtably the definitive biography of Rosebery. Written with elegance, clarity and well-judged colour' * Jonathan Parry, Times Literary Supplement *'It does a wonderful job of conjuring up the lost world of late Victorian politics' * Dominic Sandbrook, Daily Telegraph *'Admirable biography of a paradoxical figure whose tenure at No 10 was a disaster' * Jeremy Lewis, Sunday Times *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisA comprehensive look at the world''s great aircraft from the experts at Flying magazine, featuring spectacular full-color photographs, fascinating and informative text, and detailed specifications that will delight die-hard data fans.Of all humanity’s dazzling innovations, perhaps none capture our imaginations or fuel our inventive spirits as much as flight. In our quest to soar higher, faster, and farther, we’ve dreamed up airborne wonders that are a sight to behold—like the supersonic F-22 Raptor, stealthily soaring above the clouds, or the Boeing-Stearman PT-17 Biplane, the beautiful starter model that helped a generation earn their wings. That’s not even to mention the deluxe Concorde—the first passenger jet to cruise at the speed of sound. These iconic aircraft—and 97 more stunning feats of aeronautical engineering—make up the world’s most groundbreaking contributions to flight, all curated and collected here by the experts at Flying magazine. In Flight: 100 Greatest Aircraft, there’s something for every aviation aficionado—from brazen stunt planes to far-from-pedestrian commercial jets, from military marvels to spacecraft that reached dazzling new heights. With its spectacular full-color photographs, fascinating and informative text, and detailed specifications section that will delight die-hard data fans, Flight is the essential book for pilots and plane-lovers everywhere.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe first B-29 flew over Tokyo on 1 November 1944. It was a photographic reconnaissance aircraft ironically named ‘Tokyo Rose’. The Ki.44 fighters of the 47th Sentai took off to intercept it but as it turned out the Superfortress flew at such an altitude and speed that they could not reach it. The Ki-44-II-Otsu had been specifically designed for this type of interception and could reach the astonishing rate of climb of 5,000 m in four minutes; however it was not good enough. During the following ten months, a devastating bombing campaign of thousands of Superfortress destroyed 67 Japanese cities and half of Tokyo. The cultural shock and the political consequences were huge, when it was realised that the Japanese industry was not able to produce the specially heat and stress-resistant metallic alloys that were required to manufacture the turbo superchargers needed by the fighters in charge of defending the Japanese mainland. They lacked the essential chromium and molybdenum metals to harden the steel. This fact thwarted the manufacturing of numerous advanced projects of both conventional fighters and those derived from the transfer of German technology fitted with turbojets and rocket engines. They are thoroughly described in this book.Table of ContentsThe Japanese Aggressor (28 January 1932 to 15 August 1945); Imperial Japanese Army Aircraft and Projects; Nakajima Ki.44 Shoki; Kawasaki Ki.45 Toryu; Mitsubishi Ki.46 Shin Shitei; Kawasaki Ki.60/Ki.61/Ki.100 Hien; Nakajima Ki.62, Ki.63, Ki.84, Ki.106, Ki.113, Ki.116 and Ki.117 Hayate; Kawasaki Ki.64, Ki.78 (Ken-3) and Ki.88; High-altitude interceptors Nakajima Ki.87 and Tachikawa Ki.94; Manshu Ki.65 and Ki.98; Rikugun Kogiken Heavy Fighter; Nakajima Ki.201 Karyu; Imperial Japanese Navy Aircraft and Projects; Mitsubishi A6M Zero; Mitsubishi J2M Raiden; Kawanishi N1K1-J Shiden; The IJN “20-shi-Ko” specification; Mitsubishi J4M Senden; Kyushu J7W1 Shinden; Nakajima Kikka; Yokosuka R2Y2 Keiun; Mizuno Shinryu II; Kakukyoku Rammer; Kayaba Katsuodori; Rocket Fighters; Night Fighters; Nakajima J1N1 Gekko; Kawasaki Ki.45 Toryu; Mitsubishi Ki.46 Shin Shitei (Dinah); Nakajima Ki.84 Hayate; Yokosuka D4Y Suisei; Nakajima C6N Saiun; Yokosuka Ginga, Kawanishi Kyokko, Nakajima Byakko and Kugisho Tenga; Aichi S1A Denko; Kawasaki Ki.102; Mitsubishi Ki.109; Mitsubishi A6M2, A6M3, A6M5 and A6M5-S Zero Sen; Mitsubishi J2M3 and J2M4 Raiden; Schräge Musik; Radar Warfare; Operation Downfall; Bibliography.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Armée de l'Air has stood at the forefront of jet fighter technology for more than 70 years operating cutting edge types such as the Mystère, the Mirage III and most recently the Rafale. Throughout the cold war period, French fighters and fighter-bombers saw action in conflicts across the world and today both the Mirage 2000 and Rafale continue that tradition. French Combat Jets features more than 150 profiles created by renowned aviation artist JP Vieira, including the following types: MD 450 Ouragan, MD 454 Mystère IV, Super Mystère, Vautour, Étendard IV, Super Étendard, Mirage III, Mirage 5, Mirage IV, Mirage F1, Jaguar, Mirage 2000 and Rafale.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhether you plan on using drones for recreation or a more serious purpose (from search and rescue through farming to scanning construction work on a high-rise apartment buildings), Build a Drone will make sure that you not only understand how to construct a drone, but the proper and safe ways to maintain and handle them.Within the last couple of years, the usage of drones in both the public and private (military) sector has exploded. People are talking about drones, building drones, and something most people didn’t know of a few years ago is now a household name.Build a Drone will not only teach you how to build your very own drone, but will explain their history in the military and the impact they will have—and are starting to have—on our everyday lives. Chapters include: Ready Made or Build Skills and Understanding the Drone Build Drone Assembly Setup and Calibration Safety and Flying Your Drone Designing Your Own Drone And more! Author Barry Davies has built drones for DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) and AAI (one of America’s largest drone manufacturers), as well as six experimental ones for MIT. He not only understands their use in the world, but knows the ins-and-outs of how they can be created and handled.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn the latter half of World War Two, the War Cabinet sanctioned the formation of a committee to consider a post-war world of air transport. Appointed to chair the group, which included politicians, engineers, businessmen and aircraft builders, was John Theodore Cuthbert Moore-Brabazon (later Lord Brabazon of Tara). This was an inspired choice, as Brabazon was the first man in Britain to hold a Private Pilot's Licence. He had advocated and promoted aviation in Britain from the earliest days. The Brabazon Committee also had the foresight to embrace an emerging method of propulsion: gas-turbine or jet engine technology. They, rightly, placed piston-engines - which were quite advanced at the time - at the forefront but made a case for the gas-turbine. This enabled Geoffrey de Havilland and Ronald Bishop to begin building a pure-jet airliner to be powered by engines designed by Frank Halford. A very brave move from de Havilland and one that gave Britain the lead over the rest of the world. The de Havilland DH 106 Comet aircraft made history as the first jet airliner to fly and also as the first to off er a scheduled jet passenger service. Even though more than sixty years have elapsed since that first flight, the story of the Comet continues to excite and inspire.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA beautiful colouring book with fascinating images from the history of this iconic company.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Phantom was developed for the US Navy as a long range all-weather fighter and first flew in May 1958. Phantoms have been used in combat in many conflicts throughout its long service history. This text provides a history of this craft.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of The Art of Travel comes a wittily intriguing exploration of the strange non-place that he believes is the imaginative center of our civilization.Given unprecedented access to one of the world’s busiest airports as a “writer-in-residence,” Alain de Botton found it to be a showcase for many of the major crosscurrents of the modern world—from our faith in technology to our destruction of nature, from our global interconnectedness to our romanticizing of the exotic. He met travelers from all over and spoke with everyone from baggage handlers to pilots to the airport chaplain. Weaving together these conversations and his own observations—of everything from the poetry of room service menus to the eerie silence in the middle of the runway at midnight—de Botton has produced an extraordinary meditation on a place that most of us never slow down enough to see clearly. Lavishly illustrated in color by renowned photo

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThis book is a must for anybody who is interested in machines that have changed the world of aviation and have been instrumental in the development of other iconic aircraft. It could also be used as reference for plastic modellers who may find it useful for some of the finer detail they require. The author has delivered another excellent volume and this will be a very welcome addition to any discerning aviation enthusiast. Anyone with a general interest in aviation will enjoy this book. Sven Atkin

Read more less

Book SynopsisAll models 1970-2006, Probably best-known for its starring role in the Hollywood movie Top Gun, the variable geometry two-seat carrier-based Grumman F-14 Tomcat was the US Navy's primary maritime air superiority fighter and fleet defence interceptor between 1974 and 2006., Tony Holmes reviews the design, construction and use of the Tomcat, as well as its combat career in Operation Desert Storm (1991), Deliberate Force (Bosnia-Hertzegovina, 1995), and Allied Force (Bosnia and Kosovo, 1999). In 2001, F-14s led some of the first strikes into Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom), and in Iraq in 2003 (Operation Iraqi Freedom)., Author: Tony Holmes is a publishing professional and author with a specialist interest in aviation. He established Osprey Publishing's critically acclaimed 'Aircraft of the Aces' series. Tony is widely published in the book and magazine worlds. He lives in Kent.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe complete autobiography of an American hero, Jimmy Doolittle.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisUnofficially named the 'Peacemaker', the Convair B-36 is a legend of the Cold War. With six powerful radial engines and four turbojets paired in pods, the B-36 was America's 'Big Stick' that could subdue would-be aggressors with unrestrained nuclear retribution at a level unmatched by any other aircraft or air force of the time., Built initially from a requirement to bomb Nazi-occupied Europe from the United States, the B-36 entered service with the US Air Force in 1948 as the world's first operational nuclear bomber with hemispheric range, while at the same time becoming the largest American aircraft to enter volume production. It was later adapted as a long-range reconnaissance aircraft equipped with the most powerful cameras ever carried in the air., Author: David Baker offers an unrivalled insight into this behemoth that held the line against the growing Soviet threat during the opening decade of the Cold War. He lifts the lid on the 'Peacemaker', bringing together several decades of research and investigation into an aircraft that bridges the piston-engine era and the age of the all-jet bomber. With the aid of more than 300 photographs and detailed performance charts, he describes the design, development, structure and systems of the B-36 and its service with the US Air Force's Strategic Air Command at a crucial point in post-war history.Table of ContentsContents INTRODUCTION CHAPTER ONE: THE ORIGIN OF THE B-36 CHAPTER TWO: DEVELOPING THE B-36 CHAPTER THREE: TYPE EVOLUTION AND PRODUCTION CHAPTER FOUR: VARIANTS AND DERIVATIVES CHAPTER FIVE: ANATOMY OF THE B-36 CHAPTER SIX: SERVICE LIFE CHAPTER SEVEN: FLYING THE B-36 CHAPTER EIGHT: REMINISCENCES APPENDIX

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe famous B-52 Stratofortress has been in service with the USAF for more than 65 years and its iconic shape is known and recognised all over the world. Yet the B-52 and its predecessor, the B-47 Stratojet, started out looking very different indeed. Each aircraft was the end product of a lengthy design process which saw numerous configurations studied with plenty of diversions taken and missteps made along the way. In Boeing B-47 Stratojet and B-52 Stratofortress: Origins and Evolution, aerospace engineer Scott Lowther reviews and explains the many different projects put forward for these two iconic aircraft, including a wide variety of rare and forgotten designs. Providing full-page diagrams, a wealth of new artwork and accurate data, the book will be useful for model makers interested in new and unique projects, aerospace engineers curious about the process of design evolution and those interested in these fascinating aircraft.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisFor over 40 years NATO and Warsaw Pact aircraft faced each other across the Iron Curtain, or fought in proxy wars around the world. Illustrated with detailed artworks of combat aircraft and their markings, Aircraft of the Cold War 1945–1991: Identification Guide is a comprehensive study of the planes in service with NATO and the Warsaw Pact and their respective units from the end of World War II until the reunification of Germany. Arranged chronologically by theatre, the book gives a complete organizational breakdown of the units of both sides, including the units and aircraft used in the proxy wars fought in Korea, Vietnam, the Middle East and elsewhere as well as the ‘frontline’ in Germany. Packed with 250 colour profiles of every major type of combat aircraft from the era, Aircraft of the Cold War 1945–1991 is an essential reference guide for modellers, military historians and aircraft enthusiasts.Table of ContentsChapter 1 Europe Chapter 2 Air Power at Sea Chapter 3 Strategic Bombers and Air Defence Chapter 4 Strategic Reconnaissance Chapter 5 The Middle East Chapter 6 Africa Chapter 7 Southern Asia Chapter 8 The Far East Chapter 9 Latin America Appendices Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Macchi C.202 was probably the most successful Italian fighter during the Second World War. It is generally agreed that the performance of the Macchi was superior to both the Hawker Hurricane and the Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk and on a par with the Supermarine Spitfire Mk. V. It is not by chance that virtually all the Italian top scoring aces flew this plane either with the Regia Aeronautica or the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana. At the same time, the Mc.202 is the symbol of the dysfunctions in the Italian military-industrial complex: the lack of sound industrial planning resulting in orders from the Regia Aeronautica for an exaggerated number of different aircraft; the lack of the development of adequate engines limiting aircraft performance and reducing capacity to house weapons with a proper punch; the corruption of politics and the culpable connivance of the high military spheres. The Mc.202 was therefore produced in limited numbers, while there is consensus that air war, especially in the African theatre, would have been different had the aircraft been adopted before.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements; List of abbreviations; Introduction; 1 Historical Context; 2 The Schneider Trophy and Agello's record; 3 Mario Castoldi; 4 The Macchi MC200 Saetta; 5 The MC202 in combat, 1941-45. Construction and variants; 6 The MC202 in combat, 1941-45. Training and organisation; 7 The MC202 in combat, 1941-45. Combat; Epilogue.

Read more less

Book SynopsisClose support for the Army by the Royal Air Force evolved during WWII from being virtually non-existent to a fully developed part of the battle plan. Nowhere was co-operation more refined and developed than in the Mediterranean theatre. The first volume of this two-part series traced the evolution of close air support through the inter-war years to disaster in France and the first attempts at immediate on-call cover in East Africa provided by the South African Air Force. This led to a much improved system from el Alamein onwards. Volume II takes the story on from the assault on Sicily through a succession of battles in Italy and southern France where the Allied armies could depend on an immediate air cover, made possible by Allied air forces having total air supremacy. The war in Italy saw much innovation in terms of weapons and also in the role of the air observation post squadrons, both of which are fully discussed. These volumes include references to official sources and documents, including squadron operational record books, as well as to logbooks, diaries, and autobiographies of many who participated.

Read more less

Book SynopsisSleek, futuristic and deadly the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon was born from the crucible of the air war over Vietnam and the need for cheaper, simpler and more manoeuvrable fighter aircraft with which to combat the many thousands of Soviet-bloc supplied aircraft sold around the world. Back in the early 1970s the F-16 was the pinnacle of modern design, integrating a powerful turbofan engine and offering unrivalled manoeuvrability thanks to its relaxed static stability and fly-by-wire system with computer control. Today's F-16 Viper is light years away from the simple, lightweight pointdefence fighter first envisaged, but it has evolved and matured into the finest and most exported fourth-generation combat aircraft around the world. This is its story.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe author has combined his two greatest interests: Transport and Stamp Collecting and brought them together in this series of books looking at the way postage stamps have led him to increase his knowledge of our world via his interest in all forms of tra

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn incredible 30,000 flights – at least – arrive safely at their destinations every day. But a handful don’t, while some come terrifyingly close to crashing. When even the smallest thing does go wrong at 35,000 feet, the result is nearly always a fast-unfolding tragedy. This extensive collection of compelling real-life accounts of air disasters and near-disasters provides a sobering, alternative history of the just over 105 years that passengers have been travelling by air, from the very earliest fatality to recent calamities.But there are incredible stories of heroism against the odds, too, such as that of Captain Chesley Sullenberger who successfully landed his aircraft with both engines gone on the Hudson River in New York, saving the lives of everyone aboard, and of the American Airlines crew who prevented terrorist Richard Reid from exploding a bomb hidden in his shoe three months after 9/11.The book also details the often ingenious, always painstaking work done by air-accident investigators, while a glossary helps to clarify the occasional, inevitable bits of jargon.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe United States Army Air Force (USAAF) came into its own during World War II, building some of the premier fighters of the era. American Fighter Aircraft of World War II is a detailed guide to all the fighter aircraft types deployed by the USAAF and US Navy from 1941 to 1945. Organised chronologically, this book includes all-time greats, such as the highly- adaptable P-51 Mustang bomber escort, the carrier-based F6F Hellcat – which outperformed the legendary Japanese A6M Zero fighter – and the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, with its distinctive twin-boom design; as well as lesser-known types, such as the Boeing P-26 Peashooter, the high-altitude Republic P-43 Lancer, and the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star, the USAAF’s only operational jet fighter during the war. The entries are accompanied by exhaustive captions and specifications. The guide is illustrated with profile artworks and three-views, as well as two-page dynamic artworks of some of the more famous aircraft in service, such as the P-40 Warhawk ground-attack variant, the twin-engined P-61 Black Widow night-fighter, and the robust P-47 Thunderbolt fighter-bomber. Illustrated with more than 100 authentic artworks with accurate markings and camouflage, American Fighter Aircraft of World War II is an essential reference guide for modellers and military aviation enthusiasts.Table of ContentsContents:IntroductionEarly-War Fighters • Curtiss Hawk III • Curtiss-Wright CW-21 Demon • Boeing P-26 Peashooter • Seversky P-35 • Curtiss P-36 & Hawk Model 75 • Republic P-43 Lancer • Bell P-39 Airacobra • Curtiss P-40 WarhawkLate-War Fighters • Vultee P-66 Vanguard • North American P-51 Mustang • Republic P-47 Thunderbolt • Supermarine Spitfire • Bell P-63 KingcobraHeavy Fighters • Bell YFM-1 Airacuda • Bristol Beaufighter • de Havilland Mosquito • Douglas P-70 Havoc • Lockheed P-38 Lightning • Northrop P-61 Black WidowNaval Types • Brewster F2A Buffalo • Grumman F4F Wildcat • Grumman F6F Hellcat • Grumman F7F Tigercat • Grumman F8F Bearcat • Vought F4U CorsairJet Aircraft • Bell P-59 Airacomet • Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star • Ryan FR-1 FireballIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn illustrated guide to three of the most important piston-engined airliners of the postwar era.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhile many airliners from the Second World War have either disappeared completely or only survived as remnants in a museum, approximately 55 Constellations out of the 856 built still survive today, and two of them, both C-121s, are airworthy. A real head turner, the Connie' raised the bar in both performance, economy and passenger comfort and can arguably be described as one of the most beautiful airliners ever built. The Lockheed Constellation was an aircraft that broke the mould when it came to early airliner design. The standard approach of a straight, tubular fuselage and a conventional tail and wing arrangement is still the tried and tested configuration of all airliners to this day. The US military's enthusiasm also helped to advance the development of the Constellation which, in turn, benefitted civilian airlines with the arrival of the Super Constellation and the definitive variant, the Starliner, which sadly came too late to make a huge impression as, from the mid-1950s onwards, the trend swung rapidly towards jet power. With the arrival of the jet, Constellations were replaced by the major operators although a number remained in passenger service into the late 1960s, and the last passenger-carrying flight did not take place until 1978 in the Dominican Republic. Delve into the story of this beautiful aircraft with this fully illustrated history.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe William E. Boeing Story - A Gift of Flight is the first-ever full-length biography of William E. Boeing; the father of commercial aviation. Boeing’s story is an exciting one complete with bootleggers, kidnappers and a disastrous run-in with President Franklin Roosevelt and future Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black. Boeing’s story covers every aspect of early aviation starting with his first ride in a balloon in 1896 to the christening of the revolutionary jet-powered Dash-80 / 707 in 1955. Along the way, Boeing developed some of the world’s most iconic airplanes including the P-26 Peashooter, the Boeing 247, the B-17 Flying Fortress and the mighty B-29 Superfortress. The Boeing Family gave author David D. Williams unprecedented access to the Boeing Family Archives which contained thousands of never before seen photos, diaries, and personal letters. This treasure trove of primary sources allowed Williams to create an extraordinarily vivid and accurate portrait of this influential yet private man.Table of ContentsIntroduction; Prologue Bombs Away, 1915; Part I: The Beginning, 1889-1910: 1 Taconite; 2 Boarding School; 3 Wheel, Heels and Sand; 4 Wood Smoke and Rain; 5 Taking Wing; 6 A City Built of Wood; 7 In the Wake of the Great White Fleet; 8 Imposter!; 9 Rancho Dominguez; 10 The Oxbow Plant; Part II: Aeroplanes Are Your Best Defense, 1914-1918: 11 First Flight; 12 Preparedness; 13 Soloing; 14 Raided!; 15 Lawyers; 16 Mallard and Bluebill; 17 Pacific Aero Products Company; 18 University of Washington; 19 The Patent War; 20 The Zimmermann Telegram; 21 Telegram for Mr Boeing; 22 Spanish Flu; Part III: Growing Pains, 1919-1928: 23 The Hard Struggle; 24 Weaving Spiders Come Not Here; 25 Tell the Junk Man to Cart It All Away; 26 B-1; 27 Wet vs Dry; 28 Airplanes Not Cement Sidewalks!; 29 Dearly Beloved; 30 Whispering Wires; 31 Round Up!; 32 The Engine is the Machine; 33 Mr Boeing Goes to Washington; 34 Meeting the President; Part IV: The Great Depression, 1929-1933: 35 Near Death!; 36 Painful Progress; 37 A Million Angles; 38 Pratt & Whitney; 39 Depression; 40 The Monomail; 41 The Silent Queen on the Upper Deck; 42 Dangers at Home; 43 FDR; 44 Model 247; 45 Nitroglycerin; Part V: The Break Up, 1933-1938: 46 Money Matters; 47 Senate Hearing; 48 Not Worth a Nickel; 49 Project A; 50 Gone Fishing; 51 Flying Fortress; 52 Aloha; 53 The Sport of Kings; Part VI: The War Years and After, 1939-1956: 54 The Failure of Peace; 55 In God’s Good Time; 56 Boeing Bombers Blast Battleship!; 57 A Day That Will Live in Infamy; 58 Back in the Fight; 59 This Terrible Game of War; 60 Superfortress; 61 Farm Life; 62 Aftermath; 63 Run for the Roses; 64 The Boeing Brand; 65 Bombing the Stadium (Again); 66 “Festung Europa”; 67 Another Empty Chair; 68 Silverplate; 69 VE-Day and VJ-Day; 70 Blue Skies and Tailwinds; Epilogue; Appendix Bill Boeing and Race; Endnotes; Bibliography; Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA spectacularly illustrated new history and analysis of the strategic bombing campaign in the Korean War, which saw the last combat of America''s legendary B-29s. Just five years after they defeated Japan, at the dawn of the jet age, the most advanced bomber of World War II was already obsolescent. But the legendary war-winning Superfortresses had one more war to fight, in the strategic air campaign against North Korea. The bombers'' task was to destroy North Korea''s facilities for waging war, from industry and hydroelectric dams to airfields and bridges. However, it was a challenging campaign, in which the strategy was not merely military but political. In this fascinating book, airpower scholar and former RAF pilot Michael Napier explains how the campaign was fought, and how the technique of ''bombing to negotiate'' that would become notorious in Vietnam was already being used in Korea. He analyses in detail the relationship between battlefield progress, armistice negotiatiTable of ContentsINTRODUCTION CHRONOLOGY ATTACKER'S CAPABILITIES -UN air power DEFENDER'S CAPABILITIES - Air defence in North Korea CAMPAIGN OBJECTIVES - Air power in a complex war - Orders of battle THE CAMPAIGN - Industry, power and interdiction - Industrial targets - Strategic interdiction - Bombing the bridges - ‘Dambusters,’ airfields and ‘Black Tuesday’ - Night bombing - 1 - Air pressure - Night bombing - 2 - The Sinanju and Yongmidong bridges - Air Pressure –the irrigation dams ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION FURTHER READING INDEX

Read more less

Book SynopsisDo you remember the time we used to do New York in three hours?Even twenty years after its final flight, Concorde remains the pinnacle of aviation design. The aircraft is still unmatched, which has led to a vast swathe of material being written about the aeroplane itself. However, relatively little has been said about the people who designed it.Concorde, A Designer’s Life is an autobiography peppered with anecdotes from the team, humorous life stories and several ‘technibits’, all covering the design period of Concorde. Ted Talbot, who began his career at BAC as an aerodynamicist and later became chief design engineer, has combined the technical narrative with personal and family reminiscences to remind the reader that engineers have lives too.The path to Mach 2 was bumpy, with threats of cancellation and opposition from the Americans and the Russians, but this generally indicated to the Concorde team that they were on the right path! This informative, witty and thoroughly enjoyable peek into an unusual life is a valuable addition to any bookshelf.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is the definitive factual history of the US military flight-testing program at Area 51, authored by a recognized authority on the subject.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe United States built the best strategic bombers of World War II, and by the end of the conflict America’s bombers dominated the skies in both Europe and the Pacific. American Bomber Aircraft of World War II is a detailed guide to all the bombers deployed by the USAAF and US Navy from 1941 to 1945. Organised chronologically, this book includes all the great types of the era, such as the B-17 Flying Fortress, which led the daylight bombing campaign against German industrial targets; the B-24 Liberator, which carried out the famous raid on the Ploesti oil refinery in Romania in 1943; the rugged Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber, flown by US Navy pilots at the Battle Midway in that key turning point in the Pacific War; and the B-29 Superfortress, the aircraft most responsible for degrading Japan’s ability to wage war with their constant aerial attacks throughout 1944 and 1945. The guide is illustrated with profile artworks and three-views, as well as two-page dynamic artworks of some of the more famous aircraft in service, such as the highly- adaptable B-25 Mitchell, which served in every theatre in a variety of roles, the Douglas Dauntless SBD naval scout plane, and the Martin B-26 Marauder, one of the fastest medium bombers of its era. Illustrated with more than 100 authentic artworks with accurate markings and camouflage, American Bomber Aircraft of World War II is an essential reference guide for modellers and military aviation enthusiasts.Table of ContentsIntroductionBOMBERS: Strategic Bombers Douglas B-18 Bolo Boeing B-17 B-17C B-17D B-17E B-17F B-17G Consolidated B-24 Liberator B-24A, B-24C B-24D B-24F, B-24G B-24H B-24J North American B-25 Mitchell B-25C B-25G B-25H B-25J PBJ-1H Boeing B-29 Superfortress Consolidated B-32 DominatorTactical Bombers Vultee A-31 Vengeance Martin 166 B-10 Martin 167 Maryland Martin 187 Baltimore Curtiss A-12 Shrike Douglas DB-7/A-20 Havoc Douglas A-26 Invader Martin B-26 Marauder: B-26A–G modelsNaval Bombers Northrop BT-1 Brewster SB2A Buccaneer Grumman TBF Avenger Curtiss SBC Helldiver Curtiss SB2C Helldiver Lockheed Hudson/Ventura Vought SB2U Vindicator Douglas SBD Dauntless Douglas TBD Devastator Douglas AD-1 Skyraider Consolidated TBY Seawolf Martin AM-1 MaulerTransports & Flying Boats DC-3/Douglas C-47 Skytrain Curtiss C-46 Commando Martin PBM Mariner Grumman J2F-4 Duck PBY Catlina Vought OS2U Kingfisher Curtiss SO3C-1 SeamewIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisSUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLERDAILY MAIL BOOK OF THE WEEKTHE FIRST OFFICIAL HISTORY OF THE RED ARROWS'Heart-pounding, exhilarating . . . A fascinating testimony of jeopardy, cool heads and the sheer exultant addiction of flying.' SINCLAIR MCKAY'Fantastic . . . It was wonderful to read about so many old chums and truly legendary aviators. Highly recommended.' JOHN NICHOL (Twitter)'An exhilarating read! The next-best thing to taking the controls of a Hawk fast-jet. And you're much less likely to throw up.' BEN MILLER'Inspirational . . . Precision, style and dedication. The Red Arrows are the ultimate in teamwork.' TIM PEAKE'Perfectly enjoyable . . . As the Red Arrows head towards their 60th anniversary, it's clear the team's place in our hearts is secure.' DAILY MAIL'A wild ride . . . The ultimate insider guide, relating with great enthusiasm and insight what it means to be inside the cockpit as you scream through the skies at 350 to 450 miles per hour, within what feels like touching distance of your wingman, making continual nanosecond decisions that will result in certain death if you get them wrong.' TELEGRAPH, Patrick Bishop_________________________________________"Occasionally, you and the team come within read of perfection, up there in the rarefied air of the skies. You never know when those moments will come, but it's what you yearn for as a pilot."The Red Arrows represent the very best speed, agility and precision aerobatic flying in the Royal Air Force, and the people who wear those iconic red flight suits are rigorously selected not just for their flying skills, lightning-fast reflexes and nerves of steel, but for their mental resilience, courage and humility.Written by the Officer Commanding and former Red 1 Team Leader, Wing Commander David Montenegro, and full of never-before-shared tales from pilots past and present, this thrilling history is both a faithful record and a fascinating account of not only what it takes, but what it means, to be a Red Arrow._________________________________________Praise for the Red Arrows:'A lifetime's ambition . . . I still can't believe I've been in a fighter jet. It was fantastic - just to feel the G-force was spectacular.' LEWIS HAMILTON'So tight, crisp and professional' CHRIS HADFIELD'I can never quite believe that anyone can fly and aircraft with such precision' PROF. BRIAN COX'The skill level they have is just off the scale. The Red Arrows is an amazing display of quality' DAVID COULTHARD

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe DC-9 was Douglas's most successful jet airliner and remained in production for nearly 20 years. This is the first book written on the aircraft in more than a decade.

Read more less

Book SynopsisConcise visual history of Boeing's first jetliner.

Read more less

Book SynopsisBoeing's 747 'heavy' has achieved a fifty-year reign of the airways, but now airlines are retiring their fleets as a different type of long-haul airliner emerges. Yet the ultimate development of the 747, the -800 model, will ply the airways for many years to come. Even as twin-engine airliners increasingly dominate long-haul operations and the story of the four-engine Airbus A380 slows, the world is still a different place thanks to the great gamble that Boeing took with its 747\. From early, difficult days designing and proving the world's biggest-ever airliner, the 747 has grown into a 400-ton leviathan capable of encircling the world. Boeing took a massive billion-dollar gamble and won. Taking its maiden flight in February 1969, designing and building the 747 was a huge challenge and involved new fields of aerospace technology. Multiple fail-safe systems were designed, and problems developing the engines put the whole programme at risk. Yet the issues were solved and the 747 flew like a dream said pilots - belying its size and sheer scale. With its distinctive hump and an extended upper-deck allied to airframe, avionics and engine developments, 747 became both a blue-riband airliner and, a mass-economy class travel device. Fitted with ultra-efficient Rolls-Royce engines, 747s became long-haul champions all over the world, notably on Pacific routes. across the Atlantic in January 1970, 747 became the must-have, four-engine, long haul airframe. Japan Airlines, for example, operated over sixty 747s in the world's biggest 747 fleet. By the renowned aviation author Lance Cole, this book provides a detailed yet engaging commentary on the design engineering and operating life and times of civil aviation's greatest sub-sonic achievement.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book charts the history of the US airlifter from its origins in World War II to today''s transport giants. In doing so, it reveals and describes numerous designs which never saw the light of day, examining the thinking behind them and giving insights into why they did, or did not, succeed. In many ways, this untold story of aviation history reflects both the changing face of conflict and the exercise of geo-political power; it has also had a major bearing on the development of civil aviation. The book has been made possible by the authors being given unprecedented access to major aerospace company archives, uncovering scores of design proposals which have never previously been revealed. It is profusely illustrated, much in full colour, with artwork and three-view drawings extracted from manufacturers'' archives and with photographs of original project models. As well as describing how airlifters were progressively developed to meet ever-more demanding military transport requirements, the book looks at other roles for which they were adapted, from nuclear test-beds to Space-Shuttle carriers. This previously untold story describes over 200 unknown, or little known, designs, and contains over 400 illustrations detailing some of the largest and most incredible aircraft ever conceived.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDespite the borders of the USSR being closed to majority of its population, Soviet citizens were among the world’s most frequent flyers. Following the 1917 Revolution, Vladimir Lenin made the development of aviation a priority. Assisted by advertising campaigns by artists such as Alexander Rodchenko, Soviet society was mobilised to establish an air fleet – from the very beginning of the USSR through to its demise in 1991, Soviet aviation flew its own unique path. This book unfolds the story of Soviet air travel, from early carriers like Deruluft and Dobrolet, to the enigmatic Aeroflot. Organised like an Air Force, with a vast fleet of aircraft and helicopters, Aeroflot was the world’s biggest air carrier of passengers and cargo, responsible for a wider range of duties than any other airline. In an era when it was still common to smoke on board, the Aeroflot emblem appeared on cigarette packets, matchboxes and many other everyday goods. Aeroflot publicity alerted domestic passengers to new destinations or proudly presented the introduction of faster, more comfortable aircraft, while colourful advertising enticed Western travellers to use Aeroflot’s international services. Aeroflot – Fly Soviet uses this ephemera to illustrate a parallel aviation universe that existed for 70 years. It pays tribute to generations of aircraft engineers, designers, pilots, ticket sellers, flight dispatchers, air traffic controllers, ground handlers and flight attendants, who jointly created this remarkable chapter of Soviet civil aviation history.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDesign, development, and deployment of the Wildcat, America's naval fighter during the early days of WWII.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe story of Frank Whittle – RAF pilot, mathematician of genius, inventor of the jet engine and British hero. 'Wonderful' David Edgerton, TLS 'A fascinating account' Aeroplane Monthly 'Casts new light on the intense, heroic character of Frank Whittle' Leo McKinstry '[A] thorough dissection of the evolution of the jet engine... I recommend this mighty tome unreservedly' Journal of Aeronautical History 'A long overdue corrective of an extraordinary man' James Hamilton-Paterson 'A fine, deeply researched book' Military History Monthly In 1938, a thirty-one-year-old RAF pilot and engineer named Frank Whittle – given special leave to pursue his own startlingly original concept of flight – presented the Air Ministry with a written proposal for a revolutionary jet-powered fighter aircraft. A ready response might have changed the course of history, but Whittle got no reply. In this gripping and insightful biography, Duncan Campbell-Smith charts Whittle's success at building a pre-war jet engine against all the odds – and tracks his desperate struggle to have it launched into active service against Hitler's Luftwaffe. It arrived too late – but nonetheless transformed the future of aviation.Trade ReviewWonderful at evoking Whittle's extraordinary creative ideas, his mathematical ability, his charm, the support he received, his lack of political nous, as well as the sometimes appalling treatment he received -- David Edgerton, TLSA fascinating account * Aeroplane Monthly *A long overdue corrective account of an extraordinary man -- James Hamilton-PatersonCasts new light on the intense, heroic character of Frank Whittle and his revolutionary invention -- Leo McKinstryThere's much to ponder in this biography of a stoic and overlooked British hero * Choice Magazine *A fine, deeply researched book... [It] does great credit to a true aviation pioneer' * Military History *The author has done a first rate job in illuminating the struggles of this engineering icon in such a gripping manner. That he has made such good use of Whittle's notes and diaries is evident and adds so much to the book. As such, I expect it will become an historical document of some importance... This book is highly commended to all those with an interest in aviation, be they aircraft or engineering enthusiasts' * Pennant *An important and stimulating addition to the literature and highly recommended -- The Aviation Historian[A] thorough dissection of the evolution of the jet engine. Campbell-Smith has climbed every mountain of paper records unearthing the numerous political and technical hurdles from primary sources... I recommend this mighty tome unreservedly * Journal of Aeronautical History *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisChronicles the design, development, and wartime use of this famous American attack bomber.

Read more less