Aircraft and aviation Books

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Book SynopsisThe story of Eugene Ely’s life is the stuff of myth and legend. Much of what has been written about him relies on sensationalized newspaper accounts from an era when early twentieth century reporters unabashedly fabricated stories to increase newspaper circulation. Those accounts portray Ely as a reckless daredevil and are essentially historical fiction. Eugene Ely: Pioneer of Navigation cuts through the sensationalism by relying on primary sources and photographic records and triangulating multiple sources to arrive at an honest portrait of the man and his legacy. The result is the story of a quiet, self-effacing Iowan who did extraordinary things. Ely’s measured approach and calculated demonstrations of the potential of military aviation ultimately pointed the way to today’s modern aircraft carriers, over a century later.Trade ReviewNaval Aviation owes a lasting debt to Eugene Ely and his employer, Glenn Curtiss. And history owes a debt to John Zobel, LaVerne Woods, and Robert Coolbaugh et al for their tremendous biography of the first airman to take off from and land aboard a ship. Pioneer of Naval Aviation is the product of meticulous research that unravels more than a century of myths and mysteries in providing the definitive biography of Eugene Ely amid his era." — Barrett Tillman , author of On Wave and Wing: The 100-Year Quest to Perfect the Aircraft Carrier “One of naval aviation’s earliest pioneers, Eugene B. Ely is best known for making the first shipboard aircraft takeoff and landing. Zobel recognized Ely’s contribution could only be appreciated in the context of aviation's growing pains prior to World War One. Edited by his widow, LaVerne Woods, Zobel developed a two-part story—Ely’s all too-short but hugely impactful aviation career and an in-depth study of his contemporary flying pioneers. Exhaustively researched, well-written, and historically accurate.”— Robert O. Harder , author of The Three Musketeers of the Army Air Forces: From Hitler’s Fortress Europa to Hiroshima and Nagasaki

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Book SynopsisExplores the conversion of post-WWII U.S. military aircraft into remotely piloted drones, including secret projects.This is an account of a fascinating but largely unknown aspect of post World War 2 US military aviation history, the conversion and use of former frontline aircraft to serve as remotely piloted drones. This story begins as far back as the 1920s, gains momentum during World War 2 and peaks with the postwar glut of airframes during the Cold War era.The list of manned aircraft converted to drones over the decades is long and includes at least the following: P-12, B-17, PB4Y-2, SB2C, F-80, T-33, F6F, F-86, B-29, B-47, F9F Panther and Cougar, F-100, F-102, F-104, F-106, F-4, F-16, P-39 and Boeing 720. These aircraft were used in a wide range of capacities; as test beds, flying bombs and targets for missiles and other aircraft to intercept and shoot down. One example of the sort of secret projects covered by this book, was a postwar scheme to use remotely controlled B-29s as one-way nuclear delivery devices under the code name Banshee.Since the 1970s the author has visited a number of drone sites, including the plant that converted F-100s and F-102s as well as ranges where drones were used. His files include many photographs, mostly never previously published of the many and varied types of drone which were created including the last B-17G Boeing that rolled out the door in Seattle and was ultimately consumed as a QB-17 drone.Aviation historians and enthusiasts will find so much of interest in this genuinely original, thoroughly researched, well-illustrated and utterly absorbing book which explores in detail a neglected but compelling aspect of recent US military aviation history.

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Book SynopsisIf it can be said that adversity generates creativity, then the story of the Heinkel He 162 jet fighter is testimony to such a precept. From the summer of 1944, the adversity facing the leadership of the Third Reich was formidable. Ironically however, the very existence of such adversity prompted many inventive and radical designs for the prosecution of the air defence of the Reich on a determined and even manic scale.In the closing months of the war, at a time the Allies had assumed that they had mastered the Luftwaffe jet menace, the combined efforts of a leading German aircraft manufacturer - Ernst Heinkel AG - and a small team of dedicated civilian and military specialists achieved an almost unbelievable feat: the production of a new, jet-powered interceptor from concept, through development and testing, to operational readiness in just six months. The accomplishment of the so-called Volksjäger (the `People''s Fighter'') project was - and still is - regarded as a `miracle of production''.In this extensively researched book, aviation historians Robert Forsyth and Eddie J Creek, draw, for the first time, on previously unused Heinkel company papers to offer a unique insight into the workings of the Nazi production system in the late-war period, as well as other German and Allied documents. Their work is supported by many rare photographs and accompanied by line drawings and facsimile documents as well as highly detailed colour artwork by He 162 specialist, Simon Schatz.This is the most comprehensive history of this fascinating aircraft to be published in the English language and is a natural accompaniment to the other detailed German aircraft monographs published by Classic Publications. It will form an essential reference work to all those interested in the airpower of the Second World War.

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Book SynopsisDuring World War II, America''s air arms fielded some superlative fighters such as the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, North American P-51 Mustang and Vought F4U Corsair. The large numbers of these excellent fighters produced by the US aircraft industry made a significant contribution to the eventual success of the Allies. However, even as the war was raging and the industry was working flat out to produce the huge numbers of aircraft required for front line duties, extensive research and development programmes were also being pursued to create the next generation of fighters. This book focuses on the aircraft generated by those programmes and provides a detailed survey of the fighter prototypes produced and flown during the period from 1940 to 1946, which, for various reasons, did not progress to production and service. The work has twenty-four chapters that embrace the great diversity of design and layout of these prototypes. They demonstrate the remarkable creative flair that was present in the US aircraft industry during the war. There are designs of all shapes, sizes and configurations powered by piston, jet and mixed power plants. The designs encompassed various configurations including pusher layouts, swept and flying wings. Each of these prototypes is given its own chapter. The book also reviews a selection of production fighter types that were kitted out for trials and used as test bed aircraft. A small number of unbuilt projects and studies are also included. The thoroughly researched text is complimented by a superb collection of photographs and illustrations. For all of those interested in World War Two US aviation and the aircraft produced in its aftermath, this book will be a revelation. Written by Tony Buttler, one of our most distinguished aviation writers, it will be a must read for all modellers and students of aviation history in this era.

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Book SynopsisBy comparison with Civil Aircraft Markings, with which it shares an annual Spring publication date, Military Aircraft Markings, is virtually the new kid on the block even though it has a continuous record of annual publication since the 1970s. Military Aircraft Markings has built its own loyal following over all those years and it retains its reputation as the indispensable annual publication for all enthusiasts, historians and students of military aviation. At the heart of Military Aircraft Markings is the most complete listing of all the aircraft of the UK Armed Forces; the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, Army and associated units. For each entry the military serial, aircraft type, unit/operator and usual base are given. Further listings cover Ireland''s military aircraft and historic aircraft in military markings.Other sections of Military Aircraft Markings include American military aircraft based in Europe, overseas military aircraft that may be seen in the UK, unit markings and a unit serial number/letter de-code. Also included are details of the UK''s main military air bases, a maintenance unitcross reference section and details of RAF Squadron markings. In addition, the book provides a comprehensive listing of visiting aircraft from overseas air forces that may be seen during the air display season, together with a new full colour photo section.This new 2025 edition of Military Aircraft Markings has been fully revised and updated by one of Britain''s leading authorities on military aviation. This remains the must-have companion for all those interested in UK military aviation.

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Book SynopsisThe Royal Navy emerged from the Second World War with the second largest fleet of aircraft carriers in the world and a year later had achieved the world''s first landing and take-off by a jet-powered aircraft from an aircraft carrier. The traditional roles of reconnaissance, aerial defence of the fleet and attack were joined by anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities. Technological advances in jet propulsion and helicopters offered new tactical possibilities, as well as new practical problems to be overcome to enable their operation from carriers. From the early 1950s the Fleet Air Arm operated a wide range of aircraft, from fighter-bombers, such as the Hawker Sea Hawk, to fully fledged nuclear-armed Blackburn Buccaneers and all-weather fighters like the de Havilland Sea Vixen and McDonnell Douglas F-4K Phantom. Westland''s family of anti-submarine helicopters, the Wasp, Wessex, Sea King and Lynx operated from a wide range of ships, ranging from small frigates to carrier decks. Defence cutbacks that saw the retirement of the fleet carriers and the transfer of the Phantoms and Buccaneers in 1978, but the British Aerospace Sea Harrier operating from smaller anti-submarine carriers maintained the Navy''s fixed-wing combat capability, this being memorably demonstrated in the South Atlantic in 1982. Today, the Royal Navy operates two modern carriers and shares the aviation commitment with the Royal Air Force, flying the most modern fighter in the world, the vertical take-off and landing capable Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning. Wings Over the Fleet describes the evolution and development of the Royal Navy''s frontline aircraft from the late 1940s to the present day. All the major types are covered, from all-weather fighters, interceptors, strike aircraft, anti-submarine helicopters and airborne early warning aircraft. The planning and requirements behind the aircraft such as the Sea Hawk, Sea Vixen, Buccaneer, Gannet, Wasp, Sea King and Sea Harrier are examined, as are many design studies and proposals that remained on the drawing board. Guided missiles during the post-war period and the evolution of the Royal Navy''s aircraft carriers and the new technologies required to operate jet aircraft from ships are also analysed.

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Book SynopsisFirst published in the 1970s, Military Aircraft Markings has become an indispensable annualpublication for aircraft enthusiasts, historians and students of military aviation. At the heart of Military Aircraft Markings is the most complete listing of all the aircraft of the UK Armed Forces; the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, Army and associated units. For each entry the military serial, aircraft type, unit/operator and usual base is given.Further listings cover Ireland''s military aircraft and historic aircraft in military markings. Other sections of Military Aircraft Markings include American military aircraft based in Europe, overseas military aircraft which may be seen in the UK, unit markings and a unit serial number/letter de-code. In addition, the book provides a comprehensive listing of visiting aircraft from overseas air forces that may be seen during the air display season, together with a new full colour photo section.Also included are details of the UK''s main military air bases, a maintenance unit cross-reference and detailed RAF Squadron markings. All these elements combine to make Military Aircraft Markings the essential guide to contemporary military aviation in the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe. Military Aircraft Markings 2020 has been fully revised and updated by one of Britain''s leading authorities on military aviation. This is the must-have companion for all those interested in military aviation.

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Book SynopsisThis highly illustrated book, authored by Peter Vacher, is a tribute to the Jodhpur Flying Club, the people who made it a success, and the birth of aviation in India during the early 20th century. It is also a candid look at the royal family and the influence of aviation in their lives.

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