Aircraft and aviation Books

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Book SynopsisBetween 1967 and 1997 Keith Spragg progressed from the greenest new co-pilot on a piston-engined Vickers Viking to a fully qualified jet captain. He then went on to become an experienced pilot trainer and examiner, ultimately flying ten different types with nine different airlines. The story of that journey, told in I Have Control, is a personal one but is also part of the wider story of airline development. Keith witnessed many changes and it was not only the aircraft that changed; the training, attitudes and culture of airline pilots themselves were transformed over that period. Under the day-to-day demands of disrupted rosters and unsociable hours, the moments of humour and the need to squeeze as much fun as possible out of every day, the significance of these changes was not always obvious. Now, with time to reflect, the small boy's fascination with flight lives on. While the job changed, the rewards, the comradeship and the sense of privilege continued. But now Keith asks tough questions about the application of technology. Is the modern flight deck fit for purpose? Have we sacrificed skill on the altar of technology? How should the industry respond to the prospect of artificial intelligence and pilotless airliners?

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Book SynopsisFor most of the past century, beautiful models of airliners have been made to promote their airlines' services in travel agents and their own shops. The models also illustrate the evolution of airliner design over these decades: the wood and fabric biplanes of the 1920s, the broad adoption of all-metal airliners in the 1930s, the first jet airliners of the 1950s, the first wide-body airliners of the 1970s and the pioneering small steps in supersonic air travel are all covered. The increasingly colourful exterior schemes adopted by the airlines, to ensure recognition by aspiring passengers, provide an interesting subtext. For model collectors, the airliner type, makers name, scale, approximate age and the materials used are detailed for each model illustrated. A short history of significant model-making companies is covered. With the onset of online bookings and the closure of airline offices and travel agents, the use of models is fast vanishing forever. The focus of this book is to preserve this fascinating era when models were a significant marketing tool, and to ensure that these models, at least in photographic form, survive as a record for future generations.Trade ReviewThis is a book to read, to leaf through with pleasure, to leave out in full sight of friends and visitors and to come back to. In future, airliner models are likely to be commissioned for the niche uses of marketing and specialised trade shows but the heyday of models like those featured here, often works of art requiring so many hours of labour from true craftsmen, are long past, and Airliner Models is a fitting tribute to them. -- Bob Lange * Aerospace Magazine *

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Book SynopsisRoy Cross RSMA GAvA began work as an illustrator in Fairey Aviation during World War II. Over the next thirty years, he progressed from line illustration, via colour artwork, to top-class advertising art for the aircraft industry and other companies, including Airfix, for whom he produced many hundreds of artworks to adorn model kit boxes over a ten-year period. His illustrations for Airfix included superb depictions of aircraft, cars, ships, spacecraft, armoured vehicles and dioramas. Though Roy is perhaps most famous for his Airfix box art, his work has encompassed book and magazine illustrations, including highly detailed cutaways and other technical drawings. In more recent years, Roy has concentrated on the production of his magnificent maritime paintings.Trade Review" Although Roy's marine art is very highly regarded, he will, of course, always be remembered for his Airfix art. He certainly picked a winner with Airfix, because 55 years after he went there, the company is still going strong and demand for his artwork has never been higher. " * Constant Scale - Journal of the Airfix Collectors' Club *

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Book SynopsisThis is a practical guide to getting the best from the many resin and etch detailing kits available to enhance scale model aircraft, and is intended to help beginners and experienced model makers alike. Richly illustrated, it uses six model-building examples, from the very basic application of etch to the major conversions. It includes an overview of the tools required; guidance on building the basic model kit; an explanation of different types of multimedia; the methods for producing etched brass; how to undertake 3D design and 3D printing and, finally, gives the steps for successful resin casting.Trade ReviewIf you are wanting to make that 'masterpiece' model or simply just add improved detail, and have the time (and money), then this book is for you. * Constant Scale *

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Book Synopsis1969 onwards (all models), Written by two of British Airways' most experienced Concorde flight crew, the Concorde Manual is the latest aircraft manual from Haynes, following on from the acclaim received by the Spitfire Manual., Concentrating on the technical and engineering aspects of Concorde, this manual gives rare insights into owning, operating, servicing and flying the supersonic airliner. Although the British and French Concorde fleets were prematurely retired in 2003, interest in this marvel of design and technology remains undiminished and all who admire Concorde will relish the unique information provided in this innovative title., Authors: Captain David Leney and Senior Engineer Officer David Macdonald. Captain David Leney is a former pilot and Flight Manager (Technical) for BA's Concorde Division. Senior Engineer Officer David Macdonald is a former flight engineer and Flight Engineer Superintendent (Concorde). Between them, the two Davids have thousands of flying hours on Concorde. They live in Camberley and Marlow respectively., Icon titles were originally published in the classic, larger manual size and have now been produced in a smaller format containing the same information.

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Book SynopsisScotland has a worldwide reputation for launching some of the greatest ships ever built, but far less is known about our pioneering work on aviation. Yet in the great industrial cities and remote islands across the country, men and women risked their reputations, resources and lives to advance experiments in flight. Before airliners crossed the Atlantic Ocean and bombers secretly flew into the NATO airbase at Machrihanish, pioneers of aviation worked in the unlikely surroundings of Kelvingrove Park in Glasgow among other places. Their humble flying crafts, made with wood and canvas, would become the luxurious jet-engined aircraft of today. Including the first flight over Everest, the construction of the most northerly airship station in mainland Britain and the experience of civilians and pilots during the Clydebank Blitz of 1941, Scotland's Wings is a glimpse into the dramatic and sometimes controversial adventures within Scottish aeronautics.In Scotland's Wings, Robert Jeffrey tells a fascinating history, highlighting innovators whose ideas heralded the modern age of transport and revealing how the airfields of previous years will once again be used to progress into a daring new age of travel.

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Book SynopsisAdrian Bleese spent twelve years flying on police helicopters, and attended almost 3,000 incidents, as one of only a handful of civilian air observers working anywhere in the world. In Above The Law he recounts the most intriguing, challenging, amusing and downright baffling episodes in his career working for Suffolk Constabulary and the National Police Air Service. Rescuing lost walkers, chasing cars down narrow country lanes, searching for a rural cannabis factory and disrupting an illegal forest rave...they're all in a day's work. It's a side of policing that most of us never see, and he describes it with real compassion as he lives his dream job, indulging his love of flying, the English landscape and helping people. Perhaps more than anything, it's a story about hope.Trade Review'Hugely entertaining and enlightening - brilliant!' - Catherine Larner, Suffolk Magazine, 'An engaging and enjoyable read, offering a perspective on policing unlike any other you will have come across before' - John Sutherland, author of Blue and Crossing the Line, 'Adrian Bleese writes with real immediacy and warmth. He exhibits the dry, black humour so often evident in personnel within the emergency services, while also displaying a real compassion for the people whose lives he is observing, whether he is protecting them or pursuing them' - More About Books, 'An interesting insight into a different world, its people and sometimes its politics’ - Flyer Magazine

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Book SynopsisThis groundbreaking book offers a critical and wide-ranging assessment of the global air transport liberalization process over the past 40 years. This compilation of world experts on air transport economics, policy, and regulation is timely and significant, considering that air transport is currently facing a series of new challenges due to technological changes, the emergence of new markets, and increased security concerns. The book initially explores liberalization within various geographical markets such as the United States, Australia, Ireland, the European Union, China, India, Latin America, and Africa. It expands upon this by addressing the main concerns that were initially leveled against air transport liberalization, including those involving safety, social services, market concentration, and the domination of hub airports as well as market instability. This analysis of air transport and its regulation will be of interest to aviation professionals, regulators, researchers, and students who are taking courses in air transport, economic regulation, and contemporary transport history.Contributors include: S. Barrett, M. Baumgartner, P. Berster, V. Bilotkach, K. Button, M. Finger, P. Forsyth, M.C. Gelhausen, D. Gillen, S.V. Gudmundsson, G. Martini, W.G. Morrison, R. Nagpal, R. Neiva, C.V. Oster Jr., J. Peoples, A. Reynolds-Feighan, H. Saranga, D. Scotti, J.S. Strong, H. Vega, E. Zeki, A. Zhang, Y. Zhang, C.K. ZornTrade Review'Air transport liberalization has led to a substantial increase in the level of economic activities and traffic growth. This is an excellent book providing a comprehensive view of the topic and covering airline liberalization in the US, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as the sustainability of competition. This book also explores aviation safety in the age of liberalization, and the domination of hub-and-spoke networks. The eighteen chapters in the books are written by and for practitioners and academics.' --Bijan Vasigh, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, US'`The 30th anniversary of the start of the liberalization of air transport in Europe, leading to the creation of the successful EU internal aviation market, is an excellent time to review the transformation of the aviation industry which has taken place throughout the world over the past few decades. This book brings together ten studies of how markets have changed in different countries. But it does more than that. It also reviews broader, generic topics such as safety, small community services and hub domination and the impact liberalization has had on each of them. Finally, it looks at future challenges, particularly in air traffic control and security. The wide range of topics covered helps to put the subject of air transport liberalization into context and reveals the full extent of the remarkable journey the aviation industry has taken in most people's lifetimes, as well as how much more there is to do.' --Barry Humphreys CBE, Aviation Consultant, UK' Professors Finger and Button have assembled an impressive array of informative, insightful, and useful chapters that, taken together, offer a compelling endorsement for liberalizing air transport. Although a scholarly collection, there is much in this volume of direct relevance to aviation practitioners in both the private sector and governments. --John Byerly, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and Principal U.S. Aviation Negotiator, USTable of ContentsContents: 1. Introduction Matthias Finger and Kenneth Button Part I: Country and regional reports 2. Airline Liberalization in the US James Peoples 3. Airline Deregulation in Canada and the Sustainability of Competition David Gillen and William G. Morrison 4. Australia – a reluctant liberalizer Peter Forsyth 5. Air transport liberalization: the case of Ireland Sean Barrett 6. The Evolution of Indian Civil Aviation Rajiv Nagpal and Haritha Saranga 7. Air transport development: A comparative analysis of China and India Yahua Zhang and Anming Zhang 8. European Market: Present and Future Volodymyr Bilotkach 9. Latin America and the Caribbean, Thirty-Plus Years of Lukewarm Liberalization of Air Transportation Markets Henry L. Vega 10. Air transport in Africa Gianmaria Martini and Davide Scotti Part II: Topical issues 11. Aviation safety in the age of liberalization Clinton V. Oster Jr., John S. Strong and C. Kurt Zorn 12. Small Community Impacts of Liberalization and the Provision of Social Air Services Aisling Reynolds-Feighan 13. Oligopolization of markets Sveinn Vidar Gudmundsson 14. Domination of hub-and-spoke systems Marc C. Gelhausen and Peter Berster 15. Market instability Kenneth Button Part III: Future challenges 16. Economic Perspectives on Aviation Security David Gillen and William G. Morrison 17. The need to evolve air traffic management: Europe as a laboratory Matthias Finger, Marc Baumgartner and Engin Zeki 18. Canada and USA: A Tale of Two ANSPs Rui Neiva Index

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Book SynopsisWhat was it really like to take the LNER's Art Deco Coronation streamliner from King's Cross to Edinburgh, to cross the Atlantic by the SS Normandie, to fly with Imperial Airways from Southampton to Singapore, to steam from Manhattan to Chicago on board the New York Central's 20th Century Limited or to dine and sleep aboard the Graf Zeppelin? In the course of The Journey Matters, Jonathan Glancey travels from the early 1930s to the turn of the century on some of what he considers to be the most truly glamorous and romantic trips he has ever dreamed of or made in real life.Each of the twenty journeys allows him to explore the history of routes taken, and the events - social and political - enveloping them. Each is the story of the machines that made these journeys possible, of those who shaped them and those, too, who travelled on them.Trade ReviewGlancey combines his passion for the era with an insight into the social and political clouds brewing over the heads of passengers... The joy really is in the minute detail... For anyone with an obsession with the Golden Age of Travel, this will be the first class ticket. * Wanderlust *A thoroughgoing, eloquent corrective to complacency... The historical context is always nicely etched in, but what stands out is the experiential detail... Detailed yet dreamlike. * Country Life *Engrossing and lively... The most enchanting book you'll read this winter. * Steam Railway Magazine *Jonathan Glancey's imaginative work is a reminder that it is often the journey rather than the destination that is the best part of travelling. His book cleverly brings to life various historic settings through the mechanism of transport, with entirely believable scenarios, and each time helpfully brings us up to date. -- Christian Wolmar, author of Railways and the RajTable of Contents0: Introduction 1: Londonderry to Burtonport: Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway 2: The Brill Branch: London Transport 3: Frankfurt to Rio de Janeiro: Graf Zeppelin 4: New York to Southampton: SS Normandie 5: London to Glasgow: Coronation Scot 6: Dundee to King's Cross via Edinburgh: Coronation 7: Southampton to Singapore: Imperial Airways 8: New York to Chicago: 20th Century Limited 9: Chicago to Minneapolis: Afternoon Hiawatha 10: Bristol to Paris: Bristol 405 11: Liverpool Street to Hammersmith: Route 11 12: Massawa to Asmara: Ferrovie Eritrée 13: Birmingham to London: Midland Red 14: Milan to Rome: Il Settebello 15: The Black Mountains and Elan Valley: Jaguar Mk 2 16: London to Fort William: West Highlander 17: Tongliao to Hadashan: QJ 18: Baghdad to Basra: Toyota Land Cruiser and Chevrolet Suburban 19: Wolsztyn to Poznan: 0416 hours 20: London to Helsinki via Travemünde: Jeep Cherokee and MV Finnpartner

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Book SynopsisWhat was it really like to take the LNER's Art Deco Coronation streamliner from King's Cross to Edinburgh, to cross the Atlantic by the SS Normandie, to fly with Imperial Airways from Southampton to Singapore, to steam from Manhattan to Chicago on board the New York Central's 20th Century Limited or to dine and sleep aboard the Graf Zeppelin? In the course of The Journey Matters, Jonathan Glancey travels from the early 1930s to the turn of the century on some of what he considers to be the most truly glamorous and romantic trips he has ever dreamed of or made in real life.Each of the twenty journeys allows him to explore the history of routes taken, and the events - social and political - enveloping them. Each is the story of the machines that made these journeys possible, of those who shaped them and those, too, who travelled on them.Trade ReviewGlancey combines his passion for the era with an insight into the social and political clouds brewing over the heads of passengers... The joy really is in the minute detail... For anyone with an obsession with the Golden Age of Travel, this will be the first class ticket. * Wanderlust *A thoroughgoing, eloquent corrective to complacency... The historical context is always nicely etched in, but what stands out is the experiential detail... Detailed yet dreamlike. * Country Life *Engrossing and lively... The most enchanting book you'll read this winter. * Steam Railway Magazine *Jonathan Glancey's imaginative work is a reminder that it is often the journey rather than the destination that is the best part of travelling. His book cleverly brings to life various historic settings through the mechanism of transport, with entirely believable scenarios, and each time helpfully brings us up to date. -- Christian Wolmar, author of Railways and the RajTable of Contents0: Introduction 1: Londonderry to Burtonport: Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway 2: The Brill Branch: London Transport 3: Frankfurt to Rio de Janeiro: Graf Zeppelin 4: New York to Southampton: SS Normandie 5: London to Glasgow: Coronation Scot 6: Dundee to King's Cross via Edinburgh: Coronation 7: Southampton to Singapore: Imperial Airways 8: New York to Chicago: 20th Century Limited 9: Chicago to Minneapolis: Afternoon Hiawatha 10: Bristol to Paris: Bristol 405 11: Liverpool Street to Hammersmith: Route 11 12: Massawa to Asmara: Ferrovie Eritrée 13: Birmingham to London: Midland Red 14: Milan to Rome: Il Settebello 15: The Black Mountains and Elan Valley: Jaguar Mk 2 16: London to Fort William: West Highlander 17: Tongliao to Hadashan: QJ 18: Baghdad to Basra: Toyota Land Cruiser and Chevrolet Suburban 19: Wolsztyn to Poznan: 0416 hours 20: London to Helsinki via Travemünde: Jeep Cherokee and MV Finnpartner

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Book SynopsisAs the First World War comes to an end, teams of pilots and navigators gather in Newfoundland. The challenge: to be the first to fly non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean.

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Book SynopsisBritain’s first-ever wartime fighter plane, the Hawker Hurricane, shot down more enemy planes than any other fighter. It was the true aviation hero of the Battle of Britain.Often eclipsed by the legend and aerial heroics of the Spitfire, the Hurricane was the authentic warhorse of aviation history. Stable, rugged, less expensive to build – and far more easily repaired and maintained than the Spitfire – the ‘Hurri’ as it was affectionately known, proved to be the most fearsome fighter plane in aerial combat – at a time when Britain’s survival was at stake like never before.In 1940 the Hurricane made its mark: more than half of the 1,200 German aircraft that were shot down in the war were taken down by Hurricanes. At the time, the RAF could call on 32 squadrons of Hurricanes and 19 Spitfires: the Hurricane was, in fact, the dominant British fighter plane, developing a reputation as a plane that could take more than a few hits from the enemy – and continue to fly. The Spit was the aviation thoroughbred, superb until damaged. The Hurri was much stronger. The skilled airmen came from all over the world; one of them from RAF 80 Squadron would later become a very famous author – Roald Dahl. Using documents, letters and first-hand accounts, this is the historic untold story of the Hawker Hurricane and the lives of the men and women who flew, helped design and construct, fit and worked behind the scenes of the ‘Hurri’, all contributing in ways big and small, to its outstanding success as a legend of the Second World War.Trade ReviewThis excellent book ... relates the aircraft’s fascinating history * Royal Air Force News *Jacky Hyams' book is engaging, easy to read, poignant, and informative in turn ... a book about the countless human stories of quiet courage, sacrifice, hard work, and emotional strain that the factory workers, pilots, and ground crews endured throughout the Second World War -- Charlie Trumpess * theWarYears.co.uk *

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Book SynopsisAs with other transportation methods, safety issues in aircraft can result in a total loss of life. Recently, the air transport industry has come under immense scrutiny after several deaths occurred due to aircraft design and airlines that allowed improperly inspected aircraft to fly. Spacecraft too have found errors in system software that could lead to catastrophic failure. It is imperative that the aviation and aerospace industries continue to revise and refine safety protocols from the construction and design of aircraft, to secure and improve aviation systems, and to test and inspect aircraft.The Research Anthology on Reliability and Safety in Aviation Systems, Spacecraft, and Air Transport is a vital reference source that examines the latest scholarly material on the use of adaptive and assistive technologies in aviation to establish clear guidelines for the design and implementation of such technologies to better serve the needs of both military and civilian pilots. It also covers new information technology use in aviation systems to streamline the cybersecurity, decision making, planning, and design processes within the aviation industry. Highlighting a range of topics such as air navigation systems, computer simulation, and airline operations, this multi-volume book is ideally designed for pilots, scientists, engineers, aviation operators, air traffic controllers, air crash investigators, teachers, academicians, researchers, and students.

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Book SynopsisIn this eagerly anticipated book, renowned space historian and author David Baker turns his attention to the Saturn I and IB rockets. Although considered as merely a ''stepping stone'' from the Mercury and Gemini programmes to the mighty Saturn V and the Apollo missions that put the first humans on the Moon, the Saturn I and IB rockets actually played a far more significant role in NASA''s manned space effort.As the first American ''heavy lift'' rocket , Wernher von Braun''s Saturn I traced its lineage right back to his WWII V2 rocket, through Redstone to the Jupiter and Juno projects that lead to the Saturn vehicles. In describing this often-overlooked historical background, the story of the transition of the space programme from the US Army to the (then) newly-formed NASA, and the evolution from launching men and satellites on modified missiles, to flying purpose-built space rockets, is also uncovered.The first Saturn I flew in 1961 and it remained in service until 1975, flying the first manned Apollo mission, testing stages for the Moon flights and launching ''Skylab'' astronauts amongst other accomplishments. Illustrated throughout with NASA technical drawings and photographs, many previously unpublished, this absorbing book also includes a description of each mission flown by the Saturn I and IB.

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Book SynopsisNow remarkably in its 28th edition, ever since it was first published in the 1960s every edition of Wrecks & Relics has been eagerly sought after by aviation enthusiasts, restorers and curators alike. It is renowned as the go-to source charting the highlights, changes and trends in the preservation of the aviation heritage of the British Isles. With in-depth coverage of more than 700 locations across the UK and Ireland, it charts over 5000 aircraft including their potted histories, build and arrival dates.Wrecks & Relics is the only publication required to discover the incredible aeronautical treasures found across the United Kingdom and in Ireland. It provides a trusted, comprehensive rundown of museums and their exhibits - static or flying - workshops, military ''gate guardians'', stored and instructional airframes. It also reveals redundant airframes being used for the most unlikely of purposes, including for ''glamping'' and at paint-ball sites. Each edition is illustrated with both colour and black and white photographs and fully indexed making easy the task of where to go over the weekend, or where to find an extant example of a favourite aircraft. Whether it travels in the car or sits on the bookshelf, this new and fully revised edition of Wrecks & Relics will continue to be the most useful and accurate companion to the aviation heritage of the British Isles, which will be referred to again and again.

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Book SynopsisFirst published in the 1970s, Military Aircraft Markings has become an indispensable annual publication 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 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 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. This new 2022 edition of Military Aircraft Markings 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 UK military aviation.

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Book SynopsisIn the years after the Second World War, aircraft optimised for various kinds of special missions began assuming ever-greater importance in the inventories of the world''s leading air forces. The Soviet Union was no exception - numerous special mission versions of Soviet military fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters were developed and fielded, and the process is continuing in modern Russia. Some of them have seen action in various armed conflicts, including the Afghan War, the Chechen Wars and, most recently, the Syrian War.The need to control friendly forces on the move and manage airborne air defence assets efficiently resulted in the development of airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft. The first of these in the Soviet inventory was the early 1960s vintage Tupolev Tu-126 which was replaced in the 1980s by the Ilyushin/Beriyev A-50. The latter has been constantly upgraded but is now due for replacement by the latest A-100.An equally important role is filled by airborne command posts - mostly based on airliners, including the Ilyushin Il-22 army-level ABCP, the Tu-214PU and the Il-80 national emergency airborne command post (the Russian equivalent of the Boeing E-4 ''doomsday aircraft''). The latter may be replaced by a specialised derivative of the Il-96-400 airliner. Rotary-wing aircraft in this class were also developed, such as the Mil'' Mi-8VzPU and Mi-6VKP/Mi-22.Another important class is reconnaissance aircraft of various categories - photo reconnaissance, electronic intelligence, nuclear/biological/chemical reconnaissance, radiation intelligence (RINT). These were represented by ELINT versions of bombers (including the Tu-22 and Tu-22M), airliners and transports (ELINT versions of the Antonov An-12 and An-26 transports, the Il-20 derivative of the Il-18 airliner), RINT versions of the An-12 and the An-24 airliner etc.A separate chapter covers electronic countermeasures aircraft, such as specialised versions of the Tu-16 and Tu-22 bombers and An-12 transport, the latest Il-22PP, the Army Aviation''s many ECM versions of the Mi-8 helicopter (including the latest Mi-8MTPR) and the heavy Mi-10PP.A singularly important class is in-flight refuelling tankers supporting the operations of both heavy aircraft (notably strategic bombers) and tactical jets. These include tanker versions of the Tupolev Tu-16 and Myasishchev M-4/3MS series bombers and the Il-78, including the latest Il-78M-90.Another category which assumed considerable importance is search and rescue aircraft, such as the naval An-12PS equipped to carry a paradroppable lifeboat and the latest Beriyev Be-200PS amphibian able to pick up survivors at the scene of a maritime disaster.The book is illustrated with numerous previously unpublished photos, line drawings and many colour side views.

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Book SynopsisAlex Henshaw was awarded his private pilot''s in 1932 and made a name for himself during the 1930s competing in the air races which were to popular at the time. At the start of World War Two he became a test pilot first for Vickers Armstrong but was then invited by Jeffrey Quill to test Spitfires at Eastleigh. In June 1940, Henshaw moved to the Castle Bromwich factory in Birmingham shortly afterwards becoming Chief Test Pilot there.In the years that followed, he flew thousands of the Spitfires and Seafires which were built at the plant, sometimes test flying as many as 20 different aircraft in a single day. By the end of the war, 37,000 test flights had been made with Henshaw flying an estimated ten percent of all Spitfires ever built. It could be hazardous work and two test pilots working from Castle Bromwich were killed in crashes. Often flying in poor conditions and landing without aids of any kind, Henshaw''s breathtaking acrobatic style and complete mastery of the aircraft were to save his life on several occasions.This is a new impression of a classic book about a truly classic aircraft. Much has been written about the Spitfire but as the reviewer of Sigh for a Merlin in Pilot Magazine put it, ''If you only buy one Spitfire book, make this it.''

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Book SynopsisThis book is a meticulously researched review of the many German, Italian and Japanese aircraft taken to Allied countries or flown by the Allies during or after the Second World War. The history of these captured aircraft has been extensively researched and the book is copiously illustrated by an unrivalled selection of around 500 photographs, gleaned from around the world.The book''s chapters are devoted to chronological themes describing the individual histories of each aircraft and the units which flew them in the USA or France or in specific theatres of war, with a final chapter covering the use made of aircraft in other countries. Coverage includes civilian aircraft and sailplanes as well as military types; post-war production of German designs and details of surviving aircraft in museums. Appendices and indexes cover designation and marking systems, information sources and other useful background.The UK chapters include coverage of RAF Farnborough, 1426 (EA) Flight, individual squadrons, experimental organisations and manufacturers, the ATAIU in Malaya and the little-known Gremlin Task Force. US chapters deal with evaluation at Wright Field, Freeman Field, and in Europe by Watson''s Whizzers, by the US Navy TAIC at Anacostia, TAIUs in Australia and the Philippines and many individual units. The book also includes the most complete record published of British ''Air Min'' and USAAF ''FE'' and ''T2'' aircraft numbering systems.This new edition of an acclaimed title first published nearly thirty years ago has been fully revised and updated. The opportunity has been taken to use modern technology to improve the quality of the images and many new photos uncovered since the original publication have been included.

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Book SynopsisThe KC-135A made its maiden flight on 31 August 1956 and was still in front line service some 60 years later. What began as a jet-powered replacement for the KC-97 to refuel Strategic Air Command''s growing B-47 and B-52 bomber fleet soon evolved into America''s first military heavy jet transport, an airborne command post platform, a testbed that enabled scientists to study the Earth, send men to the Moon and understand the power of the atom. Other variants of the KC-135 included a reconnaissance airframe that monitors arms agreements, gathers intelligence to understand the intentions and capabilities of potential enemies and provides real-time intelligence in combat.This is a revised and expanded third edition of the definitive study of this remarkable aircraft. The author is a former USAF pilot qualified on 17 types of KC-135s, EC-135s, and RC-135s, who brings both personal experience and a broad historical understanding to this definitive work on one of the most significant military aircraft of the Cold War and beyond.This latest edition of Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker: More than a Tanker incorporates 64 additional pages of new material, photographs, and tables. Included are updates of retired aircraft, tankers transferred to civilian organisations, and new conversions of reconnaissance-related jets. A brief discussion assesses the turmoil surrounding the KC-135''s replacement, and a new appendix provides a historical summary of operational units.

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Book SynopsisThe new 2023 edition of this best-selling annual publication builds on the long history and heritage of the title. First published in 1950, this will be, remarkably, the 74th edition of Civil Aircraft Markings. When it appeared all those years ago, the book quickly achieved the status it still retains as the go-to source for up-to-date information on the rapidly changing world of civil aviation.The book provides the most complete listing available of all the aircraft currently on the UK Civil Aircraft Register; around 20,000 entries are detailed in this section along ranging from historic bi-planes to the latest airliners and also includes balloons, gliders, microlights and helicopters. Additionally, Civil Aircraft Markings contains the latest civil aircraft registers of Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. Civil aircraft commonly visiting the UK from around the world are also listed. It also provides the common airline flight codes, radio frequencies for major UK airfields and the complete British Aircraft Preservation Council (BAPC) register.The new 2023 edition of Civil Aircraft Markings has been fully revised and updated as usual and has a new and enhanced photographic section. Compiled by one of the UK''s most widely respected aviation authors, its publication is eagerly awaited every spring by a legion of civil aviation enthusiasts and aviation professional for whom it is the essential companion.

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Book SynopsisFirst published in the 1970s, Military Aircraft Markings has become an indispensable annual publication 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 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 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 of unit-cross reference and detailed RAF Squadron markings. This new 2023 edition of Military Aircraft Markings 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 UK military aviation.

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Book SynopsisDuring World War Two, the USAAF swiftly developed and deployed airborne signals intelligence (SIGINT) aircraft, pioneering advanced radar technologies and operational tactics amidst wartime challenges.The design and production of the airborne signals intelligence (SIGINT) aircraft of the USAAF during World War Two was an example of a rapid wartime evolutionary process. In three short years, the USAAF went from hand-built prototypes to full scale production of an aircraft type that had not previously existed in the US inventory. Government partnered with universities to form research laboratories focused on radar countermeasures (RCM) while US airline maintenance facilities were requisitioned to form production centres for modifications to allow rapid insertion of the technology. The USAAF pushed the bounds of systems integration and programme management, learning how to rapidly develop, field and operate aircraft in the ever evolving war in the electromagnetic spectrum.Just as the technical design changed, so did the operational employment of these ''ferret'' aircraft. Ferrets started as an adjunct to bombing missions but quickly evolved into aircraft flying their own missions off the enemy coast. New schools were developed to train personnel to operate these aircraft, and when output was lagging, squadrons set up their own schools in theatre. Technical representatives from US and Allied universities helped modify aircraft as tactics changed, providing feedback for later production equipment and aircraft. The story of these ''ferret'' aircraft is one of talented people across all walks of life pulling together to solve a complex problem under trying conditions.Each chapter in this new study of the beginnings of US SIGINT operations is profusely illustrated with an introductory essay placing the aircraft in context of the war in the theatre and includes expansive captions, maps, and operational details. The author William Cahill, a former USAF officer with a reconnaissance background, offers unique historical insights into the development and operation of these vital airborne signals intelligence assets.

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Book SynopsisFor many people, the 1950s was the golden era of military aircraft development, and a time when theworld''s air forces boasted probably the most varied and eclectic fleet of aircraft ever seen inpeacetime. Aircraft in active military service ranged from a few left-over World War Two designs,through first generation jets and 1940''s re-purposed aircraft, to new machines at the cutting edge ofaerospace technology, some of which would continue in service for decades to come.The UK armed forces alone were operating more than 100 types of aircraft, many of them producedby domestic aviation manufacturers. The US and Canada were also fielding a wide variety of militaryaircraft and starting to push the boundaries of speed and altitude capabilities. In continental Europe itseemed that almost every country had its own indigenous military aircraft; whilst rumours andspeculation were rife about the latest aerospace advances by the USSR.The 1950s also saw the rise of the ''abc'' range of books by Ian Allan. Originally started as a series of''spotters guides'' for railway enthusiasts wanting to record the identities of steam locomotives, theseries grew to encompass hundreds of titles on subjects as diverse as ships, military vehicles,motorcycles, space travel and, of course, aircraft. Each abc book contained the known data andspecifications for each aircraft type, together with a short description, three view drawing andphotograph. In an era when public information on military aircraft types was often in short supply,the abc guides were the acknowledged reference source for enthusiasts, aviation professionals andeven the military themselves!The original abc books have become highly-prized collectors items, but to bring their contents to a wideraudience Crécy Publishing has delved into its extensive Ian Allan archives and produced this compilationof several abc titles from the mid-1950s. Covering military aircraft from Britain, the USA, Canada,Continental Europe and even the USSR, the types covered range from the famous and legendary, toexperimental one-offs and rare designs which were destined for obscurity or even notoriety.For many, this book will be pure nostalgia for a lost era of classic military aviation; but it is also animportant historical record of its time, highlighting the contrast between the break-neck pace ofmilitary aircraft development for the front-line, alongside the classic wartime aircraft still to be foundoperating in many parts of the world.

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Book SynopsisThe new edition of this best-selling annual publication, Civil Aircraft Markings, the 76th, achieves something rather remarkable. The book has been published annually since 1950 making this year its 75th anniversary. We can think of no other aviation title that has reached this milestone. What made the book special all those years ago when it was first conceived and published, it still retains. It remains the most accurate and concise source for up-to-date information on the rapidly changing world of civil aviation. The book provides the most complete listing available of all the aircraft currently on the UK Civil Aircraft Register; around 20,000 entries are detailed in this section ranging from historic biplanes to the latest airliners and also includes balloons, gliders, microlights and helicopters. Additionally, Civil Aircraft Markings contains the latest civil aircraft registers of Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. Civil aircraft commonly visiting the UK from around the world are also listed. It also provides the common airline flight codes, radio frequencies for major UK airfields and the complete British Aircraft Preservation Council (BAPC) register.The new 2025 edition of Civil Aircraft Markings, as with all of those which came before it, has been fully updated and has a completely new photographic section. Compiled by one of the UK''s most widely respected aviation authors, its publication is eagerly awaited every spring by a legion of civil aviation enthusiasts and aviation professionals for whom it is an essential reference source.

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Book SynopsisThe SEPECAT Jaguar was designed to meet the requirements of the Armée de l''Air and the Royal Air Force for a light tactical fighter and a supersonic two-seat training aircraft. First flown in September 1968, the Jaguar went on to serve in both air forces for forty years. Jaguars were exported and licence-built in India, where they remain in frontline service today. Jaguars have also been acquired by the air forces of Ecuador, Oman and Nigeria.Best remembered today as a Cold War attack aircraft, the Jaguar offered a potent mix of high speed at low altitude, excellent navigational and weapons accuracy and a diverse payload of air-to-ground ordnance including tactical nuclear weapons and laser-guided bombs and missiles. While the Jaguars of the RAF based in West Germany helped to deter the Warsaw Pact during the 1970s and 1980s, the Armée de l''Air used their Jaguars in combat in Mauritania and Chad in West Africa. Both air forces participated in the international coalition following Iraq''s invasion of Kuwait in 1990, the Jaguar acquitting itself well during Operation Desert Storm. During the 1990s and 2000s, Jaguars served as peacekeepers in the skies over Iraq, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo and Sri Lanka. The Jaguar has also seen combat in other faraway places as diverse as the Andes and Kashmir in the Himalayas.Drawing on archival research, Jaguar: A Development and Operational History describes the history behind the requirements that gave birth to the Jaguar, its design and technical development, and service use in peacetime and war; including the Jaguars that have served in Ecuador, Oman, India and Nigeria. The stories behind the export deals that never came to fruition are covered, as are the numerous design studies during the 1970s for improved Jaguars to meet Air Staff Target 396 and the Big Wing Jaguar. Detailed appendices are included for all the Jaguars ordered by the Armée de l''Air and the RAF.Illustrated throughout with photographs, drawings and specially commissioned artwork, Jaguar: A Development and Operational History is a comprehensive reference book on the technical and operational history of the Jaguar.

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Book SynopsisEthiopian Airlines was founded in 1945 by the Ethiopian government with the assistance of Western airlines. With a fleet of war-surplus Dakotas, the airline took to the sky. At first, only domestic and regional destinations were served, forcing the airline to build makeshift airstrips. However, in 1957, Douglas DC-6s and a Lockheed Constellation were obtained and flights to Europe commenced. In the 1960s, Ethiopian entered the jet age with the purchase of Boeing 720s, later supplemented with 707s. Despite various political, economic, and social obstacles, Ethiopian Airlines continued to invest and grow, expanding to other African countries and further abroad. As passenger transport has declined, as a result of the global pandemic, it currently utilizes its cargo business to transport medical supplies. Illustrated with over 100 images, this book shows how Ethiopian Airlines has remained the powerhouse of African aviation.

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Book SynopsisThe 1990s brought with it many important developments for the aviation world. The dissolution of the USSR and Yugoslavia led to a rise of new countries and airlines. The aircraft faced changes as well. The early jetliners found themselves hauling cargo in many cases, and the new wide-bodies became the normal mode of passenger transport for long-haul travel, along with the creation of a whole new generation of types for short-haul. However, in parts of the world the old piston-powered props could be found plodding on, albeit in declining numbers. With over 300 color photographs and extended, informative captions, this book reflects the many ways in which the air transport industry changed during the decade. Taking the reader on a visual journey across the globe, this book explores some of the most popular airliners of the time, including Boeing, Airbus, and McDonnell Douglas, and how their aircraft developed throughout the decade.

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Book SynopsisBritish Midland Airways existed under different identities for over 70 years, during which time it grew from a flying training school into a scheduled transatlantic airline operating wide-bodied Airbus aircraft. With the prime routes dominated by British Airways and its predecessors, it had to diversify, and one product of this was its 'instant-airline' concept, which saw its Boeing 707 aircraft flying in the liveries of many African and Middle Eastern companies. Later in its life, British Midland Airways felt confident enough to go 'head to head' with British Airways on the UK domestic trunk routes. The acquisition of a major financial stake by Lufthansa in 2009 led to membership of the prestigious Star Alliance partnership, but even the German national airline could not find a way to stem accumulating losses, and, in 2011, the carrier was absorbed into British Airways. With over 140 images, this book charts the rise and fall of British Midland Airways.

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Book SynopsisNorth Korea is often referred to as the 'Hermit Kingdom' and not without reason. However, although tourism to this secretive country is rare, it does happen, albeit with limited numbers. In 2016, North Korea hosted its first ever airshow and invited a number of foreign visitors to watch. Unlike most airshows, this was not an international event, and all participants were from North Korea. There were a selection of aged Soviet-era airliners from the national flag carrier Air Koryo and fighters, helicopters and light transport aircraft from the air force. None of the military aircraft are ever seen outside North Korea's borders, and even the airline only operates limited international services, making the opportunity to see them in action, and photograph them, a once in a lifetime event. This volume is the personal account of a rare visit to one of the most isolated counties in the world. Not only does the book give a fully illustrated look at North Korea's aircraft, both military and civilian, but it then goes on to give a pictorial look at the country itself from a tourist's point of view.

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Book SynopsisThe Falkland Islands is a remote British territory, about 8,000 miles from the UK mainland and just over 400 miles from the coast of Argentina. The ownership of the islands had long been disputed, but it reached a boiling point in March 1982, when a group of individuals raised the Argentine flag on South Georgia. Foreseeing a large-scale response from British forces, the Argentine government quickly ordered Operation Rosario, and, on 2 April 1982, undertook an amphibious invasion of the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. Retaking the islands posed a logistical nightmare for the British task force. Fortunately, halfway between Britain and the Falklands there was a small forward operating airfield on Ascension Island. At the time, many of the British aircraft did not have air-to-air refuelling capabilities and lacked the range to reach the South Atlantic. Nonetheless, a full-scale British invasion was planned, and, within just 74 days, the Argentine forces surrendered. This book features an informative history of the significant British aircraft types in service with the Royal Navy, RAF and Army Air Corps during the conflict. It covers some of the most iconic British aircraft ever built, including an eclectic mix of helicopters, the Avro Vulcan, Handley Page Victor and British Aerospace Sea Harrier. With over 150 high-quality images, this book showcases surviving aircraft and looks at where they are now, 40 years after the conflict.

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Book SynopsisOver the years, de Havilland Canada has manufactured a number of remarkable commercial aircraft: the Beaver (considered the ultimate bush plane, against which every other bush plane is measured), Otter, Twin Otter, Dash 7 and Dash 8. It also developed the unique Buffalo and Caribou military transports, some of which ended up in airline operations. From floatplane operations in Canada, Alaska and the Pacific and up-country flying in Twin Otters in Africa and elsewhere, to glacier operations with the Turbo Otter, Dash 7s in Greenland and operations with major airlines worldwide, these aircraft have been used all around the world in a variety of different roles. By combining history, facts and figures with anecdotes, commentary and quotes, this book, which is illustrated with over 200 stunning photographs, celebrates these legendary aircraft.

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Book SynopsisDuring the late 1940s and into the 1950s, a number of British jet fighter and bomber aircraft were fitted with new, different or additional engines, both jet and rocket, to enable them to serve as test beds for those specific powerplants. These aircraft types included fighters such as the de Havilland Vampire, Gloster Meteor and Javelin, and Hawker Hunter, the one-off Hawker P.1072 and the English Electric Canberra, Short Sperrin, Vickers Valiant and Avro Vulcan bombers. This book brings together these specific aircraft, and the engines they tested, in a single volume. Accompanied by over 200 images, some of which are published here for the first time, it is an invaluable reference tool for both aviation enthusiasts interested in experimental and trails aircraft and modellers specialising in jet aircraft.

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Book SynopsisThe invention of the jet engine had a profound effect on the world. Commercial jet aircraft revolutionised travel, opening up every corner of the planet. Few know that the jet engine was invented by an Englishman in 1929. The invention was a masterstroke of genius by 21-year-old Frank Whittle, replacing the piston engine’s thousands of reciprocating parts with one part: a single smoothly revolving turbine. Although the world’s first jet airliner was the British de Havilland Comet, Britain then gave away the technology – not only to the United States but to the Soviet Union as well. The Jet Set, the air hostess and the package holiday all followed. The dream of cheap, exotic travel had been realised. Yet, just like the impact of the internet, there were downsides to the world-reaching power of this phenomenon. Jet tells the story of this brilliant new technology, how it shrank the world and how it changed life forever.

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Book SynopsisIn August 1961, Iranian Airways and Persian Air Services merged to form United Iranian Airlines. A few months later, however, Iran National Airline Corporation was formed by order of the Iranian government, and the new airline took over operations from United Iranian Airlines. When the airline entered the jet age, a few Boeing 727s were leased, which operated on routes to most major cities in Europe as well as the Persian Gulf region. Later, Boeing 737s for domestic flights and Boeing 707s for semi-long-haul flights were purchased, followed by Boeing 747s and 747SPs for the non-stop Tehran-New York route. The Shah of Iran also ordered the French Concorde, an order which was cancelled immediately after the Revolution. As a result of the Revolution and the Iran-Iraq war, domestic and international passenger numbers went down. At the end of the war with Iraq, the Iranian government decided to end the monopoly status of Iran. Fully illustrated with over 140 images, this book tells the story of Iran's national carrier from its earliest years to the present day.

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Book SynopsisThe first half of the 20th century saw the birth of the aeroplane and its development as an instrument of war and commerce. Within five decades, contraptions barely able to take to the air had given way to jet-powered aircraft, a rate of technological advance unparalleled in any other field. With carefully colourised images, this book chronicles the wide variety of aircraft produced in America before 1950, portraying them in their full glory once more.

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