Aircraft and aviation Books

Book SynopsisContent should appeal to both military aviation enthusiasts as well as those with an interest in recent British military history.

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Book SynopsisThe B-29 Superfortress was the definitive expression in piston-powered offensive air power. It was designed for an air force that was slowly realising it needed larger and heavy aircraft to support its operations, especially in the Pacific. Riding on the waves made by the equally ground breaking B-17, the B-29 was a bigger, more capable and more complex platform which incorporated myriad lessons learned from the European air war. It was soon decided to utilise the B-29's exceptional range of 3,250 miles in the Pacific Theater, where its payload would go on to wreak havoc among the forces of Imperial Japan. As well as military targets, the B-29s of the specially formed 20th Air Force would strike hard against the Japanese home islands, initially from bases in India and China, before following on behind MacArthur's push towards Japan. It was from the island of Tinian that B-29s would drop atomic bomb over the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The B-29 was a genuine behemoth of the skie

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Book SynopsisOther books have charted the VC10 in airline life, but this book blends that story with a well-researched tale of corporate and political power play.

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Book SynopsisExplains the background to the conflict in Spain and the international reaction to the outbreak of the fighting.

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Book SynopsisDiscover the exhilarating first-hand account of one man''s white-knuckle life as a fighter pilot with the Royal Navy Sea Harriers''A wild ride . . . the literary equivalent of injecting pure adrenaline into your brain via your eyeball '' Aviation Historian''Searingly honest, keenly observed, well written and extremely funny'' RAF NEWS''Puts you in the cockpit for carrier landings, missile firings and some of the most intense close air support stories imaginable'' MIKE SUTTON____________Few have what it takes to be a fighter pilot. From the cockpit to the crew room, the pressure is relentless. One mistake is the difference between life and death. But in the air, you''ll never feel more alive . . .Paul Tremelling knows this better than anyone. With nearly 20 years of experience, he puts you in the pilot''s seat in this thrilling first-hand account of a life in combat.From saving the liTrade ReviewThis is a searingly honest, keenly observed, well written and extremely funny military memoir and a must read for anyone interested in the tight brother and sisterhood of fast jet jockeys. It's a rare insight into a world hidden from view by operational security and corporate PR and all too often only revealed years too late . . . It's insightful, unapologetic and, at times hilarious * RAF News *This isn't a book for the faint-hearted. It is a book for anyone who appreciates insight into how a fighter pilot trains, trains more, thinks (fast), handles the aircraft and onboard tech . . . then fights * Flyer Magazine *The storytelling wouldn't be out of place in a thriller. If you are going to take one book on holiday it has to be Harrier . . . it's a superb read. You won't be able to put it down * Aerospace *A wild ride. This is the literary equivalent of injecting pure adrenaline into your brain via your eyeball. Taut and lean. It’s a blast from start to finish * Aviation Historian *

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Book SynopsisAn important piece in the jigsaw of aviation history in Northumberland.

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Book SynopsisA highly illustrated celebration of fifty years of the Hercules in service with the Royal Air Force.

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Book SynopsisThe inside pilot's story of one of the most remarkable aircraft of the Second World War

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Book SynopsisA profusely illustrated history of the command responsible for the RAFâs flying and ground training.

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Book SynopsisExplore this revealing, well illustrated look back at American airbases in Britain in the post-war era.Trade Review‘Fascinating and beautifully illustrated… A timely and important book.’ -- Battle of Britain historian James Holland

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In 1976 a Jersey-based air taxi operator purchased two elderly Dakota aircraft for cargo charters as Air Atlantique. Thus began the saga of an airline that would eventually operate one of the largest fleets of Dakotas in the world, acquire four-engined vintage propliners, diversify into passenger charters and pleasure flying and oil-spill response work, and take over the lease on its Coventry Airport base. From here a fleet of historic aircraft sallied forth to participate in air shows around the UK. The impending retirement of the airline’s founder Mike Collett brought about changes, but the freight charters and pleasure flying continued until new regulations brought passenger flying in the Dakotas to an end. Undaunted, Air Atlantique went on to open an aviation museum and visitor centre at Coventry. This is the story of a unique and much-loved British airline.

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Book SynopsisMartyn Chorlton takes a lavishly illustrated look at the iconic maritime patrol aircraft - the Nimrod.

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The Blackburn, later Hawker Siddeley, Buccaneer enjoyed an incredible service career that lasted over four decades. Designed as a carrier-borne attack aircraft, the Buccaneer was a solid aircraft designed to take the punishment of carrier operations and the constant stresses to the airframe caused by low-level flying. The aircraft entered service with the Royal Navy in 1962 in place of the Supermarine Scimitar and would continue with the senior service until 1978. The RAF received their first aircraft in 1969 – a legacy of the cancelled TSR.2 and F-111K, which resulted in a capability gap that had to be closed. The Buccaneer went on to serve the RAF in the low-level strike and reconnaissance role until 1994, serving with distinction during the Gulf War of early 1991. A robust and reliable aircraft that was popular with both its air and ground crews, the Buccaneer was a breed apart. A truly great British piece of engineering.

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Book SynopsisRare and unpublished images telling the story of the county's aviation history. Often regarded as a quiet holiday county, in fact Dorset has many aviation connections.

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Book SynopsisFor fans of H is for Hawk and Wild, Skybound is a deeply personal memoir about learning to fly.Trade ReviewA profound, euphoric and courageous book about how to live joyously, and how to meet death . . . breathtaking . . . Her journey is as lyrical and complicated as the sky she describes, and her book is a shimmering parting gift to those still earthbound * Guardian *Skybound is a soaring gift of a book. A moving meditation on landscapes and the leaving of them, the freedom of travelling beyond our fears and how our journeys between the known and the unknown, the familiar and the unfamiliar can teach us to cherish and see again. -- Owen SheersIt's early for predictions, but I'm sure Rebecca Loncraine's Skybound is going to be one of my books of the year. It's a book that makes you look at the sky and the land with new eyes; that gives you a lift, in more ways than one . . . an extraordinary book . . . a celebration of wind and wings . . . we've lost a huge talent * Daily Telegraph *Stunning. Rebecca Loncraine is a beautiful writer and thinker and Skybound is so full of life - a love letter to nature and a hymn of love to the parental bond. -- Cathy Rentzenbrink, author of The Last Act of Love and A Manual for HeartacheA valuable contribution to the literature of flight from a brave young pilot who will sadly never offer us another . . if Skybound is a manual for anything, it's for how to find lift on the Earth in the face of uncertainties . . . I won't soon forget her meditations on fear and flight, on home and family . . . 'Learning to fly,' she wrote, 'is like asking the universe . . . to let me go into the world to live and soar with joy and the possibility of death.' It seems safe to conclude that the universe agreed to Loncraine's request, and that in return it asked only that she leave us with this remarkable book -- Mark Vanhoenacker, author of Skyfaring * Spectator *If you’re looking for beauty, love and courage, read this book -- Nicholas CraneReading Skybound is the closest you will come to flying without sprouting wings. It is an astonishingly beautiful book, a record of a life that, although heartbreakingly short, was lived vividly and thrillingly and intensely. We must all strive to do what Rebecca undoubtedly did - honour the miracle of our existence. She has left the world with something brilliant and unique. -- Niall Griffiths, author of GritsAs thoughtful and insightful as it is courageous and inspiring * Sunday Express *As much a biography of the air as it is a deeply moving memoir, this beautiful book transformed the way I see the sky. I learnt so much about how the air behaves, the physics of gliding. And Loncraine’s affinity for the birds she observes and flies with shines through this fascinating, lovely book -- James Macdonald Lockhart, author of RaptorSkybound is a profound and exquisitely written witness to the author's flight and fear, wings and woundedness. Then it lifts into something beyond: the beautiful blue brilliance of her mind's sky -- Jay Griffiths, author of Wild: An Elemental JourneyA life-affirming memoir * Radio Times *[Skybound] proves that one can soar above the fear of death both literally and in language of unsurpassed beauty . . . the book is about the sheer thrill of being part of the astonishing earth we have in common, written by an extraordinarily sensitive and gifted writer * Harvard Review *I have never read anything like it. A portrait of a young woman in love with the sky, painted from a palette of courage, honesty and moments of great beauty. -- Jim CrumleyIt's early for predictions, but I'm sure Rebecca Loncraine's Skybound is going to be one of my books of the year. It's a book that makes you look at the sky and the land with new eyes; that gives you a lift, in more ways than one . . . an extraordinary book . . . a celebration of wind and wings . . . we've lost a huge talent * The Daily Telegraph *An exquisite account of gliding in Wales, New Zealand and Nepal . . . To refer to this as a “cancer memoir” would be insufficient; must we not all contend somehow with this knowledge, though we may try to evade and forget? Skybound is an extraordinary, wise and deeply moving book. -- Joanna Kavenna * London Review of Books *

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER''An inspirational read celebrating the incredible young people who gave so much for this iconic British aircraft''. John Nichol, bestselling author of Spitfire: A Very British Love StoryDespite the many films and television programmes over the decades since the end of the Second World War that portrays our allied heroes as grown-up men and women, the Battle of Britain was in the main actually fought and won by teenagers. The average age of an RAF fighter pilot was just twenty years old. Many of the men and women who designed and built their planes were even younger.Based on the hit BBC World Service podcast Spitfire: The People''s Story, we use contemporary diaries and memoirs, many of them previously unpublished, to tell the story of the Spitfire through the voices of the teenagers who risked everything to design, build and fly her.This isn''t a story of Trade ReviewDraws on unpublished diaries and archive recordings to chronicle the extraordinary national effort to construct the fighter aircraft that gave the Allies a critical edge over the Luftwaffe. * The Times *A truly epic account of the actual and symbolic role the plane played in defending Britain in the Second World War. * Sunday Times *Tells the inspiring story of how ordinary citizens came together to build the famous Battle of Britain aircraft. * The Observer *The story of how these fast and lethal little planes helped win the Second World War is stirringly told in this new BBC series. * The Mail on Sunday *The story of the Second World War's most famous plane is peppered with women - many of their stories untold in the decades since the conflict. * The Telegraph *An inspirational read celebrating the incredible young people who gave so much for this iconic British aircraft. * John Nichol, bestselling author of Spitfire: A Very British Love Story *Read Spitfire Kids and you'll start believing this plane has a pulse! * Tessa Dunlop, broadcaster and bestselling author of Century Girls *It is a story of heroism that goes beyond the spiffy moustaches and aerial acrobatics we have all seen in old movies, tapping into the verve and tenacity shown by a young workforce. * The Herald *

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Book SynopsisThe Mosquito Pocket Manual collates authentic period sources including pilot''s notes and other Air Ministry publications to provide a unique guide to this iconic aircraft.The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft with a two-man crew that served during and after the Second World War. It was one of few operational front-line aircraft of the era constructed almost entirely of wood and was nicknamed The Wooden Wonder.The Mosquito was also known affectionately as the Mossie to its crews. Originally conceived as an unarmed fast bomber the Mosquito was adapted to a wide range of bombing roles. It was also used by BOAC as a fast transport to carry small high-value cargoes to, and from neutral countries through enemy controlled airspace.The book collates a variety of pamphlets and manuals on the plane that were produced throughout the war for the benefit of pilots and others associated with the aircraft.Trade ReviewRecommended. There are great images, in the form of photographs and drawings, through the body of the book. An amazing and iconic aircraft, covered so effectively by this handbook. * Firetrench *

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Book SynopsisComprehensive account of US military helicopters in war and peace up the present day.

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Book SynopsisThe story of the Supermarine Spitfire has been told across many years and the debate about it is enduring, yet the Spitfire remains a true icon. For aviation enthusiasts, for historians, for modellers, the word Spitfire conjures many stories and affections. This book presents the Spitfire enthusiast with an up-to-date history of the Spitfire-not just in its design and application in war, but also as a flying memorial and as an aero modellers' vital focus. The text examines recently revealed forgotten aspects of the Spitfire story; by combining the elements of design, the story of a weapon of war and a revered scale model, this book frames an essential chapter in aviation history. Packed with original and contemporary images and information, and displaying unique Spitfire model collections, the narrative bridges an important gap and is a worthy addition to the FlightCraft series.

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Book SynopsisAt the dawn of the twentieth century mankind had not yet achieved powered flight. The main motive power then was provided by steam engines heavy, dirty and inefficient. If one wanted to travel over seas' one had to travel on them. A journey from London to New York, by steam-driven train and ship, took more than 6 days. By the time the same century drew to a close in December 1999, air travel was the normal choice for long journeys. Millions of people every day flew comfortably and safely in pressurised aluminium airliners propelled by simple, clean and efficient gas turbine engines. The same journey from London to New York could be achieved at supersonic speed in less than 6 hours. For much of that century, many of the extraordinary developments that moved aviation from fragile wood and fabric biplanes to supersonic transports were achieved on 330 acres of low-lying former estate farmland in Surrey, England. The estate was called Brooklands. Those marshy acres were transformed from 1907 into the world's first custom-built motor-racing circuit, then a rapidly developing aerodrome, and finally one of the country's largest aircraft factories, employing tens of thousands of people. Nearly 19,000 aircraft of many different types were built at Brooklands during nine decades of peace and war. By the 1980s however it was being eclipsed by larger manufacturing sites elsewhere, with longer runways and better communications links; its owner, by then called British Aerospace, finally closed the factory in 1989. This book tells the history of those amazing developments through 100 of the key aircraft, engines, places and other objects that can still be seen, either in or near Brooklands Museum or in other locations around the country. It also highlights the stories of six designers whose inspiring creativity produced aircraft, engines and weapons ranging from Camel to Concorde, Fury to Harrier, Wellington to Viscount, Merlin to Olympus. Between them, Thomas Sopwith, Barnes Wallis, Rex Pierson, Sydney Camm, Stanley Hooker and George Edwards were responsible for much of what was designed, built and flown, not only at Brooklands but elsewhere too. The book is arranged in successive historical episodes but the many links between the objects and the designers should allow readers to follow different paths if they so wish. It is not intended as a technical reference but rather to inspire the reader to seek out the objects and discover more about them.

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Book SynopsisWhile large numbers of aeroplanes had been produced In America for the war effort overseas at the Western Front, it was found that that the British, French and Germans were far ahead of them when it came to flight technology, which led to a huge surplus of aeroplanes in the United States. The government's solution to recover some of the money was to sell the surplus stock off for as little as $200 dollars each. With no licence being required to fly a plane, the offer attracted many ex-fighter pilots as well as civilians, who developed a new American pastime known as barnstorming. Part entertainers, part thrill-seekers, the barnstormers made their way across the country as solo acts and in groups called 'Flying Circuses'. The American flier Ormer Locklear wowed the crowds by climbing out of his aeroplane and walk along the wing, and it wasn't long before flying circuses held less appeal for spectators if it didn't have a wing-walking act. Handstands, jumps across planes, and even the odd game of tennis were attempted by barnstormers to attract larger paying audiences. In 1936, the US Government banned wing-walking under 1,500 ft, which doomed aerial stunting, and while a few wing-walking teams operated in the 1970s, it wasn't until barnstormer Vic Norman founded his famous AeroSuperBatics wing-walking team in the early 1980s that the sight of daredevils hand-standing and flying upside down on the wing was seen in Europe. Several teams around the world subsequently formed using aeroplanes such as the Boeing Stearman or the Curtiss 'Jenny' biplanes to wow crowds as a part of regular air displays, and their appeal has continued to rise since the 2000s.

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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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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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Book SynopsisIllustrated with 180 colour photographs, with extended and informative captions, this book looks at the airliners of East and Central Asia. It showcases the variety of aircraft and airliners in that area, covering not just the aircraft that can be seen in places such as China but also those in other Asian nations such as Kazakhstan, Mongolia, North Korea and Taiwan.

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Book SynopsisCurtiss, as a company, contributed a great deal in establishing the US aircraft industry firmly on the world stage, but behind every great company is usually one forward thinking man, and in this case, it was Glenn Hammond Curtiss. By the end of World War One, the company had built over 10,000 aircraft. Glenn Curtiss would remain a director until his premature death in 1930\. In 1929, the company merged to become Curtiss-Wright. The lack of research and development invested in the company leading up to the jet age also saw the premature demise of Curtiss-Wright itself. The aircraft Curtiss-Wright created leading up to World War Two were not the best, but the company's business-like approach to aircraft manufacturing meant that it could produce large numbers for a variety of customers, foreign included, at a reasonable price. However, in 1947, its one attempt at breaking into the area of jet aircraft had failed and the aviation side of Curtiss-Wright was sold to North American Aviation. This new book edition of Aeroplane's Curtiss Company Profile 1907-1947 showcases the aircraft of this manufacturer from the start of operations until the end.

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Book SynopsisWhile not the first aircraft manufacturer in Britain, Bristol had the distinct advantage of being created by a well-established businessman, rather than an enthusiastic aviator, by the name of Sir George White. Bristol grew rapidly, from a few hangars at the influential Larkhill in Wiltshire to a new site at Filton, and, up to 2012, was one of the key aviation design, development and manufacturing locations in Britain. Thanks to the many talented designers, engineers, test pilots, not to mention the vision of Sir George over a century ago, Bristol has made its mark on the aviation industry with revolutionary aircraft, and a number of firsts and records along the way. Both military and civilian aircraft and the engines, piston, turboprop and jet have benefited from the standard in engineering excellence that was set on the hallowed turf of Filton. This book explores the history of the company, and the aircraft that it produced.

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Book SynopsisThe arrival of the Short Sunderland into RAF service in 1938 raised the bar considerably with regard to flying-boat design, compared with what airmen had previously experienced. Gone were the draughty, cluttered cockpits, cramped fuselages and mediocre performance associated with the average inter-war flying boat. The Sunderland brought a host of improvements, which remained only marginally altered for the aircraft’s 21 years of RAF service. The Sunderland was by far the best flying-boat the RAF had ever received, and, sadly, it was also the last. This new book edition of Aeroplane’s deep dive into the history of the Sunderland looks at how this aircraft served our country through the Second World War and beyond, both in civil and military roles, and helps to keep the memory of this wonderful aircraft alive.

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Book SynopsisPreserved aircraft can be found around the world, showcasing paint schemes and names that may have been lost to history otherwise. Focusing on Europe, this book looks at a mix of new and old aircraft. With over 180 images, the aircraft, their history and current locations are all detailed. This book contains a wide range of aircraft, whether they are a common preserved type or the last of their kind.

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Book SynopsisPreserved aircraft can be found around the world, showcasing paint schemes and names that may have been lost to history otherwise. Focusing on the rest of the world, this book looks at a mix of new and old aircraft. With over 180 images, the aircraft, their history and current locations are all detailed. This book contains a wide range of aircraft, whether they are a common preserved type or the last of their kind.

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Book SynopsisCovering the period from the establishment of the Royal Flying Corps in 1912 to the end of World War One, this book explores the development of the major stalwart of military aviation: biplanes. Throughout this period, the birth of the British aviation industry took place with names such as de Havilland, Bristol, Handley-Page and many others emerging and eventually becoming synonymous with British aviation. World War One spurred innovation and development with the need to maintain or restore competitive advantage in air warfare. During this period, in addition to those aircraft that became household names, many prototype and experimental aircraft were constructed for military purposes, but did not enter service, either at all or in meaningful numbers. Nevertheless, the science of aviation was advanced. This book is a unique reference source for aviation historians and enthusiasts.

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Book SynopsisThe book is a complete history of T-6/SNJ/HARVARD (Texans) Closed Course Pylon racing from Cleveland 1946 to Reno 2019 with details of all races, a who’s who of who raced, when, what aircraft they flew, who finished, who crashed and photos of every aircraft that carried a race number from #0 to #736. A narrative of each venue that held Texan racing is provide by location and dates races were held with race results and participants.

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Book SynopsisThis book looks at all aspects of Brazil's aviation, including its air force, army and naval aviation wings and the aircraft that serve the police force.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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