Aircraft and aviation Books
Key Publishing Ltd Sub Hunters
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£8.54
The History Press Ltd Classic Heathrow Propliners
Book SynopsisFor over seventy-five years, London Airport (Heathrow) has been Britain’s busiest international airport, but for the first thirty years of its life, before the dominance of jetliners, most of its passengers and cargo travelled on propeller-powered aircraft.With over 200 colour images, Classic Heathrow Propliners celebrates the huge variety of visiting propliners that were photographed by the dedicated aviation enthusiasts who spent many hours at the airport during those golden years, when non-travelling visitors were still made welcome by airport authorities.
£21.25
The History Press Ltd Miles M.52: Gateway to Supersonic Flight
Book SynopsisIn December 1943, a top secret contract (E.24/43) was awarded to Miles Aircraft. The contract was to build the world's first supersonic jet capable of 1000mph. The only reliable source of data on supersonic objects came from the Armament Research Dept and their wind tunnel tests on ammunition. From this, Miles developed an exceptionally thin-winged, bullet-shaped aircraft. the research was inexplicably passed to the Americans in 1944. By December 1945, one prototype was virtually complete. The second, destined for an attempt at the sound barrier was 80 per cent complete. In February 1946, Capt Eric Brown was confirmed as the test pilot and October 1946 was set for the supersonic trials. However, on 12 February 1946, Miles were ordered to stop production. No plausible explanation was given for the cancellation when Britain was within six months of breaking the sound barrier. Eric Brown and others directly involved including Dennis Bancroft, the Chief Aerodynamicist on the M.52, have now come together to try and finally solve the mystery behind the cancellation.
£17.00
The History Press Ltd Tales of Lancasters and Other Aircraft: Dangerous
Book SynopsisOf every 100 operational airmen in the Second World War, nearly seven were killed flying in England and more than three severely injured in crashes. With a total of 12,398, the number of non-operational casualties was significant. Operational casualties were of course chillingly grim – over 56,000 airmen died in the war.George Culling was a 19-year-old Lancaster navigator whose own experiences often involved battling tricky and dangerous conditions. Fascinated by the ever-present dangers for airmen even well away from combat, he has collated tales from comrades and combined them with his own to preserve some of the unexpected, inconvenient, dangerous, and often downright bizarre experiences that frequently typified daily life for airmen in the Second World War.
£11.69
The History Press Ltd Military, Naval and Civil Airships: The History
Book SynopsisAn exploration of the history and development of the dirigible airship from its humble beginnings in the late eighteenth century through to its current role as military command posts among other uses.Starting out as an unreliable experimental aircraft whilst aeronauts first began to learn the secrets of aerial navigation, the airship was remodelled in 1900 by Count Zeppelin to become a potent weapon of war. It was then transformed again into a short-lived solution to long-distance passenger air travel. With over 100 technical drawings and contemporary images of dirigible aircraft, Ridley-Kitts presents a comprehensive and fascinating history of the airship.Military, Naval and Civil Airships is a must read for those that wish to delve into the development of the aircraft for the first time and for airship specialists alike.Trade ReviewIt will captivate both the casual reader and the ardent enthusiast -- Jared Zichek
£15.29
The History Press Ltd Elstree Aerodrome
Book SynopsisFrom its humble beginnings in the 1930s as a landing strip associated with a country club, Elstree Aerodrome would go on to be used extensively for repair and overhaul of military aircraft in the Second World War and would later become one of the foremost general aviation airfields in the country. Examined in this volume are the aircraft, events and personalities that have shaped it over the decades.Elstree is one of only a dozen or so civil aerodromes in the UK which have been in continuous operation for at least the last ninety years. In peacetime it became a hub for charter companies and flying clubs, and many celebrities have flown from here, enjoying its close proximity to Elstree Studios and London. With the addition of further significant historical events to bring it right up to date, and with many new photographs, this expanded edition tells the full story of ninety years at Elstree Aerodrome.
£19.54
Independent Publishing Network Shamrock 165 Volume III
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£37.80
Key Publishing Ltd US Army Aviation in 2025
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£9.49
Key Publishing Ltd Boeing 787
£9.49
Stenlake Publishing The First Home-Built Aeroplanes
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£9.95
Stenlake Publishing Channel Islands Aviation History: From the Dawn
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£26.96
Stenlake Publishing A Century of British Aeroplanes in old photographs
£23.70
The Crowood Press Ltd The Military Airfields of Britain: Scotland and
Book SynopsisThis series of books, based on the author's popular series for Flypast magazine, provides a fresh user-friendly look at the military airfields of Britain. The books, each of which includes a number of counties on a regional basis, are designed for the historian, the tourist and anyone with an interest in their local area. Entries cover every military airfield within the counties, from World War One to the present day, and comprise:
£16.14
The Crowood Press Ltd TSR2 - Britain's Lost Bomber
Book SynopsisMore than forty years after its cancellation, the BAC TSR2 is still a controversial aircraft. Years ahead of its time, it was abruptly cancelled by a new government when flight testing had ony just begun. Built to a demanding RAF requirement , the BAC TSR2 was a revolutionary low-level strike aircraft able to deliver a tactical nuclear weapon at supersonic speed and low altitude to evade enemy radar. This fascinating new book describes in detail the aircraft, its history and the events of its cancellation. Many hitherto unseen photographs and diagrams support the detailed text, which benefits from extensive research in the BAC archives and access to newly rediscovered material. Topics covered: Background to the requirement, and competing designs Development and production The flight-testing programme The full story of the cancellation and its aftermath Unbuilt variants Detailed specifications.
£45.00
The Crowood Press Ltd The Early History and Development of the
Book SynopsisThis important project brings together the early histories of the development of the turbojet, turboprop and turboshaft engines for the first time. The work of twelve nations [Great Britain, Germany, the Soviet Union, the United States, Japan, France, Canada, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, Czechoslovakia and Hungary] is described from the earliest days up to the end of the 1950s. This was the Golden Age of aeronautical development and in that time hundreds of engines were developed using the new and exciting gas turbine technology. These engines powered some of the most important and best loved aircraft of the century.
£36.00
The Crowood Press Ltd The Military Airfields of Britain: Wales and West
Book SynopsisThis series of books provides a fresh user-friendly look at the military airfields of the British Isles. The series is split geographically, each book including a number of counties on a regional basis. Entries cover every military airfield within the counties, from WW1 to the present day and comprise:
£16.14
Hikoki Publications Early Soviet Jet Fighters
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£31.46
Hikoki Publications On Atlas' Shoulders: RAF Transport Aircraft
Book SynopsisIn August 1945 RAF Transport Command found itself with almost 2000 C-47 Dakotas acquired under Lend-Lease that had to be returned, destroyed or paid for. This left the RAF with converted bombers such as the York and Halifax C.VIII or, in the Far East, interned Japanese aircraft including the Ki.48 Lily, Post war, Britain''s aircraft industry embarked on equipping RAF with the full range of transport aircraft which could carry troops and cargo to the Far East and Australia. On Atlas'' Shoulders describes how the lessons of WW2 were absorbed and design studies and aircraft projects including the Beverley, Vickers'' V.1000 and Type 799, the Argosy and HS.681 V/STOL transport or the Britannia, HP.111, VC10 and Belfast. On Atlas'' Shoulders also explains how the RAF developed their transport force from the late Sixties to today''s precision delivery of equipment to forward operating bases in Afghanistan and beyond. The Mounting Base strategy followed with proposals for long-range transports such as the HP.135, Jet Belfast and VC10 developments whilst at the opposite end of the scale, liaison and observation aircraft such as the Pioneer were soon overtaken by the helicopter, culminating in the Wessex, Puma and Chinook. Illustrated throughout with photographs, drawings and specially commissioned artwork, On Atlas'' Shoulders is a unique reference to the aircraft and technologies developed for logistics support of the British armed forces since 1945.
£23.96
Hikoki Publications Typhoon to Typhoon
Book SynopsisThis book examines the RAF''s ground attack capabilities, the threats it faced, and the weapons, technologies and aircraft developed to counter those threats from the end of World War II to the present day, moving from the era of the Hawker Typhoon to that of the Eurofighter Typhoon.Throughout the Cold War a major RAF role was to conduct low-level attacks in support of NATO ground forces. Weapons and aircraft developed to carry out this task included the Hawker Typhoon and Hunter. Harriers and Phantoms were later used. With the increase in Warsaw Pact armoured forces and their air defence capability, new weapons and aircraft were required resulting in two roles becoming RAF specialities: counter-air and anti-armour operations. The former saw Buccaneers and Jaguars armed with nuclear weapons and Tornadoes with JP.233 to be used against airfields while the latter saw Harriers, Jaguars and Phantoms with BL.755 cluster bombs and latterly Typhoons with Brimstone, against armour. Another role assigned to the RAF in support of its own, and the Army''s, operations was tactical reconnaissance. This equipment evolved from the wet-film cameras of the 1940s and the IR linescan systems of the 1970s to the real-time battle management systems on the Sentinel R.1 in the new century. Thankfully the RAF never went to war in Europe but saw plenty of action around the world, where the aircraft and weapons developed to counter the Soviets were used against enemies old and new.
£23.96
Dalrymple and Verdun Publishing The Gloster Javelin: The RAF's First Delta Wing
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£15.26
Dalrymple and Verdun Publishing Sea Fury: In British, Australian, Canadian &
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£21.21
Dalrymple and Verdun Publishing Spitfire Revisited: An Enthusiast's Guide to
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£21.21
Dalrymple and Verdun Publishing No Place For Beginners: Battle over Malta: June
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£21.21
Crecy Publishing American Secret Projects 3
Book SynopsisThis brings the story of the US airlifter from the early 1960s to today''s transport giants and tomorrow''s stealth assault aircraft; revealing numerous designs which never saw the light of day, examining the thinking behind them and giving insights into why they did, or did not, succeed. This untold story of aviation history also has a major bearing on the development of civil aviation.The book, and its companion volume, American Secret Projects 2, covers airlifter designs from WWII to the start of the 1960s, and has been made possible by the authors being given unprecedented access to major aerospace company archives, uncovering scores of design proposals which have never previously been revealed. As well as describing how airlifters were progressively developed to meet ever-more demanding military transport requirements, the book looks at their other roles, from nuclear test-beds to Space-Shuttle carriers.Describing over 100 unknown, or little known, designs, including all the competitors to the C-5 and entries for the Tri-Service V/STOL transport competition, the book has over 400 illustrations, the majority of which have never previously been published, detailing some of the largest and most incredible aircraft ever conceived.
£23.38
Crecy Publishing Civil Aircraft Markings 2021
Book SynopsisCivil Aircraft Markings is the long-established and best-selling civil aviation book in the world.At the core of CAM is the most complete listing available of all aircraft currently on the UK Register of Civil Aircraft - around 20,000 individual aircraft are detailed in this section alone, from historic biplanes to modern airliners, as well as everything in between - including microlights, helicopters, light aircraft, balloons and gliders. For each aircraft listed the registration marks, exact aircraft make and model, and the owner or operator is given, together with space for user notes.In addition, CAM lists other civil aircraft commonly visiting the UK from overseas, which may be seen at British airports, and the latest civil aircraft registers of Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. Furthermore, CAM also lists the common Airline Flight Codes, radio frequencies for major UK civilian airfields and the complete British Aircraft Preservation Council (BAPC) register.Fully revised and updated by one of the UK''s most widely respected aviation authors, CAM 2021 has become an aviation ''Wisden'', an indispensable annual publication with a place on the bookshelves of any civil aviation professional, enthusiast and historian.
£10.76
Mortons Media Group USAF Jet Bombers
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£8.54
Mortons Media Group Supermarine Secret Projects Vol. 1 - Flying Boats
Book SynopsisSupermarine Aviation built the Spitfire but it had previously made its name building a range of seaplanes and flying boats - particularly racers such as the S.6 (from which the Spitfire was developed). Historian Ralph Pegram, who has spent years researching the company and its aircraft, has unearthed dozens of previously unknown designs created by the company and in this bookazine illustrated with his own line drawings he explores the company''s top secret seaplane and floatplane designs - some straightforward, others bizarre-looking by today''s standards. Vol. 2 will look at fighters and bombers.
£9.49
Mortons Media Group Spitfires Over Berlin
Book SynopsisAs British and American forces closed in from the west, the Russians pushed in hard from the east, and the RAF and USAAF bombed Germany every night and day, the beleaguered Luftwaffe went all-out in a last effort to defend the Fatherland during the last months of the Second World War.Spitfires Over Berlin tells the story of the desperate battles that took place over the Western Front from January 1 to May 8, 1945.True stories of aerial combat, courage and daring from all sides of the conflict illustrate the dramatic tale of the war's closing chapter - from the battle between the Spitfire XIV pilots of 350 Squadron and Fw 190s over the western fringes of Berlin to the murder of a downed P-51 Mustang pilot by civilians and carefully planned ramming attacks on American bombers.Also featured are the dogfight' between a Piper L-4H Grasshopper and a Fieseler Storch, what led a disgraced Luftwaffe pilot to fly the lethal BP 20 Natter rocket-powered interceptor, the French aces who flew for the Soviets, the fate of the US pilots who shot down a flight of Mistel combinations and much more.
£21.21
Mortons Media Group Eagles of the Luftwaffe: Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A, F
Book Synopsis
£11.69
Mortons Media Group English Electric Lighting Genisis A
Book SynopsisProgress on the English Electric Canberra was the main topic of a report written by W E W Teddy' Petter on June 17, 1948, but a final paragraph headed High Speed Fighter' said, Requirements for a high speed fighter are being sent to us ... There would probably be two or three prototypes attached to a successful design and a reasonable chance of production orders. Supersonic speeds would be required for short periods.' This marked the beginning of the effort leading to production of the legendary Lightning fighter. English Electric Lightning Genesis and Projects examines how that effort evolved focusing on the procurement process and the factors that drove decisions about the aircraft configuration and its weapon system. In particular, author Tony Wilson looks at how other procurement programmes influenced choices about the Lightning for good or ill.Between English Electric project numbers P1 and P34 there were 15 project numbers associated with the Lightning. Some refer to development steps in the aircraft's core programme but others were studies to extend the aircraft's capabilities. These designs are explored too along with proposed developments that were never given P' numbers.
£11.69
Mortons Media Group Battle of Memorial Flight in Profil
Book SynopsisThe Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF)is a standing reminder of the heroism and sacrifice of countless British and Commonwealth aircrew who flew and fought during the Second World War.Formed at RAF Biggin Hill on July 11, 1957, as the Historic Aircraft Flight, today the BBMF's incredible collection of aircraft includes six Spitfires, two Hurricanes, one of only two airworthy Avro Lancaster bombers in the world, a Douglas C-47 Dakota and two de Havilland Chipmunks.The Flight's Second World War aircraft have survived against the odds to exist in flying condition today and this publication charts each of their careers over the last seven decades or more.Author and illustrator Chris Sandham-Bailey has meticulously reproduced every known paint scheme worn by each of the aircraft - as well as gathering together an unrivalled collection of photographs to show how the appearance of the aircraft has changed.Never before have all of the BBMF aircraft liveries from the war's end to the present day been catalogued and illustrated in one publication. Here you can see them both as Chris' aircraft profile artworks and in rare photographs. This publication is a must for anyone with an interest in the BBMF aircraft and their histories.
£31.99
Mortons Media Group Fleet Air Arm Legends: Fairey Swordfish
£15.29
Mortons Media Group American Interceptor: US Navy Convoy Fighter
Book SynopsisThe Soviet Union's first successful atomic bomb detonation in August 1949 was a wakeup call for US Navy planners. The possibility of a single Soviet aircraft wiping out an entire convoy of merchant ships with a nuclear weapon had suddenly become very real. With military budgets having shrunk prior to the Korean War, it was simply not possible to provide a US Navy escort for every convoy. But what if those vessels could be provided with an effective means of self-defence an aircraft able to function as both a helicopter and a fighter, launching from and landing on the small deck of a Liberty Ship? It was a risky concept but aviation technology was now advancing at an unprecedented pace and the American aircraft manufacturers were ready to meet the challenge head on.The result was the US Navy's Convoy Fighter competition of November 1950 a contest to produce a turboprop-powered tailsitter' single-seat aircraft able to operate from a largely unmodified merchant vessel. A host of designs were submitted by the likes of Convair, Lockheed, Martin and Northrop, among them some of the strangest and most outlandish concept aircraft ever committed to paper. And two were actually built in prototype form: the Convair XFY-1 Pogo' and the Lockheed XFV-1.In American Interceptor: US Navy Convoy Fighter Projects, author and illustrator Jared A. Zichek focuses on the paper projects', the unbuilt studies submitted to the Navy. Lavishly illustrated throughout, the book showcases these fascinating artifacts of what might have been, from a golden age of aerospace history unlikely to be equalled or exceeded.
£28.00
Grub Street Publishing Canberra Boys: Fascinating Accounts from the
Book SynopsisThe English Electric Canberra first came into production in the late 1940s and has since played a hugely significant part in world events. In Canberra Boys, Andrew Brookes takes us through its rich history with the help of those who operated this magnificent machine. This book provides a detailed and fascinating history of an outstanding aircraft alongside illuminating anecdotes from the men who served with this illustrious aircraft.
£13.49
Grub Street Publishing Buccaneer Boys 2: More True Tales by those who
Book SynopsisFollowing the critically acclaimed publication eight years ago of Buccaneer Boys, long-serving Buccaneer navigator Air Commodore Graham Pitchfork has now followed up the great success of the book with more true tales from those who flew the last all-British bomber. Thirty Buccaneer ‘Boys’, drawn from the Fleet Air Arm, the Royal Air Force and the South African Air Force, outline their experiences in the maritime role, operations overland, including the first Gulf War, and operations by the South Africans in the Border Wars. In addition to the aircrew, air engineer officers and ground crew have also contributed. The reader is left in no doubt that the ‘Buccaneer Boys’ knew how to work hard and to play hard. The skill, professionalism and excitement of operating and servicing this iconic British aircraft shines throughout every page. This book is lavishly illustrated with 100 black and white photographs and two-colour plate sections of 40 photographs, many never previously published.
£21.25
Grub Street Publishing Vampire Boys: True Tales from Operators of the
Book SynopsisSliding out of the shadows of World War Two, the de Havilland Vampire – accompanied by the distinctive whine of its Goblin engine – quickly proved itself an effective alternative to piston-powered fighters. After entering operational service with the RAF (as the service’s first single-engined jet) in 1946, the Vampire – sought by air forces the world over – held a number of notable records: the first fighter to exceed 500 mph, the first to set a world altitude record of almost 60,000 ft, the first jet to take off and land from an aircraft carrier, and the first jet to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Not bad for something built partly of wood. Throughout these pages, the “Vampire Boys” bring to life the trials and tribulations of operating a first-generation jet across the globe. Through their insightful anecdotes and exceptional experiences, the reader can follow squadrons across the dusty deserts of Iraq to exercises in West Germany. First-hand tales of training, aerial handling, incidents and accidents (including the much-maligned spin characteristics) and squadron life – accompanied by unique images – bring together a portrait of a pioneering time in aviation advancement, right up to the present day with the T.11 still flying from Coventry Airport.
£21.25
Grub Street Publishing Jet Provost Boys: True Tales from the Operators
Book SynopsisAs a versatile and undemanding aircraft, the Jet Provost established itself as the basic trainer for the RAF from the late 1950s until its retirement in September 1993. In Jet Provost Boys, David Watkins explores the history of this magnificent flying machine through the vivid memories of former air crew from the RAF and foreign air forces. Alongside operating as a basic training aircraft, the Jet Provost had relative success within the civilian and military display flying circuit of the 1960s and 1970s. It was also part of the prestige Golden Eagle Flight at RAF Cranwell which taught the then-Prince of Wales how to fly. When the Jet Provost Mk. 5 model became the BAC 167 Strikemaster after some modifications, it became a counter-insurgency and light-attack aircraft. This capability allowed the aircraft to be sold to air forces around the world including Ceylon, Nigeria, New Zealand, Sudan and Venezuela where it played a reliable and effective role in multiple border disputes and internal warfare. It was crucial to the Sultan of Oman Air Force during the Dhofar War as the intervention of Strikemasters assisted in a significant turning point in the conflict. This book includes a foreword by Squadron Leader Terry Lloyd who was the leader of the 1964–1965 Pelicans display team as well as being illustrated throughout with black and white and colour photos. This latest addition to the Boys series is not to be missed and will appeal to all aviation fans.
£21.25
Mortons Media Group Dambusters
Book SynopsisPerhaps the most famous single mission in the RAF''s illustrious history, the Dams Raid, took place 80 years ago in May 1943. To commemorate the landmark mission, Squadron Leader Clive Rowley (Retd) a former Officer Commanding the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, revisits the story with the benefit of some modern research to aid the process. This special bookazine, which includes some previously unpublished pictures and some stunning artwork, commemorates the men of No. 617 Squadron plus the engineering brilliance of Barnes Wallis and his colleagues at Vickers and Avro. It''s a story which does not need embellishment, but which famously received the Hollywood treatment; a fabulous tale of ingenuity, daring and raw courage. All military actions are made up of mistakes, myths and a few miracles the Dams Raid contained them all. The publication tells the story of the real people with human traits, complex and contradictory personalities and flaws. This is also a story of inspired leadership under conditions of almost unbelievable strain. For decades the results and effects of the Dams Raid have been ''down-played'' or even condemned by a series of commentators, journalists and academics. Here the author sets the record straight, opining that those views denigrate the sacrifice of those involved quite wrongly, especially those 53 who willingly gave their lives in the belief that they were making a difference. But there''s more, as although 617 was originally formed to carry out one specific operation, it subsequently evolved into a specialist, precision bombing squadron. The brilliant post-Dams Raid work done by the squadron is also covered.In 1943 Operation Chastise, as the Dams Raid was officially named, established a legend that still resonates today.
£9.49
Mortons Media Group Modern Aerobatic Teams
Book SynopsisAir forces all over the world showcase the talents of their aviators and regularly thrill audiences with aerobatic and formation flying performances. Air display teams, with their trails of coloured smoke, strikingly decorated aircraft and the incredibly skilful flying of their elite pilots are hugely popular with air show crowds and act as international ambassadors. Modern Aerobatic Teams features 150 profile artworks of display team aircraft, past and present, by renowned aviation artist JP Vieira including, from Britain, the Red Arrows' Hawk, Tigers' Lightning, Red Pelicans' Jet Provost and Black Arrows' Hunter, as well as, from the US, the Thunderbirds' F-84G, F-100, F-4, T-38 and F-16, the Blue Angels' F9F, Cutlass and F/A-18, the Sabre Dancers' F-86, the Minute Men's F-80, F-86 and F-16 and more. Also included are the Belgian Red Devils' SF260, Patrouille de France Ouragan, Mystere, Magister and Alfa-Jet, Italy's Frecce Tricolori F-86 and MB-339, Ukrainian Falcons MiG-29, Russian Knights Su-30, Patrouille Suisse F-5E, EMB-314 from Brazil's Smoke Squadron, 300L from Chile's Halcones, K-8E from Egypt's Silver Stars, J-10 from China's August 1st Aerobatic Team and many more from around the world.
£9.49
Mortons Media Group The Scrapyards: Aircraft Salvage Around
Book Synopsis"... many readers perusing them will travel down memory lane and, hopefully, have fond memories of a time now long gone. For younger readers, the aircraft seen here should prove equally interesting and informative. This book will probably be the catalyst for many conversations about the aircraft." ? The Journal of the Air Force Historical FoundationDavis-Monthan Air Force Base, on the outskirts of Tucson, Arizona, is well known as the location of the US military?s massive aircraft storage and disposal site. Lesser known, perhaps, are the numerous aircraft salvage companies that became established around the perimeter, whose businesses were founded on the acquisition and disposal of airframes obtained from the military base.The locations in which these companies operated were, nominally, referred to as ?the scrapyards?, though in reality they were much more than that. The various companies specialised in repurposing hundreds of former military aircraft, be that restoration back to airworthiness, salvaging for useful spare parts to support similar types still in commercial operation, or smelting the airframe carcasses back into aluminium ingots.In The Scrapyards: Aircraft Salvage Around Davis-Monthan AFB ? Volume 1 1980s, author Graham Robson offers a fascinating insight into this lost world of aviation wrecks and relics, illustrated throughout with his own full colour period photographs.
£28.00
Mortons Media Group Russian Bombers
Book SynopsisStrategic bombing had proved decisive in helping the Western allies bring Nazi Germany to its knees during the Second World War but the Soviet Union had never developed an equivalent capability an oversight it would rapidly address as the cold war began in earnest.Immense efforts to reverse-engineer interned American B-29 Superfortresses resulted in the fearsome Tupolev Tu-4 and heralded a bold new era of heavy bomber design in Russia and across the Soviet Union.Within a few short years, the advanced swept-wing Tu-16 jet bomber, codenamed Badger by NATO had made its first flight. This was swiftly followed by the legendary turboprop-powered Tu-95, codenamed Bear, which remains a symbol of Russian air power today.Less than a decade later, the Soviet Union was flying the mighty long-range Myasishchev M-4 Bison and the supersonic Tu-22 Blinder, both of which raised grave concerns in the West when their existence became known.By the early 1970s, the highly capable Tu-22M Backfire had joined the Soviet arsenal and then, as the Iron Curtain fell and the world changed, so too did Russian bomber technology. Secret advancements in stealth and precision strike capabilities led to the creation of the Tu-160 Blackjack, a supersonic behemoth capable of carrying a devastating payload of cruise missiles.But the story doesn't end there; the turbulent post-Soviet era saw Russia reemerge onto the global stage with a succession of upgrade programmes taking the venerable Tu-95, the Tu-22M and Tu-160 into the modern age with cutting-edge systems and weapons.From the depths of history to the forefront of modern warfare, Russian Bombers showcases the remarkable engineering prowess, strategic innovation, and indomitable spirit that define these iconic warplanes. Through meticulous research and gripping narratives, author David Baker sheds light on the pivotal role Russian bombers have played and continue to play in shaping world events.
£23.99
Mortons Media Group Snooperbase Waddington
Book SynopsisThe air base at Waddington has been home to the RAF?s most valuable surveillance, intelligence-gathering, communications and electronic warfare assets for more than three decades.During the 1990s, Boeing E-3D Sentry AWACS and Hawker Siddeley Nimrod R1 signals intelligence platforms became familiar sights in the skies over Lincolnshire as ISTAR (Intelligence Surveillance Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) assets were brought together at RAF Waddington.The Raytheon Sentinel R1 followed and more recently the base has become home to the RAF fleet of Beechcraft Shadow R1s, Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joints and General Atomics MQ-9 Reapers ? as well as the Red Arrows aerobatic team and units experimenting with future drone technology. Most recently, the base has received its first General Atomics Protector RG Mk 1s to take up the roles performed by the now 15-year-old Reaper fleet.In Snooperbase Waddington, author and photographer Michael Hiley chronicle?s the history of the RAF?s ISTAR hub ? including the aircraft flown, their known equipment and their operational use as far as the Official Secrets Act will allow.
£24.00
Porter Press International NORMAN CONQUEST: A remarkable, high-flying life
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£40.50
Key Publishing Ltd FAIREY FIREFLY
Book SynopsisThe Fairey Firefly two-seater strike-fighter emerged from troubled beginnings to become one of the most widely used and effective aircraft of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It first saw service in 1944 during the attacks on the battleship Tirpitz as it lurked in the Norwegian fjords, then served in the Far East as the Fleet Air Arm tussled with the kamikaze threat. It went on to form an important part of several embryonic naval air arms in the early years of the Cold War and performed a vital combat role in Korea in the early 1950s. In this book, naval aviation historian Matthew Willis tells the story of this important aircraft using more than 160 photographs, many of them rare or unpublished, accompanied by a detailed commentary covering every aspect of the Firefly's varied career from fighter, to sub-hunter, to pilot-less target drone, in air forces all over the world.
£13.49
Key Publishing Ltd Avro 748
Book SynopsisThe vision of Alliott Verdon Roe and his team in designing and building the 748 resulted in a highly successful commercial airliner, that since the 1960s has been responsible for opening new air routes in many corners of the world. Many of the airstrips into which the 748 formerly operated are now fully fledged international airports, with paved runways, sophisticated air traffic control and navigation equipment, and shops, but it was not always this way. In the early days, the 748 proved its worth worldwide by operating on dirt airstrips and at high elevations and temperatures. Spanning a period of almost 30 years, this book sets out to illustrate some of the many operators of the type, from the initial Series 1 to the final Series 2B. Fully illustrated with over 100 photographs, many of which have not previously been in the public domain, this book dives into the history and global impact of the Avro 748. 100 illustrations
£14.39
The Conrad Press The Flight of 'The Arctic Fox': The true story of
Book Synopsis'The Flight of The Arctic Fox' tells the riveting story of the lives of thirty-one passengers and crew on board a BEA Vickers Viscount flying from London to Naples in October 1958. Following a mid-air collision with a jet fighter over Nettuno in Italy, everyone on board died, including the author's brother, who was a member of the crew.Table of ContentsList of Plates 9 Maps 14 1958 Timeline 15 Preface 19 1. FATALITÀ 25 2. THE CREW 38 Captain Frank Foster First Officer Geoffrey Wright Radio Officer James Bannon Flight Attendants Rosemary Bevan Terence O’Grady 3. THE PASSENGERS 90 The Group 90 Eugenie Kawaja Patricia Watson Brian Fogaty Leslie King Couples 132 Charles and Diana Cubitt William and Margaret Buchan Mary Mathieson and Robert Allan Friends 166 Lady Jenny Weir and Frances Miller Colston Luxton and Robert Bruce Colleagues 196 John Prince and Reuben Silburn Singles 221 John Booth Robert Chalmers Arnold Davies Richard Golden George Kimble Sheila Lane Mary La Rosa Garth Marshallsay John Vella Eveline Yuille 4. AFTERMATH 308 5. THE INQUIRY 314 6. CLOSURE 327 Acknowledgements 334 Bibliography 347 Index 350 About the author 362
£11.39
Destinworld Publishing Ltd Flying Firsts: A month-by-month guide to
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£13.49
Canfora Grafisk Form Yugoslav Electras - From Aeroput Airlines to RAF
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£17.84
