Category: Books / Calendars / Publications

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New Book Offers “Intensely Readable, Spirited and Classic Account” of Hawker Hurricane’s Service

Adrian Stewart’s new book Hurricane: The Plane That Saved Britain is touted as offering an “intensely readable, spirited and classic account” of the legendary Hawker Hurricane, describing “all the Hurricane’s roles, adventures and achievements.”

The Hawker Hurricane was flying on the outbreak of war in 1939. Six years later, having saved Britain, it was still playing a major part in the war effort. Widely remembered in its fighter role and unjustly left in the shade of the Spitfire, the Hurricane’s role was varied and pivotal: as a fighter, fighter-bomber, anti-tank aircraft and used at sea. Nor was its theatre of operations any less wide: it saw action in France from the beginning of the Phoney War to the outbreak of the Blitzkrieg, in the Battle of Britain, and then as far afield as Russia, Sumatra and Madagascar.

The book, which “recounts the exploits of the aircraft’s outstanding pilots who contributed so much towards mastery of the skies and eventual victory,” spans 344 pages and is available in both paperback and Kindle formats.

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“The Flying Machine” Summer 2021 Edition Now Available!

Aerodynamic Media, LLC is proud to announce the release of the 20th issue of The Flying Machine: Early Aero Quarterly.

Issue #20 Contents:

36 Pages – Nieuport Memorial Flyers Nieuport 23 (Part 1); Spotlight: MAM’s Rotary-Powered Fokker Dr.1; Building S.E.5a Wings; Products

The Flying Machine focuses exclusively on “aeroplanes” manufactured prior to 1920, as well as the current work of historians, builders, restorers, museums and collectors to preserve and promote interest in the early years of flight. Published in print and digital formats, The Flying Machine is offered on a pay-per-issue basis – no subscription required!

Join us as we pay tribute to early aircraft and the visionaries, geniuses and daredevils who conquered the air while producing some of the most fascinating, ingenious and beautiful machines in aviation’s short history. Click here to purchase!

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New Book Offers “Concise History” of Revolutionary B-36 Peacemaker

In his new book B-36 Peacemaker: The Big Stick of Strategic Air Command former SAC Warrior and Air Force veteran H.J. Campbell offers a “concise history, and enduring reference source” on the largest piston engine bomber ever built.

This book is a concise history of the B-36 Peacemaker and its derivatives. It is intended as a quick read, and enduring reference source, that will leave you with a complete understanding of this amazing aircraft’s history. It covers the aircraft’s design and development, including its evolution from the Army Air Corps’ “Giant Bomber” project to the Air Force’s primary strategic deterrence weapon. It includes a complete aircraft lineage chart tracing every model and derivative through its evolution, a complete tail number listing of every aircraft and its lineage, detail specifications for each model, and a comprehensive basing chart by base, model, and year. If you love SAC Cold War bombers, and great planes, you will love this book!

The title measures 8 x 0.27 x 10 inches and spans 111 pages.

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New Book Details Service of Avro Lancaster I/III Bombers Flown by Polish Pilots in Britain

MMPBooks is gearing up to release Polish Wings 31: Avro Lancaster I/III which, as the title suggests, describes the service of Avro Lancaster I/III bombers used by Polish pilots in Britain during 1941-1945.

The book reportedly features 200 photographs (many of which have not been published before) and 30 color profiles (plus top and bottom views of representative aircraft). It measures 8.2 x 11.8 inches and spans 96 pages. It is currently available for pre-order.

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Luftwaffe’s WW2 Special Weapons Examined in New Book

Robert Forsyth’s new book Luftwaffe Special Weapons 1942–45 offers “a highly illustrated study of some of the weapons developed by Nazi Germany to equip the Luftwaffe in their desperate war against the encroaching Allied forces.”

As the course of World War II turned against the Third Reich after Stalingrad some of the most inventive and radical proposals, and designs, were put forward by armaments manufacturers, scientists and technicians, aircrew, and even private individuals to the Reichsluftministerium (German Air Ministry) for consideration. Some proposals were destined never to leave the drawing board, while others not only underwent trials but were issued to operational units and used in action. In this fascinating new book, leading Luftwaffe historian Robert Forsyth examines the many different types of weapons that comprised the Luftwaffe’s increasing potent arsenal during the second half of the war. This was the period that saw the development and adoption of aerial torpedoes, wire-guided rockets and missiles, batteries fired by photo-electric cells, chemical weapons, composite bombers, and air-launched flying bombs.

The title is the result of “many years of research” and draws from “first-hand interviews conducted with former pilots and German archive reports.” It measures 7.79 x 1.11 x 9.86 inches and spans 272 pages.

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New Book Examines British Approach to Fighter Design in WW1

In has latest book, British Fighter Aircraft in WWI: Design, Construction and Innovation author Mark C. Wilkins “focuses on the British approach to fighter design, construction, and mass production” during the Great War:

World War I witnessed unprecedented growth and innovation in aircraft design, construction, and as the war progressed—mass production. Each country generated its own innovations sometimes in surprising ways—Albatros Fokker, Pfalz, and Junkers in Germany and Nieuport, Spad, Sopwith and Bristol in France and Britain… Each manufacturer and design team vied for the upper hand and deftly and quickly appropriated good ideas from other companies—be they friend or foe. Developments in tactics and deployment also influenced design—from the early reconnaissance planes, to turn fighters, finally planes that relied upon formation tactics, speed, and firepower. Advances were so great that the postwar industry seemed bland by comparison.

The book follows Wilkins previous release German Fighter Aircraft in World War I: Design, Construction and Innovation. It measures 8″ x 0.6″ x 10.1″ and spans 192 pages.

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New Book Documents B-17 Construction With ” Rare Original Photos and Full Manufacturing Details”

In his latest book Building the B-17 Flying Fortress, author Bill Yenne details the construction of America’s greatest multi-engine combat aircraft while revealing “rare original photos and full manufacturing details.”

What sets this book apart from all others in the crowded B-17 field is literally hundreds of factory-original close-up detailed photographs and illustrations accompanied by comprehensive high-resolution reproductions of original Boeing drawings, and all are explained in detailed yet easy to understand descriptive text. This book provides valuable data for the serious Boeing B-17 aficionado as well as a compelling story of America’s aircraft manufacturing prowess for the dedicated aviation enthusiast. Continue reading New Book Documents B-17 Construction With ” Rare Original Photos and Full Manufacturing Details”

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New Book Offers First Comprehensive Study of WW2 Soviet Fighters by Native English Speaker

Among the latest releases from Fonthill Media is Jason Moore’s Soviet Fighters of the Second World War, which “details the development of the Red Air Force fighters, from the dark days of Operation Barbarossa, to eventual triumph over the ruins of Berlin.”

Starting with obsolete aircraft such as the Polikarpov biplane and monoplane fighters, the Soviets then settled on two main lines of development; the inline-engined LaGG-3 and its radial-engined derivatives, the La-5 and La-7, and the inline-engined Yakovlev fighters, which were produced in greater numbers than any other series of fighters. Not only are these aircraft described in great detail, but experimental fighters are also dealt with. In addition to the descriptions, accurate color profiles are provided illustrating the evolution of these aircraft in terms of design, camouflage, and markings. From the fixed undercarriage I-15bis biplane of the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, to the superb La-7 and Yak-3 fighters of the last year of the war, the fighters of the Red Air Force are all covered in this comprehensive book.

The 416 page book is described as “the first comprehensive reference work on Soviet fighters of the Second World War written by a native English speaker.” It utilizes “the most up-to-date research” to produce a “stunningly accurate” record with “previously unpublished color profiles.” It includes 192 black-and-white and 85 colour illustrations.

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New Book Details All 46 Unclassified Skunk Works Projects From WW2 On

In his new book 75 years of the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, author James C. Goodall details the 46 unclassified programs developed by the Lockheed’s legendary Skunk Works, forming a pictorial history that takes the reader from the middle part of World War II, through the Korean War, the shoot down of Francis Gary Powers on May 1, 1960, the Vietnam War, Desert Shield/Storm and beyond.

This pictorial journey will take the reader from the very beginning of the Skunk Works’ very first project (XP-80 Shooting Star) and follow the program through prototype build-up, first flight and, if they reached the frontline, operational service. This treatment will be repeated for each of the 30 unclassified program designed and built by the Skunk Works. Each program will form a chapter of at least two pages in length, with a maximum of 14 pages being allocated for programs that went into production and merit more detailed coverage, such as the P-80/F-94/T-33 family, C-130 family and, of course, the A-12 and SR-71

The title is illustrated with over a thousand photographs and drawings and spans 384 pages.

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“The Flying Machine” Spring 2021 Edition Now Available!

Aerodynamic Media, LLC is proud to announce the release of the 19th issue of The Flying Machine: Early Aero Quarterly.

Issue #19 Contents:

36 Pages – Wright Tour Guide: Examining Sites and Artifacts Connected to the Wright Brothers and the Birth of Powered Flight (Part 6); Spotlight: Shannon Air Museum’s Standard E-1; New Zealand Warbirds Association’s Siemens-Schuckert D.IV; News Briefs: Curtiss Jenny Reproduction Returns Home After 15 Years, PFM’s New Acquisitions; Products

The Flying Machine focuses exclusively on “aeroplanes” manufactured prior to 1920, as well as the current work of historians, builders, restorers, museums and collectors to preserve and promote interest in the early years of flight. Published in print and digital formats, The Flying Machine is offered on a pay-per-issue basis – no subscription required!

Join us as we pay tribute to early aircraft and the visionaries, geniuses and daredevils who conquered the air while producing some of the most fascinating, ingenious and beautiful machines in aviation’s short history. Click here to purchase!