Author: Michael Napier Publisher: Pen and Sword ISBN: 1473848822 Category : History Languages : en Pages : 287
Book Description
The RAFs only delta-winged fighter the Gloster Javelin was also Britains first true All-Weather Fighter. Based in the UK and in Germany, the RAFs Javelin squadrons formed the front line of Britains air defences in the late 1950s and early 1960s. During this time Javelin crews pioneered the operational use of guided missiles and air-to-air refuelling by fighter aircraft. In the Far East, Javelins were involved in operations during the Indonesian Confrontation and the aircraft was also deployed to Zambia during the Rhodesian UDI Crisis. In this history, which is richly illustrated with many previously unpublished photographs, Michael Napier blends official records with personal accounts to describe the operational history of this iconic jet fighter.
Author: Peter Caygill Publisher: Casemate Publishers ISBN: 1783409630 Category : History Languages : en Pages : 221
Book Description
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom was the outstanding aircraft in many of the Western World's air forces during the 1960s and 70s. It played a key role in the 'Cold War' and saw action in Vietnam. It first flew in 1958 and went into operation with the US Navy in 1960. During its long front-line life it flew in the roles of an interceptor, fighter-bomber and reconnaissance aircraft.Apart from giving a comprehensive overview of the Phantom's history, this book looks particularly at the experiences of the Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm when they received a new model designed with a British Rolls-Royce turbofan instead of the original American power-plant. All was not sweetness and light when the first trials commenced and this book traces its development and progression from being a carrier-based attack aircraft flown by the Fleet Air Arm to the many successful roles it played as a land-based aircraft with the RAF.
Author: William Arthur Waterton Publisher: Grub Street Publishers ISBN: 1909808814 Category : History Languages : en Pages : 194
Book Description
A pilot’s behind-the-scenes account of test flying with British aircraft organizations and manufacturers in the early years of the Cold War. Written from the pilot’s viewpoint, with refreshing candor and honesty, this account details what really went on behind the scenes in the defense world of the 1950s. After serving in World War II, the author continued his flying career, but to his dismay, found that quality was sometimes neglected when developing aircraft—leading to lives lost. Mainly centering on his work with the mighty Gloster Meteor and the Javelin interceptors, The Quick and the Dead is an astonishing report that sparked controversy upon its first publication. It was seen as a wake-up call at a time when British ingenuity and prowess were being overtaken by the Americans and Russians—and offers an astonishing insight into the history of the British aircraft industry.
Author: Hugh Soar Publisher: Pen and Sword ISBN: 0850525691 Category : History Languages : en Pages : 229
Book Description
The arrow, essentially a specialized spear, is among the most ancient human inventions and can be found in cultures throughout the world. The need to launch a projectile farther and with greater accuracy than is possible with the human arm gave rise to a variety of solutions. Spearthrowers which extend the length of the users arm and therefore transfer greater power to the projectile were developed far back in prehistory, and both the American Indian atlatl and the Australian woomera are examples of this technology. Blowpipes, too, are recorded in various cultures and represent another ancient technology. It was soon discovered that a stringed bow could launch a small spear-like projectile we now know as the arrow, and this combination became the dominant method for shooting projectiles for tens of thousands of years. A wonderfully simple device, the arrow and bow revolutionized both hunting and warfare, not only because of the speed, force, and accuracy that could be achieved, but by the fact that the arrow makes almost no sound as it flies toward its target, providing an essential element of surprise. In The Arrow: A Brief History, Hugh D. H. Soar describes the transition from hand-thrown spear to bow-launched arrow and then follows the arrows developments in cultures around the world and across time. The book describes arrows found in Neolithic sites; those used by North and South American Indiansincluding a detailed discussion of poison- tipped arrows; arrows used in China, Japan, and Mongolia; and finally the arrow in Europe, where it was successfully paired with the longbow during the Middle Ages. The author completes his survey with the changes in technology introduced during the twentieth century though the use of aluminum and other light-weight metals as well as synthetic materials to construct parts of the arrow. Relying on his considerable knowledge accumulated through decades of research, the author provides the reader with an appreciation for a humble device that, coupled with the bow, changed the history of the world.
Author: Peter Caygill Publisher: Pen and Sword ISBN: 1781594287 Category : History Languages : en Pages : 228
Book Description
Vivid firsthand accounts from aviators who flew this renowned supersonic interceptor fighter. The English Electric Lightning was the only single-seat supersonic interceptor fighter designed and manufactured in the UK. It saw service with the RAF in the sixties and seventies and gained a worthy reputation for its speed—in excess of Mach 2—and phenomenal rate of climb. It was, however, not entirely reliable, and over fifty were lost during its operational career. In this book, the author has gathered together 16 personal accounts of what it was like to fly the Lightning, thrilling stories that convey the immense brute power of the machine and also its many pitfalls. To see a Lightning take off and climb vertically until it vanishes into the sky is one of the most spectacular sights in aviation, and these enthralling accounts put you right there in the cockpit.
Author: Martin W Bowman Publisher: Pen and Sword ISBN: 1526705672 Category : History Languages : en Pages : 288
Book Description
The early 1950s were a boom time for British aviation. The lessons of six years of war had been learned and much of the research into jet engines, radar and aerodynamics had begun to reach fruition. In Britain, jet engine technology led the world, while wartime developments into swept wing design in Germany and their transonic research program were used to give western design teams a quantum leap in aircraft technology. At English Electric, 'Teddy' Petter's design team were keen to capitalize on the success of their Canberra jet bomber and rose to the challenge of providing a high speed interceptor for the RAF. Martin W. Bowman describes the career of the Lightning in detail using first-hand accounts of what it was like to fly and service this thoroughbred. Illustrated with over 200 color and b/w photographs, appendices listing Lightning squadrons, production totals, individual aircraft histories and with the first in-depth analysis into why a third of all Lightnings were lost, The Men Who Flew the English Electric Lightning is a fine record of the last truly great all-British fighter.
Author: Martin W. Bowman Publisher: Pen and Sword Aviation ISBN: 1526705745 Category : History Languages : en Pages : 395
Book Description
Features a wealth of first-hand testimony drawn from pilots who flew the outstanding Hawker Hunter. If ever there was a real pilot's aeroplane it was the Hunter, an outstanding multi-purpose aircraft which excelled in the roles of interceptor fighter, ground attack, reconnaissance, research vehicle and two-seater trainer, not to mention its dramatic displays in formation aerobatic performances. The Hawker Hunter is one of the world's greatest aircraft. For decades pilots have enthused about it, extolling the virtues of its smooth, aerodynamic lines, 4 x 30mm cannon, Rolls-Royce Avon engine, and its outstandingly honest handling characteristics combined with a lively performance. Who can ever forget the glory days of the unforgettable aerobatic displays with the Black Knights, Black Arrows, and Blue Diamonds? This book vividly recalls operations in Europe with Fighter Command and 2nd TAF, and in Cyprus, the Middle East and the Far East, where Hunters in the ground-attack role operated against rebels in Aden and Malaysia respectively. The Hunter was undoubtedly a classic thoroughbred of its time from the stables of one of the finest fighter manufacturers in the world. Here, we read the details of it's fascinating story, told from the perspective of the men who actually flew this outstanding aircraft through history.
Author: Michael Napier
Author: Martyn Chorlton
Author: Peter Caygill
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Author: William Arthur Waterton
Author: Hugh Soar
Author: Peter Caygill
Author: Martin W Bowman
Author: 
Author: Martin W. Bowman