Known as "The X-Hunters;" authors Peter W. Merlin and Tony Moore have located more than 100 crash sites of exotic aircraft from Edwards air Force Base and Area 51. Together; they have recovered parts of supersonic rocket planes; stealthy spy craft; and vehicles that have reached the edge of space. Each story in the book profiles an unusual aircraft and the brave men who flew it. The authors examine the contributing causes of each crash and use then-and-now photographs to illustrate their findings. The stories end with The X-Hunters' search for the crash site and what they discovered. Each adventure combines C.S.I.-type skills with X-Files persistence; with a dash of Indiana Jones for adventure. Aircraft profiled include the YB-49 and a pair of N9M flying wings; X-1A; X-1D; VB-51; XB-70; SR-71; YF-12; U-2 prototype; and many more.
#64909 in Books USA 2013-01-15 2013-01-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 10.00 x .59 x 8.01l; 1.54 #File Name: 1576876136160 pages
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Great art; essential reading- real history. So NOT 'for women only". Tattoo bookshelf must-have.By nyc customerWow! This book is rock solid and there is not another book like it. It strikes the perfect balance between genuinely great photos of tattoos and historical shots of tattoo artists and models; (how rare is that? I've bought a lot of books with a disappointing few and blurry shots) WITH a scholarly eye for historical detail IN a very engaging very story-telling; (rather than history lecture) way.I don't know what anyone really interested in tattoo artistry could do without this. It's not just some waffly rah-rah 'ink chicks through history' throwaway. This really is an absolute essential for any tattoo history and historical seminal tattoo artist; OR even just 'what about all the Other tattoos; besides the noble and ubiquitous Sailor Jerry / Ed Hardy etc styles.I'm not sure which made my head explode more. The number of hardcore artists who's work we've seen and seen copied; but who (surprise!) happen to be women; the gorgeous illustrations showing what I would NEVER have seen or known otherwise- early (victorian / edwardian era early tattoos- which I had no clue existed beyond sailor and port shops) were actually EXTREMELY well done and extremely patriotic; elaborately well framed and shaded portraits; anatomically (think 'audubon' quality) butterflies; birds and wildlife; intricate costume like lacework ends to tattoo sleeves and leggings- tons of deeply thought out well-excecuted patriotic drawings- IN tattoo; or the clobberingly well researched and well documented history of tattoos and society- PRIOR to what I always thought WAS 'the dawn of tattoos in the US- that 30's-50's era sailor and hotrodder artwork. Yes it's great and I love it. But how many people know that beloved SJ and Ed Hardy etc; that was the SECOND wave and a whole SECOND style of tattoo? There was a world of talent and a whole society (even high 'society lady') tattoo well before the sailor and flapper era? I didn't. That makes this book invaluable for anyone; and not (not hardly) just for 'women tattoo artists' or 'women issue historians'.This is anyone's 'missing era of tattoo history; complete with great photos" essential. If you don't have the thousands of dollars for ALL the tattoo and tattoo history books you want; this is one that cannot go missing from your shelves. Margot Mifflin does a sh*t-ton of genuine scholarship on tattoos (women-centric but well beyond); includes tons of artistic as well as hard to find documentary photography; and has a real gift for accessible vivid but also accurate; narrative.If you think this is a great gift for the 'lady tattoo artist or follower' in your life; you're right. But you are only half-right. Because this is a really visually stunning (and so; well worth the $$ right there- a spot-on No Regrets purchase for anyone at all who 'likes tattoos' of any kind) but also a Must-to-Have for any tattoo style and or tattoo history collection.If this lands in every 'woman's art and social history' collection; great. But it would be a crime against history and against tattoo especially if this weren't a staple read and look - in every tattoo person's or even just art and culture history person's collection. And for under $20; compared to the honking high prices of tattoo books- this is a total value as well.13 of 13 people found the following review helpful. Insightful and RevealingBy P. MillerThis is a must-read for anyone interested in getting a fuller history of tattooing. The book does an excellent; well-balanced job of weaving biographies and social commentary regarding tattoos and tattoo-ers. And it's a story that must; to be fully inclusive; tell of women's involvement in this art; both as tattoo-ers and tattoo-ees. I had no idea this art form went back so far as it does for western female tattoo afficionados. It's a fascinating story that's seldom told or discussed. It appears that nothing is held back in terms of the whys and hows that these women came to acquire their tattoos; or to have become tattoo-ers. And it's a great missing segment in women's history; and art history for that matter; that needs more exposure (no pun intended) to help dispell the myths and prejudices about women with tattoos. This is a great; ancient art form that deserves more expression; appreciation and respect by the general public; especially in the United States where folks are just too uptight and puritanical about this kind of art.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Nice Overview!By BabychubFor someone like me; who knew nothing at all about tattoos beyond seeing them on other people; this is a great introduction. The book covers the history of tattooed women; gives personality sketches of various artists and collectors; and describes the ways women have struggled to join the profession and add their contributions. The book is a tribute to the women it covers without being preachy. The photos (some black-and-white; some in color) are lovely. I really enjoyed it; and it made me want to get a tattoo myself! What I came to appreciate later was how respectful the book is of the collectors and the art. I went online for more pictures of tattoos and information about the process. Site after site featured sad pictures of naked women folded up into submissive postures; with the tattoos so secondary that sometimes they were only partially visible and most of the time you couldn't make out the art at all. And this was on supposedly mainstream sites that advertised themselves as featuring art for women. It made me appreciate the book even more. I wish there would be a Volume II.
