Fighter pilots are the elite of the elite; it can take years of training to produce a fighter pilot and even longer to produce a plane that is worthy of their skills. Yet a dogfight can last only minutes. Drawing inspiration from The History Channel's popular show; "Dogfight" and the new Osprey DUEL series; Dogfight offers readers a chance to discover what it felt like to be a fighter pilot during World War II; flying some of the most iconic planes to have ever graced the skies during operations when man and machine were tested to the limit. Meticulously researched digital artwork recreates the cockpit of each of these iconic fighter planes and accompanies a step-by-step explanation of the design and development of these warbirds; from prototype to combat. First-hand accounts and interviews with surviving pilots detail pilot training differences among the combatants as well as the equipment used in their preparations for war. Maps and diagrams reveal the wider strategic setting in which each dogfight took place.From Spitfires battling Messerschmitts over the skies of southern England to Fw 190s desperately attempting to turn the tide against the advancing Mustangs of the 8th Air Force during the dying days of the war; discover the history of these amazing pilots and their aircraft in the awesome dogfights of World War II.Special Features: • Illustrated throughout with digital illustrations of cockpits; side elevations; and battle scenes and filled with rare and never-before-seen photographs. • Provides in-depth information on the flight characteristics and fighting capabilities of all of the most famous warbird types • Includes brief biographies and kill tables of famous aces
#945637 in Books 2009-01-23Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 .90 x 9.50 x 11.40l; 2.95 #File Name: 1848660189224 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Riveting coffee-table bookBy A MacDonaldThere is some terrific stuff in this folio. The size -- both in terms of surface area and number of items. It's not a "5" though because a number of historically important maps are missing -- the 1450 Frau Mauro map (a masterpiece of its age); the first map labeling America; the or the 1513 Ottoman maps of Reis (spelling?). So while the general sweep of cartography is captured within the book; specific turning points are obvious in their omission.Good craftsmanship. Concise but useful notes.This review refers to the large format (14 x 17") edition. There is a smaller edition sold by . Many of the original maps are wall sized and some of the detail is lost when reduced to a 17 x 28" double page spread. It would likely be worse if the format was even smaller.LATER EDIT:I've since become less enamored of the book (downgrade to 3 from 4 stars) simply because it it is difficult to find specific place names on many of the maps due even in the large format. So the book is nice for large sweeping impressions; but leaves a lot to be desired when trying to understand; for example; voyages in the near East and Black Sea by Pero Tafur in the 15th century.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy SergeyTall is fine0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy edward caminaCool
