This meticulously researched volume is a must in the library of any aviation buff: the most comprehensive descriptive and illustrated history of military and civilian aircraft and their pilots (men and women) to increase the range and endurance of their aircraft. Beginning with the proof of concept efforts to establish the airplane as a true flying machine from 1900 to WWI; it then delves into civilian and military efforts by country; with the civilian effort mainly for personal achievement and the military for ultimately developing the intercontinental bomber and beyond. Hundreds of daring civilian flights of the 1920s and ’30s are described by nation until the start of WWII. The inflight refueling mania of the 1930s and pre- and post-WWII military refueling efforts are covered. Post-WWII civilian aircraft and military fighter distance record attempts are included; as are the efforts of the Cold War and beyond. Also described are airline; seaplane; balloon; glider; hang glider; solar; and human-powered aircraft accounts.
#1392691 in Books 2013-03-28Original language:English 11.00 x 8.75 x 1.25l; 3.44 #File Name: 0764342789240 pages
Review
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful. Excellent book by Excellent peopleBy PaulHolmOrdered three; one for myself and the rest for two of the best F-111 people in the world; Capt Brad Insley; F-111 high flyer with 5000 plus hours and MSgt Arthur G. Hoffmann; one of the best B Shoppers (Flight Controls) to work the jet; both of whom I am honored to be friends with and both fellow veterans. As Steve Hyre was a protege of mine at both Mountain Home; Lakenheath and Cannon; I expected nothing but the best from his work and knowledge and this book epitomizes that expectation. All categories are well laid out and clear and concise as a reference platform to close the loop on those aircraft we lost but never saw the final reports. It's true we lost a lot of aircraft early on; most due to the time sensitive; forced technology; NOBODY had put that many new ideas into an aircraft and then sent it to war with assumptions like we did with the F-111 in 1968; but after a tough gestation period the aircraft turned into a deadly and feared platform well before the SEA conflict was over; not unlike the AC-130A/H GunShips (I also worked on); but also became the safest fighter bomber in USAF history. This book will take you through the systems and each incident in relation to those system so the layman can understand what a complex airplane this was. Great Job Steve and Lou!!! MSgt Paul Holmes; USAF; Ret.12 of 12 people found the following review helpful. One Eleven DownBy John BookI spent 21 years plus working in various capacities as an F-111 maintainer in the USAF. And a good share of that time I was instructing other USAF personnel on the maintenance and systems operation of the "Aardvark" This book is a must read for aviation aficiandos and especially for those who have an interest in the history of the F-111. The technical explanations of key systems of the aircraft skillfully sets the stage for the information on accidents and incidents that follows. And the book also covers the high cost that some have to pay to make a complex aircraft such as the F-111 a viable weapon (which it well and truly was). My hat is off to Mr. Hyre and Mr. Benoit for their painstaking work on this project. And my hat is also off to all those who worked with the F-111 program through the years.John E. Book; MSgt USAF (Retired)5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. A must-have for F-111 fansBy DougJustDougI'd give this six stars if I could. The research that went into compiling this book is incredible. I have limited personal knowledge of some of the facts surrounding some of the losses described in the book because I was a crew chief on F-111Fs at RAF Lakenheath during the 1980s when we lost a handful of birds; but the "official" word on losses often didn't filter down to we maintenance troops so it's nice to now read the full accounts. I wish the authors would compile more major mishap (non-loss) data for a second edition; I personally know of some major incidents (in-air collisions; speed-inflicted damage; etc.) that aren't reflected in the book's section on mishaps; and I'm just one former knuckle dragger -- I bet interviewing former aircrews and crew chiefs would reveal a ton of additional incidents.
