Reviews of books from the world of aviation. If you're an airhead, and are looking for your next read, you will find it here.
Review by Takis Diakoumis. Approaching 5000 deliveries, the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon will remain one of the most successful fighter aircraft projects of all time. It was originally developed as a highly manoeuvrable, lightweight multi-role aircraft addressing many of the lessons of the air war over Vietnam. The fourth-generation F-16 was the first ‘Electric... Continue Reading →
Review by Takis Diakoumis. For more than eighty years Pavel Sukhoi and his design bureau has been at the cutting edge of Soviet and, later, Russian aviation. While the continued evolution and success of the more recent Flanker fighter aircraft from Sukhoi has elevated the bureau to the top of the Russian group among the... Continue Reading →
Review by Nicholas A. Veronico. Most warbird enthusiasts will know the name Walter Soplata. He’s known for a secretive aircraft collection in the woods outside of Cleveland, Ohio, and not just any aircraft collection, but some of the rarest and most historic aircraft in certain aviation circles. Nothing was for sale at Soplata’s place, but... Continue Reading →
Review by Stuart Forth. The Pacific theatre of the Second World War is not my normal area of interest and my knowledge of the battles and geography of the Pacific are patchy at best. However, on reading the blurb for Fabled Fifteen, I was intrigued to learn more about Carrier Air Group 15 and the amazing... Continue Reading →
Review by Takis Diakoumis. The Legends of Warfare series from Schiffer Publishing has continued to raise the bar on shorter form pictorial military histories through its Ground, Naval and Aviation studies. This latest one by Brad Elward covers the storied birth and evolution of the legendary US Navy Fighter Weapons School – TOPGUN. The story of TOPGUN... Continue Reading →
Review by Andrew Kitney. Given the longevity of the EE Canberra in service, not just with my ‘home’ Forces (RAF/RN) but with many operators around the world, and with some still serving, I was looking forward to reading this book. There is quite a story to tell, and I wasn’t disappointed. Like many, I’m sure,... Continue Reading →
Review by Nicholas A. Veronico This is most definitely in the ‘not a page turner on the beach’ category! It is, however, an incredible addition to the historical record and a prime source of research for those interested in the European air war. Written by Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken, and... Continue Reading →
Review by Charles Page. As author/pilot Dan Dorseif exclaims, ‘The 727 had proven itself to be an extremely reliable jet, straight out of the box!’ In fact it performed seven percent better than book figures and, with its short field ability, introduced the jet age to domestic travellers. Passengers loved its quiet cabin, while for... Continue Reading →
Review by Stuart Forth. The F-4 and A-10 are two vastly different aircraft. The former is a supersonic, afterburning, multi-role weapons system that, although not pretty, looks menacing from any angle. On the other hand, the A-10 is a slow, ungainly and ‘Butt Ugly’ (author’s words, not mine) machine, built around a massive gun and... Continue Reading →
Review by Nicholas A. Veronico. Coffee, Tea, or Turbulence could also be titled ‘The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly’ of airliner movies. The airliner melodrama genre gave us some good movies and some real turkeys, and fifty films are reviewed in Bruce Orriss’s latest volume. The book begins with 1933’s Air Hostess, starring Evelyn Knapp and... Continue Reading →
Flight Line Book Review 