Charleston County Public Library

Aircraft, the definitive visual history

eng

illustrations

index present

non fiction

Aircraft

795172044

the definitive visual history

Aircraft chronicles the dramatic story of manned flight in stunning visual detail. With more than 800 iconic aircraft, trailblazing engines, famous manufacturers, and the people and technology behind the world's most advanced flying machines, this is the ultimate guide to the amazing history of aviation

Before 1920: Lighter than air -- Pioneers -- Otto Lilienthal -- Successful pioneers -- Profile: Blériot XI -- Engine: Anzani three-cylinder fan -- Military two-seaters -- Great manufactuers: Fokker -- Single-seat fighters -- Profile: Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a -- Racers & record breakers -- Lincoln Beachey -- Great manufacturers: Sopwith -- Multi-engine giants and seaplanes -- Engine: Gnome 100 horsepower -- 1920s: Mailplanes & barnstormers -- Private flying begins -- Lillian Boyer -- Setting speed records -- Profile: DH60 Gipsy Moth -- Engine: De Havilland Gipsy I -- Outstanding achievements -- Biplanes dominate -- Airliners emerge -- Great manufacturers: De Havilland -- 1930s: Private aircraft for all -- Virtual tour: Piper J3 cub -- Quest for speed -- Setting records -- Ameilia Earhart -- Great manufacturers: Piper -- Airliners win through -- Profile: Douglas DC-2 -- Flying boats & amphibians -- Rotorcraft emerge -- Engine: Rolls-Royce Type R -- Warplane evolves -- Trainers, parasites, & parasols -- 1940s: Bombers -- Profile: Boeing B-17 -- Wartime fighters -- Profile: Supermarine spitfire -- Military support aircraft -- Great manufacturers: Douglas -- Civil transport -- Post-war light aircraft -- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp -- Piston perfection -- Early jets -- Frank Whittle's jet engine -- Early helicopters -- Toward the sound barrier -- Ahead of their time -- Great manufacturers: North American -- 1950s: Jet fighters -- Profile: F-86 Sabre -- Bombers, attack aircraft & trainers -- Rotorcraft mature -- Glamour of air travel -- Piston engine transport ends -- Profile: Super Constellation -- Civil jets & turboprops -- Engine: General Electric J79 -- Modern classics -- Great manufacturers: Cessna -- Experimental aircraft -- Supersonic fighters -- 1960s: American dinubates -- Great manufacturers: Boeing -- Jet & propeller transport -- Engine: Rolls-Royce Pegasus -- Business, utility & fire-fighting -- Military developments -- Profile: McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II -- Extremes in speed -- Rotary-wing diversity -- Air support -- Great manufacturers: Sikorsky -- 1970s: U.S. rivals & French classics -- Business and utility aircraft -- Airport design -- Diverse airliners -- Profile: Concorde -- Great manufacurers: Airbus -- Military support -- Frontline aircraft -- Engine: Allison 250/T63 Turboshaft -- Europeans challenge -- Profile: Bell 206 JetRanger -- 1980s: Great manufacturers: Lockheed -- Military aircraft -- Profile: Mikoyan MiG-29 -- Stealth bomber -- Enter Robinson -- Great manufacturers: Robinson -- Scattering of British types -- Engine: Rotax UL-1V -- Bizjets and turboprop rivals -- Two-crew cockpits -- 1990s: Business & utility -- Tradition & innovation -- Sports & sailplanes -- Profile: Duo Discus glider -- Europe challenges the US airliners -- Engine: Rolls-Royce Trent 800 -- Upgraded helicopters -- Carrier aircraft -- Military technology -- Great manufacurers: Northrop -- After 2000: Europeans lead -- Engine: Rotax 912ULS -- Ultra-efficient civil transport -- Aircraft graveyard -- End of the line for manned fighters? -- Profile: Eurofighter Typhoon -- Alternative power -- Great manufacturers: Scaled composites -- Into the future -- WhiteknightTwo & SpaceShipTwo -- How aircraft fly -- Piston engines -- Jet engines -- Landmark engines