Book Reviews

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  • A Pilot’s Story, From the ruins of Alitalia to the desert of Qatar

    Ivan Anzellotti
    Cartabianca Publishing Bologna
    2023
    English
    X X X X X
    178 pg.
    978 88 888 0563 4
    Review written by: Max Heldring

    The cover of this book shows a funny cartoon of a pilot kicked out of his homeland Italy and landing in the desert between the camels. It suggests a light-hearted story of the adventures of a pilot in his flying career.  But that is not the case when reading this book. Iwan Anzellotti an experienced […]

  • Jet Web CONNECTIONS in the Development History of Turbojet Engines 1920 – 1950

    Dietrich ECKARDT
    Springer
    2023
    English
    X X X X X
    738 pg.
    ISBN 978-3-658-38530-9 ISBN 978-3-658-38531-6 (eBook)
    Review written by: Alexander Beeck

    Eckardt’s ‘Jet Web’ offers a comprehensive exploration of the development history of turbojet engines from the 1920s to the late 1950s. It primarily focuses on the intricate relationships and collaborations between the United Kingdom (& USA), Germany, and Switzerland in this fascinating journey. While the narrative repeats in parts the well-known ‘Whittle vs. Von Ohain Saga’,  it mainly sheds new light on unexpected connections and especially, the significant influence of axial compressor technology from the Swiss-German company Brown Boveri & Cie.

    The author, a gas turbine engineer, spent a decade meticulously researching and compiling this remarkable account, resulting in a weighty volume with some 250 informative b/w photographs, technical schemes and detailed drawings. This document provides an overview of the book’s content, emphasizing its unique contributions and the target audience it aims to engage.

  • The Couriers of Herodotus

    Steve Williams
    SnarkyPilot Press
    2023
    English
    X X X X X
    225 pg.
    979 8 9878682 0 1/ ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8987868218
    Review written by: Max Heldring

    The first chapter of this wonderful book contained more or less the basic spar for the rest of the stories to follow. A dramatic event that set the title for this book.

  • His Majesty's Airship: The Life and Tragic Death of the World's Largest Flying Machine

    Samuel C. Gwynne
    Scribner Books
    2023
    English
    X X X X X X
    320 pg.
    ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 086154708X ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0861547081
    Review written by: Max Heldring

    It is really one of the most fascinating and interesting books I have read about airships that explains and proves documented why airships and in particular Britain’s R101 were dangerous and doomed as a global air transport system. The backgrounds of the persons involved in the realisation of R 101 and their motives take an important of the book. Samuel Gwynne is certainly a very good story teller!

  • Fly For Your Life: The Story of Spitfire & Hurricane Ace Robert Stanford Tuck

    Larry Forrester
    Acquisition Analytics Inc
    2022
    English
    X X X X X
    378 pg.
    ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1738697312 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1738697311
    Review written by: Max Heldring

    This biography of Stanford Tuck was first published in 1956 and as a youngster who had a great desire to become a pilot I have read this book with red ears. Now 60 years later it is still a nice book to read for everyone interested in the history of WW2 and especially in the Battle of Britain were Stanford Tuck played a star role as a fighter pilot with 29 confirmed victories.

  • Herinneringen van een jachtvlieger

    Evert ‘Ace’ Motshagen
    Martin Leeuwis Publications
    2023
    Dutch
    X X X X X X
    704 pg.
    978 94 90008 321
    Review written by: Rene Verjans

    (Nederlands) Van alle luchtvaartboeken die ik heb is dit wel een heel bijzonder boek; het is een boek in twee delen. Oorspronkelijk zou het boek 850 pagina’s dik zijn, maar dat werd te gek. Daarom is in overleg met uitgever
    Martin Leeuwis besloten gekozen voor een tweedelige set boeken, met totaal meer dan 700 pagina’s op A4-formaat Nederlandse luchtmacht geschiedenis en honderden foto’s. Evert Motshagen is luchtmacht-vlieger en startte in 1954 met zijn eerste trainingsvlucht op een Fokker S-11 om 30 jaar later in 1984 te eindigen op een F-16. Welk vliegtuig vloog hij niet? Wat een carrière!

  • Pacific Tomcat – A pictorial History of the F-14 Tomcat in the Pacific Fleet

    James Geer
    Scramble 4 Productions, LLC
    2022
    English
    X X X X X
    144 pg.
    979-8985799705
    Review written by: Rene Verjans

    This time a review of a picture book. A great edition it is as well and from photographer James Geer, who is great fan of the F-14 Tomcat!

  • MISSING, PRESUMED DEAD,

    Gabriel Cox
    Fighting High Publishing
    2022
    English
    X X X X X
    240 pg.
    ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BGMBML86
    Review written by: Joris Gonggrijp

    This book contains several concurrent stories. The setting is the early days of the WW II advance of Imperial Japanese Forces towards Australia. At New Guinea the Aussies, before eventually receiving US support, desperately tried to keep a foothold. The only plane which had the range and bombing capacity to fly from Australia to New […]

  • The Learjet History: Beginnings, Innovations and Utilization

    Peter G. Hamel, Gary D. Park
    Springer
    2022
    English
    X X X X X X
    389 pg.
    ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 303106030X ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-3031060304
    Review written by: Max Heldring

    This book is a monument for the Learjet and Bill Lear written with an unbelievable amount of technical information supported by visual printed content, drawings of modifications and a great amount of photographs. A must for every LJ pilot or business pilot and their worldwide users. The authors must have worked on this for years because all technicalities are well researched and detailed described. I am sure competition must have acquired this book also. The company delivered the last Learjet in May 2021 having produced 3056 models.

  • Red Dragon ‘Flankers’, China’s Prolific ‘Flanker’ Family

    Andreas Rupprecht
    Harpia Publishing Verlags GmbH
    2022
    English
    X X X X X X
    254 pg.
    978-1-950394-10-4
    Review written by: Rene Verjans

    Andreas Rupprecht writes cool books! And who says Rupprecht, says China! This is the umpteenth book of him, published by Harpia Publishing. I am really very happy with this publisher and what they have published till now. On their site it states at the category ‘Strategic handbooks’, only 1 book, but, as far as I am concerned, all the books – also this one – can be stated in this category, when it concerns nowadays airforces or other flying army units. As the quality and information value can be rated as ‘good’!