Flying Colours

Military aircraft have been variously daubed, cunningly camouflaged, boastfully personalized or otherwise extravagantly coloured since they first took to the air over 70 years ago. From the time that the identity of aircraft was established with national insignia, the marking of aircraft has become a science, and their decoration an art form. At times of tension, trends have been towards camouflage colours for concealment as international relationships have deteriorated. Yet, in peace and war, there have also been 'anti-camouflage' colour schemes applied specifically to render aircraft more conspicuous for training, rescue and other purposes.
Flying Colours is a superb survey of this fascinating scene, depicting more than 100 different aircraft types from the World War 1 Spads to the modern swing-wing Tornado, in more than 1300 spectacular illustrations. Splendid use is made of finely detailed profile drawings, top and bottom, head-on and 'scrap' views, together with emblem and other detail enlargements, all in full-colour and each extensively researched by the compilers and artists who have striven for accuracy and interest. Each first-class drawing is described, with identification of squadron, unit, theatre and period, and often even the pilot's name and rank too! Recognized as a major landmark in aviation publishing, this volume will especially delight aircraft modelmakers


Compiled by William Green and Gordon Swanborough
Published by Tiger/Salamander 1990 207pp profusely illustrated. 22x31 fine, including d/j.



see sample page.....



Note:
"Long" descriptions, where shown, may have been taken from the book's dust jacket notes, and as such are relevant to the date of publication (e.g. any references to "previously unpublished photographs" etc.) and not the present.