From Spitfire to Eurofighter

Roy Boot is one of the most important figures in post-war aeronautical design, and the period he covers in this book is a long and varied one in the history of aviation. Beginning in 1941 with 'the unmistakable smell of dope and the cacophony of riveting and windy drill machines', it ends in the computer-assisted design offices and large corporations of today's aerospace industry. Roy tells the story of the remarkable technological advances made in aircraft and weapon design during this period with great insight. From his early days as a student apprentice with Cunliffe Owen through to his time as Executive Director New Aircraft at British Aerospace, Warton, he describes the processes that gave rise to initial design concepts; he recounts how time and again even the best planned projects were held up by unforeseen and frustrating difficulties; and he tells of the ingenuity and patience by which he and his colleagues overcame the obstacles that beset them. He also gives interesting personal views on future aircraft design and procurement, making a valuable contribution to the debate which surrounds these complex subjects.
From Spitfire to Eurofighter contains a wealth of technical detail, and Roy reviews some sixty of the designs which passed through the Future Projects Office at Blackburn Aircraft during his period in charge. At the heart of the book lies what must surely be the pinnacle of the author's career - the Buccaneer project. This remarkably successful aircraft, which first saw service with the Royal Navy, is still operational today with the RAF, and its survival is a lasting compliment to Roy's skill as both engineer and manager.
Indeed, the whole book is a fitting testimonial to the author's lifetime of service to the British aircraft industry, and a fascinating record of one of the most exciting and volatile periods in aviation history.


by Roy Boot
Published by Airlife 1990 1st edition. 262pp profusely illustrated with b&w photos and drawings, index, appendix. 17x23 mint, including d/j.






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jacket notes, and as such are relevant to the date of publication (e.g. any references to "new edition" "previously unpublished photographs" etc.) and not the present.

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