Aircraft of the Second World War: The Development of the Warplane 1939 - 1945

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{detailed description}Volume 2 in Putnam's History of Aircraft series. Aircraft of the Second World War The Development of the Warplane 1939-45
The years 1939-45 saw rapid and unprecedented development in all spheres of aviation as the warring nations vied to gain a technological edge over their opponents, win mastery of the skies, and thereby secure ultimate victory. Designers, engineers and scientists in industry and in research institutions laboured to improve the aeroplane and enhance its capabilities and equipment. By the end of the Second World War enormous strides had been made, not only in weaponry and destructive power, but in all of the essential technologies that would revolutionise air transport in the years ahead. For all its grim horror, the war accelerated the aeroplane's development as nothing else could have done. While it is undeniably true that much wartime research and development work concentrated on what might be termed the destructive arts, equal or greater effort was devoted to the saving of lives and improving the performance, reliability and ergonomics of the complex machine that the aero- plane was becoming. Supercharging enhanced the altitude performance of the piston engine, radar helped the pilot find his way at night and locate other aircraft, new systems made flying safer and more comfortable for aircrew, and the advent of the jet engine heralded a new era in the conquest of the skies, offering hitherto-un- dreamed-of speeds just as the piston-engined, propeller-driven aeroplane was reaching the limits of its development. In these pages some of the most prominent specialist aviation writers have come together to present an authoritative account of this dramatic era in the history of aviation technology. This is not just another account of the aeroplane's use in warfare, full of valiant deeds and heroism. It is a combined study of an outstanding era in the evolution of the flying machine, an era when it attained its maturity and achieved new significance in world affairs.
This volume includes:
Introduction
Axis Aircraft at the Outbreak of War
Allied Aircraft Development in the Early War Years
Wartime Fighters
The Bomber Revolution
Airmobility: Aircraft in Support of Ground Forces
Aeroplanes at Sea
The Helicopter's First War
Armament Diversifies
The Well-equipped Warplane
Propulsion
Testing and Ferrying
Training: The Vital Command
Index
{Author / Publisher / Date}by
1997 1st edn. 304pp (large format)
{condition}very good in spine faded d/j
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