USAF
Prototype Jet Fighters Photo Scrapbook
USAF
Prototype Jet Fighters Photo Scrapbook
by Dennis R. Jenkins and Tony R. Landis
Published by (date): Specialty Press (April 2009)
ISBN: 978-1-58007-137-6
Price: $19.95
Tags: Non-Fiction History WorldWar2 ColdWar
Synopsis:
The U.S. Air Force began developing jet fighters as World War
II came to a close. The Cold War that soon developed saw a significant
increase in fighter production programs as America tried to counter the
perceived Soviet threat. World War II's best piston-powered fighters
could barely top speeds in excess of 450 mph. But the post-war jets
developed by the U.S. Air Force were soon breaking the sound barrier,
flying to Mach 3, and Mach-4–capable aircraft were on the drawing board.
U.S. Air Force Prototype Jet Fighters details the evolution of these
aircraft, using dozens of never-before-published photographs from
government archives.
Aerospace historian Tony Landis and Cape Canaveral consulting
engineer Dennis Jenkins’s jet photo scrapbook provides the reader a
most attractive, sixty- year chronology of USAF jet trainers
developed since the end of WWII. Dozens of pictures from
America’s jet history are professionally organized.
Short on time, I originally needed to take a quick look at this
work, but turned out getting absorbed in every jet prototype.
Pictures shared with my thirteen- year old son included shots of the
developed jets from the Vietnam-era that I knew as F105’s, F4’s, and
F-111’s. Our interaction added to the enjoyment of this book,
as I’ve never said much to him about those days (when I got a front
row view of jet firepower). The book’s beautiful front cover
shows the sixth, and last, General Dynamics YF-16A, in spectacular
red, white, and blue, while in test flight over Edwards, California.
Interesting book captions are added; examples include an XF-92A
sitting for unknown reasons in a county airport for years, and
artwork of variants of the F-111 - proposed as part of Secretary of
Defense McNamara’s “commonality” concept. Less peculiar
stories show the heroic dedication taken and success achieved to
advance jet propulsion and protect our nation.
Landis and Jenkins compiled a superb history of powerful birds that
I fully enjoyed. The book gets my highest recommendation, and
I suggest it for any jet enthusiast, historian, or educator.
Review by Hodge Wood, MWSA Reviewer (July 2009)
Other Reviews:
"I like these books, the Specialty Press crew does a great job of presenting
historic photos with pertinent information and commentary. This book is no
different, it's not just a scrapbook as the title suggests. It's more of a tour
- a virtual museum presenting the leaps and stumbles of fighter aircraft
development. I'm confident you will find this Scrapbook worth the price paid."
-Starship Modeler, reviewed by Terry Miesle, April 2009
"Overall, it is an excellent book and a great value for the money. I enjoyed it
and I am sure you will as well. It is one that I can easily recommend to you."
-Modeling Madness, reviewed by Scott Van Aken, April 2009
"Whether as a complement to the larger 'Experimental & Prototype: U.S. Air Force
Jet Fighters' book or as a stand-alone volume, this is a nice book to have."
-Internet Modeler, reviewed by Chris Banyai-Riepl, June 2009
"It's an amazing set of photographs. Basically the book covers an area of
aircraft design that isn't seen very often."
-Books-On-Line, May 2009