Commercial Aircraft

This book presents a survey of the world's commercial aircraft, detailing those now in use at the time of publishing (1983), from the largest-capacity airliners to the small commuter planes. There is much useful and interesting background information as well as basic data about passenger and cargo airliners, whether piston-engined, turboprop-engined or turbojet/turbofan-engined. All the world's major aircraft-producing countries are represented, and international efforts such as the European Airbus are also described. Particularly fascinating are the eight cutaway drawings of individual aircraft such as Concorde which help to explain modern techniques in construction. There are chapters on freight carriers and helicopters as well as those aircraft used for business purposes. In today's hungry world the role of agricultural aircraft should not be underestimated, and the types used for crop-spraying, see-sowing and topdressing are illustrated and described. Though the early Eighties brought hard times for manufacturers, reflecting the staggering losses made by certain operators on scheduled services, some rose to the challenge and produced more economical models. There is a wealth of aircraft illustrated here.