Manfred von Richthofen: The High Price of Glory

Biographies & Memoirs

Hillier-Graves, Tim

Leaders & Notable People

Air World

Manfred von Richthofen: His Life and Times in Pictures

Spitfire Pilot Air Commodore Geoffrey Stephenson: The Biography of the Pilot of Duxford’s Spitfire Mk.I N3200

Shields, John

Historical

The United States and Soviet Union began a race to develop the first and most capable fifth generation stealth fighters in the late 1970s. The Cold War's end, however, was followed by both a near total collapse of Russian efforts and major cuts and delays to American programs. This provided an opening for a rising and fast modernising Chinese defence industry to kick off its own ambitious program to produce a world leading fighter jet with next generation capabilities. Once unveiled, the program came to be seen as a herald of China's rising status as a leading player in high tech and major world power.Development of the Chengdu J-20 began in the 1990s and has since consistently far exceeded expectations in both its performance and its development timeline. The fighter made its first flight in 2011 and began deliveries to the People's Liberation Army Air Force in 2016 - a small fraction of the time its American and Russian rivals would take. Today it is the world's second most numerous stealth fighter, outnumbered only by America's much smaller Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, with the two rivals seeing their first of many likely encounters confirmed in March 2022\. As the J-20's capabilities have rapidly improved and the rate of production has significantly grown, it has very conspicuously played a growing role in patrolling major hotspots in East Asia from Korea and the East China Sea to the Taiwan Strait and disputed South China Sea.The J-20 program's success has been the most potent symbol of China's ascent from a minor player in combat aviation during the Cold War, to the United States' only peer level competitor today. It has also set China on a course of pursuing multiple other fighter development efforts - including a close competition with America to field the first and most capable sixth generation fighter in the 2030s. The J-20 thus marks a major landmark not only in Chinese aviation history, but also more broadly in the evolving balance of power between East and West as the country's technological and economic ascents allow it to successfully pursue highly ambitious weapons programs.This book takes the J-20's story far back to the formation of the People's Liberation Army Air Force and its trial by fire in the Korean War, tracing the rationale for developing a top end air superiority fighter. It also compares its performance with rival fifth generation fighter programs in other countries and looks ahead to what the future may hold in this new arms race.

China's Stealth Fighter: The J-20 'Mighty Dragon' and the Growing Challenge to Western Air Dominance

History

Abrams, Abraham

Asia

Battle of Britain Spitfire Ace: The Life and Loss of One of The Few, Flight Lieutenant William Henry Nelson DFC

Usher, Peter J

The Death of Prince George, Duke of Kent, 1942: A New Investigation to Find the Truth

Morgan, M S

Europe

Luftwaffe Intruder Operations Over the United Kingdom: Fernnachtjagd Units, 1940 to 1944

Goss, Chris

A compelling biography of Frank Whittle, whose jet engine revolutionized aviation, reshaping travel and modern life forever. The invention by Whittle of the turbo-jet engine, and the determined effort to design, develop and demonstrate that such a novel new method of propulsion would replace piston engines in the air, was one of the most important technical achievements of the twentieth century. That one man accomplished this working with a small but dedicated team of engineers and craftsman in the middle of a war, and in the face of many doubters, was a truly monumental achievement.The jet engine envisaged by Frank Whittle, a young Royal Air Force cadet, changed aviation forever. It was an invention that has, in the years since, had the effect of shrinking the world we live in.We think nothing today of flying between continents in a few hours, when just a two or three generations ago this would have been a major expedition. In short, the jet engine, developed with great tenacity by Whittle, has made the world a village, and has introduced world-wide travel to ordinary people everywhere. This accomplishment was all the more remarkable given Whittle's humble background as the son of a highly skilled but largely uneducated mechanic and machinist.A young man from a working-class family, Frank Whittle wanted to become a pilot, but he was denied admission into the RAF due to his physical limitations. Nevertheless, he persisted until finally he was accepted on an air mechanic's (or fitter's) apprenticeship at RAF Cranwell. It was a course which was primarily used to train officer cadets. Cranwell included a flying training school and it was Whittle's secret hope that he may be one step closer to achieving his aim of learning to fly.The air mechanic's apprenticeship was a three-year course aimed at providing a thorough practical understanding of all aircraft structural components as well as a detailed knowledge of the different types of aircraft engines then in use. He was a diligent apprentice, and happily threw himself into every aspect of the rigorous training provided, while at the same time keeping an eye on the officer cadets on the flying courses.Inspired by his training, Frank Whittle developed an idea. He believed it was possible for aircraft to fly faster and higher - and he turned his vision into reality.This incredible accomplishment was not without considerable personal cost though, as Whittle had to face the realities of war, as well as personal and commercial issues that nearly turned his dream into a nightmare. In addition, this biography, written by someone who met Frank Whittle, includes details of his rather colourful personal life, which have not been previously documented.

Air Commodore Sir Frank Whittle: The Man Who Invented the Turbo-jet

Evans, Robert L.

Flying Boat Pilot in War and Peace: Disaster and Survival: The Extraordinary Life of Captain M.J.R. ‘Roly’ Alderson

Alderson, Mark

One of Our Pilots is Safe: A Battle of France Airman’s Story of Survival and Road to Recovery

Simpson, William

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