My library just grew again 2018

[Gondor]

Received another ebay win today, a copy of

Aerofax Tupolev Tu-16 Badger

Gondor

[Mossie]

I've got the same V-bomber and Badger Aerofax guides, all good.  The Valiant volume is probably my favourite.

[Gondor]

Today I received another Aerofax book 

This time on Tupolev Tu-95/-142 'Bear'

Gondor

[NARSES2]

Finally started and finished the RAF Secret Projects Bookazine (basically the work done to spec F.155T/OR.329) and it's thoroughly recommended if only to get an idea of the politics surrounding procurement policy at the time. It's well enough written that the technical details are understandable to non technical's without dumbing down. Recommended 

[Thorvic]

Picked up a new copy of Patrick Martins British Phantom Vol1 as i have a feeling my original copy will be getting thumbed through quite a bit this year 

[NARSES2]

Another "Bookazine" from Aviation Archive - Giant Aircraft : 100 Years of Sky Monsters.

Covers 23 giant aircraft starting with the Ilya Muromets and finishes with the Stratolaunch. 7 of them are flying boats including one of my all time "what on earth were they on ?" types, the Caproni Ca 60 

[Rheged]

Another "Bookazine" from Aviation Archive - Giant Aircraft : 100 Years of Sky Monsters.

Covers 23 giant aircraft starting with the Ilya Muromets and finishes with the Stratolaunch. 7 of them are flying boats including one of my all time "what on earth were they on ?" types, the Caproni Ca 60 

Caproni Ca 60?  Was that the one that wouldn't have looked out of place sailing up the Channel with the Spanish Armada?? 

[rickshaw]

Another "Bookazine" from Aviation Archive - Giant Aircraft : 100 Years of Sky Monsters.

Covers 23 giant aircraft starting with the Ilya Muromets and finishes with the Stratolaunch. 7 of them are flying boats including one of my all time "what on earth were they on ?" types, the Caproni Ca 60 

Caproni Ca 60?  Was that the one that wouldn't have looked out of place sailing up the Channel with the Spanish Armada??

Yes.  The Ca60:

[PR19_Kit]

Tophe should love that, it's got more booms than engines!

[NARSES2]

Tophe should love that, it's got more booms than engines!

I can just imagine fixing all those struts in place 

[PR19_Kit]

I finally ran down a copy of 'RAF Secret Jets of Cold War Britain' in WH Smiths in Chepstow today, and I can see what all the fuss is about. What a superb bookazine, allsorts of details that you'd not find elsewhere, and what HUGE aircraft that spec. produced!! 

There's a couple in there that may inspire me to enter the Cold War GB too..........

[NARSES2]

I finally ran down a copy of 'RAF Secret Jets of Cold War Britain' in WH Smiths in Chepstow today, and I can see what all the fuss is about. What a superb bookazine, allsorts of details that you'd not find elsewhere, and what HUGE aircraft that spec. produced!! 

It's certainly one of the best of the series, although they've all been good. Titles a bit of a misnomer though as it's really just about the one specification/contest ? As for size I suppose to a large extent that was governed by the state of the art electronics especially when applied to some of the intended armament. We forget how far electronics came in the 50/60's ?

[PR19_Kit]

I'm not sure if it was just the electronics, the spec required an incredible rate of climb as well as a very high maximum speed. That, plus the endurance required, meant either big, or lots of engines, and a vast amount of fuel.

That way lies bigness! 

[Weaver]

Two space books:

Breaking the Chains of Gravity
by Amy Shira Teitel

All about the space business pre-NASA, which promises to be interesting.

Amy has a good Youtube channel called Vintage Space, which has even featured model-making on occasion.



Into The Black
by Rowland White

The inside story of the first Space Shuttle mission and how it nearly ended in tears.

Rowland White is the author of Vulcan 607 and many other aviation books.

[NARSES2]

French Secret Projects - Cold War Bombers, Patrol and Assault Aircraft.

Plus loads of other weird and wonderful contraptions. Hadn't picked this up before for some reason ? but Amazon made me an offer I couldn't refuse