Military Aircraft: World's Greatest Fighters, Bombers And Transport Aircraft From World War I To The Present

Ever since man first took to the air, combat aircraft have been at the cutting edge of aviation technology, resulting in some of the greatest and most complex designs ever built. Military Aircraft features 52 of the most important military aircraft of the last hundred years. The book includes all the main types, from biplane fighters and carrier aircraft to tactical bombers, transport aircraft, multirole fighters, strategic strike aircraft and stealth bombers. Featured aircraft include: the Fokker Dr.1 triplane, the legendary fighter flown by German flying ace Manfred von Richthofen, 'the Red Baron', during World War I; the Mitsubishi A6M Zero, Japan's highly-manoeuvrable fighter that dominated air-to-air combat in the early part of the Pacific War; the tank-busting Il-2 Shturmovik, the most produced aircraft in World War II; the Harrier jump jet, a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) fighter that has been service for more than 40 years; the B-2 Spirit bomber, an American precision strike aircraft used in recent conflicts in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan; and the F-22 Raptor, an air superiority fighter with state-of-the-art stealth technology that makes it almost invisible to radars. Each entry includes a brief description of the model's development and history, a profile view, key features and specifications. Packed with more than 200 artworks and photographs, Military Aircraft is a colourful guide for the military aviation enthusiast. AUTHOR: Thomas Newdick is an aviation and defense writer and editor. He is author of The Essential Aircraft Identification Guide: Modern Military Airpower 1990 Present, The World's Greatest Military Aircraf,t and Technical Guide: Japanese Aircraft of World War II. He is the editor of Air Forces Monthly and a regular contributor to Combat Aircraft and Aircraft Illustrated magazines. SELLING POINTS: . 52 of the world's greatest fighters, bombers, transport and reconnaissance planes . Superb color artworks and photographs and full technical specifications . Expert text provides detailed background on development and service history 200 artworks and photos