Jet Prototypes of World War II

Jet Prototypes of World War II PDF Author: Tony Buttler
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472835999
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 81

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Book Description
While World War II raged, pioneering aircraft and engine designers were busy developing the world's first practical jet-powered research aircraft to test and prove the new technology. This book examines the aircraft that paved the way for Germany's Me 262 and Britain's Meteor - the world's first jet fighters. Throughout the war, Germany, Italy and Britain engaged in top-secret jet programmes as they raced to develop the airpower of the future. Various experimental aircraft were trialled in order to achieve the goal of producing an effective engine and fighter that could harness the potential of the jet power. These included the German Heinkel He 178 research aircraft and Heinkel He 280 jet fighter prototype, the famed British E.28/39 research aircraft built by Gloster Aircraft as well as the stillborn E.5/42 fighter and E.1/44 Ace fighter prototype, and finally the remarkable Italian Caproni-Campini N.1/CC 2 research aircraft. Illustrated throughout with full-colour artwork and rare photographs, this fascinating study examines the fore-runners to the military jet age.

Jet Prototypes of World War II

Jet Prototypes of World War II PDF Author: Tony Buttler
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472835999
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 81

Get Book Here

Book Description
While World War II raged, pioneering aircraft and engine designers were busy developing the world's first practical jet-powered research aircraft to test and prove the new technology. This book examines the aircraft that paved the way for Germany's Me 262 and Britain's Meteor - the world's first jet fighters. Throughout the war, Germany, Italy and Britain engaged in top-secret jet programmes as they raced to develop the airpower of the future. Various experimental aircraft were trialled in order to achieve the goal of producing an effective engine and fighter that could harness the potential of the jet power. These included the German Heinkel He 178 research aircraft and Heinkel He 280 jet fighter prototype, the famed British E.28/39 research aircraft built by Gloster Aircraft as well as the stillborn E.5/42 fighter and E.1/44 Ace fighter prototype, and finally the remarkable Italian Caproni-Campini N.1/CC 2 research aircraft. Illustrated throughout with full-colour artwork and rare photographs, this fascinating study examines the fore-runners to the military jet age.

USAF Prototype Jet Fighters

USAF Prototype Jet Fighters PDF Author: Dennis R. Jenkins
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781580071376
Category : Fighter planes
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Photos of every U.S. Air Force prototype jet fighter program from the height of the Cold War to today's fighteres capable of supersonic cruise.

Experimental & Prototype U.S. Air Force Jet Fighters

Experimental & Prototype U.S. Air Force Jet Fighters PDF Author: Dennis R. Jenkins
Publisher: Specialty Press (MN)
ISBN: 9781580071116
Category : Fighter planes
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Experimental and Prototype U.S. Air Force Jet Fighters examines the development of fighter airframes and engines since the end of World War II. The book covers each design that reached the hardware development stage and received an XF or YF designation from the Air Force. Sometimes the airframe/engine combination worked, as it did in the North American F-86 Sabre. Other times, technology failed, as it did in the Convair XP-92 ducted-rocket interceptor. In addition to the changing aerodynamic technologies, the evolution of offensive weapons for each evolution of fighter is also reviewed. Much of the data used in the book came from previously classified Air Force program documents. Dozens of never-before-seen photos highlight this review of Air Force fighter aircraft.

British Experimental Combat Aircraft of World War II

British Experimental Combat Aircraft of World War II PDF Author: Tony Buttler
Publisher: Anchor Books
ISBN: 9781902109244
Category : Airplanes, Military
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
This new book by Tony Buttler, a first of its kind, describes the British fighter, bomber, and research aircraft produced in the run up to and during World War II. Detailed coverage of aircraft that were built and flown as prototypes only, combine with others such as the Westland Welkin which entered production but never reached a squadron. Un-built design projects are explained and all types are covered separately, along with a large selection of photographs, some of which have rarely been seen before. This book covers basic short-term insurance fighters such as the Miles M.20, the Martin-Baker M.B.5, and Supermarine Spitfire, which represented the ultimate in piston fighter development, the Fairey Spearfish torpedo bomber and the four engine Vickers Windsor, oddities like the Blackburn B.20 flying boat, and Britain's first jet aircraft, the Gloster E.28/39. A comprehensive appendix, with the use of photographs and brief details, examines one-off examples of standard production types that were fitted with non-standard features. Gathered from archival sources, renowned author Tony Buttler presents a wealth of information on these historic aircraft.

Luftwaffe X-Planes

Luftwaffe X-Planes PDF Author: Manfred Griehl
Publisher: Frontline Books
ISBN: 1473896991
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 121

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Book Description
This illustrated WWII history reveals the full range of experimental military aircraft that the Third Reich nearly flew into combat. From jet planes and high-altitude aircraft to radar-equipped fighters configured to deliver chemical weapons, numerous secret Luftwaffe planes reached prototype stage during the Second World War. Had these innovative aircraft made it into combat, the course of the war could have gone very differently. Renowned aviation expert Manfred Griehl explores these projects through an informative and fascinating selection of images, including numerous wartime photographs. Despite the Allied authorities' ban on research, countless aircraft were designed and tested by the Luftwaffe and German manufacturers before World War II. The research went ahead at secret evaluation sites in Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and the USSR. Though this work continued after the outbreak of war, many projects were never completed, often because the developers simply ran out of time. This definitive guide reveals the remarkable range of planes that the Third Reich failed to complete.

Early US Jet Fighters

Early US Jet Fighters PDF Author: Tony Buttler
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781902109305
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 208

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Book Description
A fascinating, highly illustrated insight into early post-war jet fighter development by an expert aviation historian and author, Early US Jet Fighters is set to become a standard reference.

World War II US Gunships

World War II US Gunships PDF Author: William Wolf
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472844599
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 81

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Book Description
The XB-40 and XB-41 were secret, little-known experimental modifications of the B-17F and B-24D, respectively, into heavily-armed bomber gunships sometimes referred to as “bomber escorters”. They were developed during early World War II in response to the lack of a USAAF long-range fighter aircraft able to escort and protect regular B-17 formations making the round trip from Britain deep into Germany. Using many formerly-classified documents from his large microfilm collection, William Wolf presents their previously-unpublished history. It describes in depth for the first time the politics and development and associated problems of both escorter types. Unfortunately, these “protecters” were found wanting in several ways - after the addition of guns and ammunition they became overweight and tail-heavy causing center of gravity problems and each encountered numerous delays in the development and delivery of their various armament additions and improvements, particularly the Bendix chin turret. In the end, the YB-40 participated in only 14 lackluster operational service test missions during mid-1943 before being withdrawn from service. The XB-41 Liberator never saw operational testing before also being cancelled for its poor performance. The failure of the gunship concept left a huge hole in the capabilities of the Eighth Air Force. Their failure, however, spurred the adoption of the Merlin-powered P-51 Mustang, the outstanding escort fighter that was key to Allied victory in the air war over Europe.

Northrop Flying Wings

Northrop Flying Wings PDF Author: Peter E. Davies
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 147282508X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 81

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Book Description
Half a century before the 'flying wing' B-2 stealth bomber entered service, John K. 'Jack' Northrop was already developing prototypes of a large 'flying wing' strategic bomber, which would have been the most radical bombers of their age. World War II brought a need for very long-range bombers and Northrop received a contract for a 172-ft span bomber, the B-35. Several of these were built, gradually evolving into the definitive XB-35 configuration. Testing revealed that the aircraft was invisible to radar, but engineers struggled to overcome the design challenges and several pilots were lost in crashes. While the program was cancelled in the 1950s, the concept extended into other highly innovative areas, such as the XP-56 and MX-324 Rocket Wing prototype fighters. But the greatest legacy was the first operational flying wing – the Northrop Grumman B-2 stealth bomber, which used much of the hard-won experience from the pioneering programs of half a century before.

Japanese Aircraft of World War II

Japanese Aircraft of World War II PDF Author: Thomas Newdick
Publisher: Technical Guides
ISBN: 9781782744740
Category : Aeronautics, Military
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Illustrated with detailed artworks of Japanese aircraft and their markings, Japanese Aircraft of World War II is a detailed guide to all the aircraft deployed by the Japanese military from the Second Sino-Japanese War to the surrender in the Pacific in August 1945. Organized alphabetically by manufacturer, this book includes every type of aircraft, from fighters to seaplanes, bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, torpedo bombers and carrier aircraft. All the best-known types are featured, such as the Mitsubishi G4M 'Betty', Nakajima B6N2 Tenzan, Aichi B7A2 Ryusei torpedo bomber and the world- famous Mitsubishi A6M 'Zero' fighter. The entries are accompanied by exhaustive captions and specifications. The guide is illustrated with profile artworks, three-views, and special cutaway artworks of the more famous aircraft in service, such as the Aichi D3A1 'Val', Mitsubishi A6M2 Reisen, and Nakajima Ki.27 'Nate'. Illustrated with more than 120 artworks, Japanese Aircraft of World War II is an essential reference guide for modellers and enthusiasts with an interest in military aircraft of World War II.

American Bomber Aircraft Development in World War 2

American Bomber Aircraft Development in World War 2 PDF Author: Bill Norton
Publisher: Crecy Publishing
ISBN: 9781857803303
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
This title gives a new perspective on the development of US bomber aircraft during World War 2. It reveals how the intense combat pressures of the war accelerated the scientific and technological advances of aeronautics, propulsion, aircraft systems, avionics and ordnance. Extensively researched, this detailed study of both the US Army and Naval air forces is packed with three-view drawings and rare photographs including many little-known experimental aircraft plus unusual variants, with every aircraft illustrated. The book follows a logical path to show how projects were selected from the multitude of design concepts and proposals put forward at the time. This enables the author to give detailed coverage of the programmes that advanced beyond the preliminary stages and contributed to the rapid developments in all aspects of bomber design during the war. The author discusses the technological maturation of US bombers with emphasis on high technology and experimental models. The war years were particularly noted for the rapid advance of electronic navigation, communications, radar, and electronic warfare that greatly aided mission success. The bold moves to long-range heavy bombers and super-heavy intercontinental bombers (the latter solely an American undertaking) further spurred system-intensive aircraft that were important transitions to the jet bombers that followed. How all this work contributed to actual fielded weapon systems is of particular note, with discussions of failures, course changes, and close-run competitions. The effects of interaction with other Allies, knowledge of enemy systems and the reaction by the US and Allied forces to their introduction, and the effect of mobilizing the nation's industries for total war are also examined. The book concludes with an examination of the ultimate achievement of Allied air superiority in the war and its dependence on all of these factors, together with consideration of the effects of emergency measures, haste, budgets, resources, evolving doctrine and strategy, the general course of the war and leadership biases.