Download or read book North American Aviation in the Jet Age written by John Fredrickson and published by Schiffer Military History. This book was released on 2020-01-28 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: During the waning days of World War II, a frenzied race was underway in rubble-strewn Europe as US and Soviet forces sought to seize advanced German weapons technology. Over the next quarter century the North American Aviation (NAA) would enhance these spoils of war into fearsome weapons in America's arsenal. There's the swept-wing F-86 Sabre jet fighter, which would go on to be the only Allied warplane to outmaneuver a Soviet MiG-15 over Korea. X-15 rocket planes carried humans to the boundaries of space, setting speed and altitude records that still hold today. The stories of these weapons and the engineers who nourished them is a fascinating look into postwar corporate history of the NAA and its impact on the United States' aviation and space history.

Download or read book The Jet Makers written by Charles D. Bright and published by University Press of Kansas. This book was released on 2021-10-08 with total page 248 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume presents the history of the American jet aircraft manufacturing industry from World War II to 1972, documenting the evolution of its technology and covering the intricacies of its management, economics, and relations with the government. A valuable contribution to general aviation history, it also provides a unique opportunity to study the dynamic of a major U.S. industry. Charles D. Bright traces the momentous revolution of the aerospace era from birth to maturity, using as a base the jet aircraft industry. He investigates all significant aspects: the coming-of-age of aviation during World War II, including global transportation and aerodynamics; the development of jets and missiles from the Truman era to the Vietnam War; the controlling influence of national military strategy; the U.S. Air Force and other government markets; the mechanics of government procurement—bidding, pricing, buying; difficulties in the commercial airliner business; the ordering of technology and the prevailing “design or die” philosophy; and different systems of production through the years. Special attention is given to major problems such as the industry’s need for diversification and the skyrocketing costs that threaten to make aerospace products uneconomical. The conventional economic concerns of entry into and exit from the industry are treated in depth. Bright focuses on the overall economic pattern, from the first demand for aerospace machines for military, space, and commercial uses to the failures of recent times as the industry entered recession and peacetime equilibrium. He tells of the desperate competition among giants of the industry, those companies on the frontiers of technology that manufactured fixed-wing aircraft of their own design. This is the group that bore the brunt of adaptation to the jet age: Boeing, Curtiss-Wright, Douglas, Fairchild, General Dynamics, Grumman, Lockheed, martin, McDonnell, North American Northrop, and Republic. Central to the story are the reasons for America’s leadership in the jet age: enterprising business managers, scientists, and engineers; the pressure of economics; and manifold competition brought on by economics; and manifold competition brought on by the cold war. Bright points to an industry that has responded to incredible demands and that has shown the strength to weather storms. This volume is illustrated with fifty-five photographs depicting the growth in aircraft technology from 1945 to 1972. As a unique blend of aeronautic, economic, business, and military history, ikt will fascinate not only those connected with aviation and the aerospace industry, but also those interested in the history of technology, business management, and government-military-business relations. The Jet Makers received Honorable Mention in the 1977 History Manuscript award competition of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Download or read book North American Aviation written by John Casey and published by Amethyst Moon. This book was released on 2011-01-30 with total page 120 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is the true account of one of America's greatest aircraft producers, North American Aviation: its rise and its fall. It is the story of its only two CEOs: "Dutch" Kindelberger and Lee Atwood. One would oversee its rise, and the other would oversee its fall across the tumultuous backdrop of the Age of Flight. The real reason for the fall may never be known, but some of those involved share their viewpoints in this book.The story provides perspective on why things happened, shares anecdotes about the people and the airplanes, and what both did for aviation. Their achievements and what they represent in our imagination is the stuff of legend.We hope all of our readers-aviation buffs, historians, and future CEOs-gain an insight into the effort, rewards, and pitfalls that lie along the path to achieving great things.Warren E. Thompson. Military Aviation Historian, says of North American Aviation: The Rise and Fall of an Aerospace Giant, "John Casey was in upper management positions with North American Aviation from 1941 until he retired in 1968. His knowledge of the aviation manufacturing business during World War II and the early years of the Cold War with the Soviet Union is second to none. He has written several books, and this one is the best yet. His book could fit the profile of just about any aerospace giant that has disappeared over the past 40+ years. I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in aviation."

Download or read book Warbird Factory written by John M. Fredrickson and published by Zenith Press. This book was released on 2015-09-10 with total page 227 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Explore the WWII history of the company that later became a part of Boeing and made more aircraft from 1938 to 1944 than any other company in the United States. During World War II, Los Angeles was the ultimate boom town. By the end of the war, the L.A. area had produced 17 percent of all of America's war needs. North American Aviation, Inc. (NAA), operating out of their main Inglewood, California, plant, which is south of and adjacent to the city, was a key player in that work. From 1938 to 1944, NAA built over 40,000 aircraft, more than any other company in the United States. The bulk of them were of three iconic types designed by NAA: - The P-51 Mustang, arguably the best fighter of WWII. - B-25 Mitchell medium bombers, which saw worldwide combat. - Two-seat military pilot trainers, such as the AT-6 Texan. This is a fascinating story of a remarkable time in aviation history, when American businesses helped fund the arsenal of democracy that helped defeat the Axis powers. Warbird Factory tells this story with over 200 photographs, many of which come directly from the NAA/Boeing archives, where they have resided since WWII. This is an essential book for anyone interested in warbirds, aviation, Boeing/NAA, WWII, and/or the history of Southern California!

Download or read book American Aviation Daily written by and published by . This book was released on 1956-03 with total page 1008 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book 50 Aircraft That Changed the World written by Ron Dick and published by Firefly Books. This book was released on 2020-09 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The flying machines that pushed the boundaries of aerospace development. "Dick and Patterson have made unusually fine choices.... Reasonable affection for aircraft is shown throughout this attractive, literate volume. Recommended. General readers." --Choice "The team's selections are defensible, and the illustrations, sidebars, pilot and aircraft profiles, and human-interest stories are all fresh, appealing, and insightful. Recommended for all aeronautical collections." --Library Journal "A close-up survey of 50 of arguably the most remarkable and influential aircraft in aviation history.... Beautifully presented... this book will grace the coffee table of any aviation aficionado." --Airforce Magazine In December of 2019, Vancouver-based airline Harbour Air took to the sky in a 1956 Havilland Beaver retrofitted to fly on battery power. Eschewing gasoline and easily able to fly commuter distances, this old new plane took the first steps of 21st-century flight. 50 Aircraft That Changed the World is about exactly this type of flight revolution. Written by the authors of the widely acclaimed Aviation Century series, it profiles 50 of history's most influential aircraft and their pilots and designers. Now an aviation classic, the book has been reformatted to a smaller size but otherwise remains the same. It begins with the 1905 Wright Flyer III, and moves on to the birth of aerial warfare in World War I, the trailblazers of the interwar years, classic World War II aircraft, the jets of the Korean and Vietnam wars, modern commercial carriers, private jets, experimental designs and new combat fighters featuring stealth technology. Featured aircraft in 50 Aircraft That Changed the World include: Fokker E.111 Charles Lindbergh's Ryan NYP Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Vega Messerschmitt Bf 109 Supermarine Spitfire Boeing B-17 Avro Lancaster De Havilland Mosquito Howard Hughes's Lockheed Constellation Concorde Learjet Boeing B-52 Rutan Voyager. Hundreds of color and archival photographs enhance the informative and entertaining text making this an ideal choice for aviation buffs.

Download or read book A Field Guide to Airplanes of North America written by M. R. Montgomery and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. This book was released on 1992 with total page 260 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is the only complete, pocket-sized guide to aircraft. It includes every production model, civilian and military, of any vintage that is likely to be seen in the skies over North America--over 350 aircraft in all, from early biplanes to Stealth fighters. Hundreds of painstakingly accurate illustrations show each plane and helocopter from different angles.

Download or read book North American Aviation in the Jet Age Vol 2 written by Mark A. Frankel and published by Schiffer Military History. This book was released on 2023-05-28 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A must have companion two Volume 1, which documented the history of North American Aviation in California

Download or read book The Story of American Aviation written by Jim Ray and published by Good Press. This book was released on 2019-11-29 with total page 171 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book traces the history of aviation in America, from its early days to post-World War II. The book covers a range of topics, including the first transatlantic flight, the birth of precision bombing, the development of the first aircraft carrier, and the growth of commercial air travel. It also provides a detailed account of key events and innovations in American aviation and the impact of aviation on modern society.

Download or read book North American X 15 written by Peter E. Davies and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2017-05-18 with total page 84 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The revolutionary X-15 remains the fastest manned aircraft ever to fly. Built in the two decades following World War II, it was the most successful of the high-speed X-planes. The only recently broken 'sound barrier' was smashed completely by the X-15, which could hit Mach 6.7 and soar to altitudes above 350,000ft, beyond the edge of space. Several pilots qualified as astronauts by flying above 50 miles altitude in the X-15, including Neil Armstrong, the first man on the Moon. The three X-15s made 199 flights, testing new technologies and techniques which greatly eased America's entry into manned space travel, and made the Apollo missions and Space Shuttle viable propositions. With historical photographs and stunning digital artwork, this is the story of arguably the greatest of the X-Planes.

Download or read book Tex Johnston written by A. M. "Tex" Johnston and published by Smithsonian Institution. This book was released on 2014-12-02 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: One of America's most daring and accomplished test pilots, Tex Johnston flew the first US jet airplanes and, in a career spanning the 1930s through the 1970s, helped create the jet age at such pioneering aersospace companies as Bell Aircraft and Boeing.

Download or read book The Big Book of X Bombers X Fighters written by Steve Pace and published by Zenith Press. This book was released on 2016-03-15 with total page 743 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: They're all here--every X-bomber and X-fighter since 1942. On October 2, 1942, the Bell XP-59 Airacomet soared up and away from present-day Edwards AFB, launching the US Army Air Forces into the Jet Age. In the several decades since, hundreds of new variations of experimental and test turbojet-powered bombers and fighters--X-bombers and X-fighters--have taken explosive flight. These aircraft blazed a trail leading to today's B-2 Stealth Bomber and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The Big Book of X-Bombers & X-Fighters showcases all of the USAF jet-powered X-bombers and X-fighters that have flown since 1942--more than 90 in all, including the alphabet soup of their variants. From experimental to prototype service bombers and fighters--from the XB-43 to the B-2A and the XP-59A to the F-35A--they're all here, with their inside stories revealed. Some of these aircraft were further developed. Others were canceled. All stretched the performance and design envelopes. More than 250 photos illustrate all of these experimental aircrafts' cutting-edge features and zeroes in on histories of their design, flight testing, and weapons testing. Specification tables detailing performance, design, and armaments help round out this compendium of information on truly groundbreaking aviation designs. X-bombers and X-fighters in The Big Book of X-Bombers & X-Fighters include: Bell P-59 Airacomet Republic P/F-84 Thunderjet Douglas B-43 Jetmaster North American B-45 Tornado Boeing B-47 Stratojet Curtiss P/F-87 Blackhawk McDonnell P/F-85 Goblin Convair P/F-92 "Dart" Northrop F-17 Cobra Boeing B-1 Lancer And all the rest! Specifications included for each aircraft include: Length Height Wingspan Empty weight Gross weight Maximum range Ceiling Maximum speed Armament In addition, veteran aviation author Steve Pace shows readers some of the designs that could have been and offers a peek into what might be lurking in the future, making this the definitive guide to USAF jet-powered experimental aircraft!

Download or read book A Concise History of the U S Air Force written by Stephen Lee McFarland and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 1997 with total page 96 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Except in a few instances, since World War II no American soldier or sailor has been attacked by enemy air power. Conversely, no enemy soldier orsailor has acted in combat without being attacked or at least threatened by American air power. Aviators have brought the air weapon to bear against enemies while denying them the same prerogative. This is the legacy of the U.S. AirForce, purchased at great cost in both human and material resources.More often than not, aerial pioneers had to fight technological ignorance, bureaucratic opposition, public apathy, and disagreement over purpose.Every step in the evolution of air power led into new and untrodden territory, driven by humanitarian impulses; by the search for higher, faster, and farther flight; or by the conviction that the air way was the best way. Warriors have always coveted the high ground. If technology permitted them to reach it, men, women andan air force held and exploited it-from Thomas Selfridge, first among so many who gave that "last full measure of devotion"; to Women's Airforce Service Pilot Ann Baumgartner, who broke social barriers to become the first Americanwoman to pilot a jet; to Benjamin Davis, who broke racial barriers to become the first African American to command a flying group; to Chuck Yeager, a one-time non-commissioned flight officer who was the first to exceed the speed of sound; to John Levitow, who earned the Medal of Honor by throwing himself over a live flare to save his gunship crew; to John Warden, who began a revolution in air power thought and strategy that was put to spectacular use in the Gulf War.Industrialization has brought total war and air power has brought the means to overfly an enemy's defenses and attack its sources of power directly. Americans have perceived air power from the start as a more efficient means of waging war and as a symbol of the nation's commitment to technology to master challenges, minimize casualties, and defeat adversaries.

Download or read book Air Force and Space Digest written by and published by . This book was released on 1958 with total page 734 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book California Warbird Survivors 2002 written by Harold A. Skaarup and published by iUniverse. This book was released on 2002-07-18 with total page 575 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: During the twentieth century, civil and military aviation has played a prominent role in the history and development of California. Commercial operators have exploited the advantages offered by aircraft to overcome its unique challenges of geography and climate. By virtue of Californias comparative size and strategic importance on the West Coast of the continental USA, a wide variety of military aircraft have been based there through the years. The list of military aircraft types that made up the tapestry of California aviation is as extensive as the list of legendary figures who have contributed to its amazing history. While most of the military aircraft types no longer grace the airspace over California, many can be viewed in their former splendor as they stand as gate guards or museum exhibits. This booklet provides a comprehensive guide to where these restored aircraft can be found. Complementing the details concerning aircraft specifications and roles, the author has included many facts. Finally, the descriptions of the recovery, restoration and preservation efforts stand as a tribute to the many volunteers who have devoted time, energy and financial support to ensure this rich heritage is preserved.

Download or read book Dreams of Flight written by Janet R. Daly Bednarek and published by Texas A&M University Press. This book was released on 2003-04-24 with total page 228 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: General aviation encompasses all the ways aircraft are used beyond commercial and military flying: private flights, barnstormers, cropdusters, and so on. Authors Janet and Michael Bednarek have taken on the formidable task of discussing the hundred-year history of this broad and diverse field by focusing on the most important figures and organizations in general aviation and the major producers of general aviation aircraft and engines. This history examines the many airplanes used in general aviation, from early Wright and Curtiss aircraft to the Piper Cub and the Lear Jet. The authors trace the careers of birdmen, birdwomen, barnstormers, and others who shaped general aviation—from Clyde Cessna and the Stinson family of San Antonio to Olive Ann Beech and Paul Poberezny of Milwaukee. They explain how the development of engines influenced the development of aircraft, from the E-107 that powered the 1929 Aeronca C-2, the first affordable personal aircraft, to the Continental A-40 that powered the Piper Cub, and the Pratt and Whitney PT-6 turboprop used on many aircraft after World War II. In addition, the authors chart the boom and bust cycle of general aviation manufacturers, the rising costs and increased regulations that have accompanied a decline in pilots, the creation of an influential general aviation lobby in Washington, and the growing popularity of “type” clubs, created to maintain aircraft whose average age is twenty-eight years. This book provides readers with a sense of the scope and richness of the history of general aviation in the United States. An epilogue examining the consequences of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, provides a cautionary note.

Download or read book Air University Periodical Index written by and published by . This book was released on with total page 1072 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: