Download or read book RAF Aircraft of the Cold War 1970 90 written by Tony Paxton and published by Key Publishing. This book was released on 2022-03-30 with total page 128 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Cold War saw the once-allies of the Second World War pitted against each other in a power play that was to last more than three decades. With Russia and her Warsaw Pact allies in the East and the UK with the US and their NATO allies in the West, both sides were in constant readiness to fend off an attack from opposing forces. Though the feared attacks never came, the decades saw tension and posturing on both sides until the war finally ended in 1991 after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the dissolution of the Soviet Union. This striking photographic collection looks at the large variety of RAF aircraft involved in the Cold War. These included air defenders such as Lightnings and Phantoms, which were often held ready to fly within ten minutes of an alert; strike/attack aircraft such as Buccaneers, Jaguars and Harriers, based in Germany; Victors, Tristars and VC10s for refueling; and Nimrods for maritime surveillance and antisubmarine action. As the war progressed, some types of aircraft would be replaced by other, more advanced machines. The iconic Vulcan was eventually replaced by the Tornado GR1 in the UK, the Tornado F3 took over the UK air defense role from the Lightning and TWU Hawks were introduced as part of the Mixed Fighter Force. This book brings these classic aircraft to life with stunning photography, displaying them in all their glory, flying through the skies of a world divided by an iron curtain.
Download or read book British Ground Attack Aircraft of the 1970s and 80s written by Chris Goss and published by Key Publishing. This book was released on 2022-06-20 with total page 187 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Société Européenne de Production de l’avion École de Combat et d’Appui Tactique (SEPECAT) Jaguar and Hawker Siddeley Harrier played critical ground-attack and tactical reconnaissance roles, including in the latter stages of the Cold War. The Jaguar came into service with the RAF in 1974 and flew with eight operational squadrons and an Operational Conversion Unit before finally being retired in 2007. The unique Harrier entered service with the RAF in 1969.It flew operationally with four squadrons, as well as being deployed in Belize and the Falkland Islands and with an Operational Conversion Unit. The second-generation Harrier was prematurely retired in 2011. With over 180 photographs, both black and white and color, this book, the third in a series on British combat aircraft of the 1970s and ’80s, is an essential addition to the libraries of those who flew or worked on these aircraft, aviation historians and enthusiasts, and modelers alike.
Download or read book British Bombers of the 1970s and 80s written by Chris Goss and published by Key Publishing. This book was released on 2021-06-22 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The mainstays of the RAF’s bomber force in the 1970s and ’80s were the distinctive Avro Vulcan and the slightly less well-known Blackburn Buccaneer. The Buccaneer came into service in 1962 and flew with just five RAF and six RN squadrons before being retired in 1994. The Vulcan came into service in 1956 and was retired after the Falklands War in 1982, having flown operationally with nine RAF squadron. Illustrated with 180 photographs, this book details the much-loved Buccaneer and Vulcan and the part they played in the latter stages of the Cold War.
Download or read book British Aircraft of World War One written by Lee Chapman and published by Key Publishing. This book was released on 2022-04-30 with total page 160 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: World War One took place just after the birth of powered flight, when aerial technology was still in its infancy. At the outbreak of war, the military potential of this novelty invention was not fully recognized until commanders began to use the aeroplane to see what the enemy was planning on the other side of the hill. During the course of the war, the role of the aeroplane evolved from a stable, lumbering observation platform to a more agile fighter, capable of shooting down another aircraft. In a bid to out-do the enemy, the ongoing arms race saw rapid developments in aeroplane technology, which led to an incredible array of ever-advancing aircraft seeing service during this time. This book features a plotted history of the British aircraft that were involved in World War One. It includes the frontline fighters, bombers and reconnaissance aircraft that contributed to the iconic events between 1914 and 1918. The story is supported by high-quality images of surviving, reproduction, replica and restored aircraft.
Download or read book Aircraft of Red Flag written by Scott Cuong Tran and published by Key Publishing. This book was released on 2022-06-30 with total page 129 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Red Flag is the world’s premier air-to-air combat exercise. Run by the US Air Force from Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, its aim is to provide aircrew with a safe environment in which to take part in interview air combat sorties. It takes place over the vast Nevada Test and Training Range and is attended by participants from allied nations around the world, with 29 countries having taken part with the US since 1975. These visitors bring with them their own variety of aircraft, adding to the diverse array gracing the skies over Las Vegas. Illustrated with over 140 full-color photographs, this stunning collection looks at the many aircraft involved in Red Flag, including firefighters such as the Eagle, Super Hornet, and Raptor; support aircraft such as the Stratotanker and Sentry; helicopters such as the Black Hawk and Apache; and a multitude of other aircraft from both sides of the Atlantic. Also included are ‘Red Force’ fighters, with their unique paint schemes, which aim to replicate the look and tactics of potential adversaries.
Download or read book Air to Air Refuelling Aircraft written by Chris Gibson and published by Key Publishing. This book was released on 2022-06-20 with total page 201 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Modern strategists talk about “force multipliers,” and, for air operations, air-to-air refueling is without doubt the greatest force multiplier of all. In-flight refueling has allowed not only the longest bombing missions in history but also persistence in air defense, transport reach and flexibility in ground-attack tasks. Covering a range of refuelers — including the Boeing KC-97 and KC-135, Vickers Valiant, Handley Page Victor, Lockheed TriStar, Vickers VC10, McDonnell Douglas KC-10 and the Airbus MRTT Voyager — this book details the history of air-to-air refueling and celebrates the key role played by tanker aircraft in the application of air power around the world.
Download or read book Allied Aircraft of D Day written by Lee Chapman and published by Key Publishing. This book was released on 2022-06-30 with total page 189 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The 1944 Allied invasion of France was a combined effort, with land- and sea-based forces supported by a huge aerial task force, which included legendary aircraft such as the Spitfire, Mosquito, Dakota and Mustang. The force comprised the RAF, its commonwealth allies and the USAAF, which resulted in an eclectic mix of gliders, heavy bombers, fighters, ground-attack aircraft and transport aeroplanes. Illustrated with over 170 color images of modern-day surviving and restored aircraft, this book features many of the aircraft types that were involved in the operations surrounding the Normandy invasion, including the aircraft the flew on D-Day itself.
Download or read book US Naval Air Power written by Patrick Roegies and published by Key Publishing. This book was released on 2022-08-31 with total page 202 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The United States Naval Aviation service celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2011 and since then it has continued to be at the forefront of military aviation developments. The past ten years have been significant for continuous improvement, development, and efficiency. In that time, the service has dealt with highlights and various challenges, such as a sequestration in 2013, the resulting reduction in combat readiness, and aircraft manufacturing delays. Focusing on the squadrons of the US Navy and Marine Corps, and illustrated with over 150 images, this book delves into the various carrier air wings, the aircraft, such as the F/A-18 and E2 variants, and the training that together make US Naval Aviation the force it is today. It describes the developments of the West Coast bases over the past decade, the successes the United States Navy has achieved, and the methods used to further standardize and optimize the fleet.
Download or read book Air Forces of Latin America written by Santiago Rivas and published by Key Publishing. This book was released on 2022-02-28 with total page 199 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Military aviation in Argentina has a long history and for many years it was the most powerful in Latin America, achieving worldwide fame in 1982 when it confronted British forces over the South Atlantic. Sadly, as a result of Argentina’s more recent economic woes and a lack of political commitment over more three decades, it is now struggling to maintain its capabilities and replace old aircraft. Ironically, this situation makes for a varied and interesting aviation scene, with Argentine military aviation flying many classic types that are not easy to see in operation today with a military force, as well as some less-common indigenous aircraft. Illustrated with more than 140 photographs, this book shines a spotlight on the Argentine Air Force, Naval Aviation and Army Aviation, as well as the paramilitary forces of the Coast Guard, Gendarmerie and Presidential Flight. Author Santiago Rivas gives a fascinating insight into their histories, comprehensive details of their current organization, their missions and the aircraft they operate, and full ‘orders of battle’ for each air arm.
Download or read book Britain s Military Helicopters written by Chris Gibson and published by Key Publishing. This book was released on 2022-08-31 with total page 212 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A key component in any armed force, helicopters operate in a range of roles not only previously filled by aircraft but also many that are completely new. Thanks to their ability to go anywhere and operate from locations as diverse as landing pads hacked out of the rainforest or the pitching deck of a frigate, the helicopter adds a flexibility unknown to armed forces in the past. Be it antisubmarine operations by a Merlin, fire support from an Apache, stores delivered by a Puma, evacuation of the wounded by a casevac Chinook or rescue by a Sea King, helicopters offer the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force capabilities unheard of in the history of conflict. From its beginnings as a curiosity with little operational use, Britain’s armed forces soon embraced the helicopter with the Whirlwind for the Royal Navy and RAF and the Skeeter for the Army Air Corps. Finding these helicopters limited, it was the advent of the turboshaft that revolutionized the helicopter, with the Belvedere, Wessex, Wasp and Scout bringing new capabilities. The next generation, the Puma, Lynx, Sea King and Chinook, all designed for turboshaft power, made the helicopter an essential machine for all the armed forces and have proven their worth to Britain’s forces since the 1970s. In Britain’s Military Helicopters, Chris Gibson describes the evolution of the helicopter in British service, from their beginnings with the Sikorsky R-4B test flown by Fleet Air Arm pilots in the USA to the latest Wildcat and Apache Guardian. Lavishly illustrated throughout, this book includes original photographs and images from archives, many of which are previously unpublished.
Download or read book Hawker Typhoon written by Tony Buttler and published by Key Publishing. This book was released on 2022-02-28 with total page 233 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Although first designed as a fighter, during the fighting in and over Europe during 1944 and 1945 the Hawker Typhoon gained a tremendous reputation and true fame as a ground-attack aircraft and tank-buster. This was a remarkable achievement because, during its development and early career, the Typhoon had experienced severe problems with its Napier Sabre engine and catastrophic failures of its airframe. The Typhoon’s offensive ground-attack work is well known, but that tends to overshadow the type’s successes operating from 1942 as a true fighter based in the UK. Nevertheless, during the final year of World War Two, following the D-Day landings in June 1944, the Typhoon performed a crucial role in the European theatre. After May 1945 it disappeared from RAF squadrons very quickly, so to leave such a record of success over such a short time is nothing short of outstanding! It was not a world-beater, but the Typhoon was perfect for the job that was required of it. Many books that document the Typhoon cover it in conjunction with its successor, the Hawker Tempest. However, this work, fully illustrated with over 180 photographs, gives this heavyweight machine a well-deserved volume of its own.
Download or read book AMARG written by Jim Dunn and published by Key Publishing. This book was released on 2022-06-20 with total page 205 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The United States military stores more than 4,000 aircraft in the Arizona desert at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) facility adjacent to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Known as the “Boneyard,” this facility is much more than a place where aerospace vehicles come to die. Here some aircraft are maintained in both short- and long-term storage, while others serve as a “parts inventory on the wing” holding valuable spare parts in known locations ready to be harvested, overhauled, and returned to the fleet when needed. When an aircraft has yielded all the parts necessary to keep its brethren in the air, its carcass eventually meets the scrapper’s torch. AMARG’s storage rows are home to massive fleets of F-15, F-16, and F/A-18 fighters, aerial refuelling tankers, C-130 and C-5 transports, helicopters of varying sizes, and bombers from the frontline B-1 to B-52s that are much older than the pilots flying them around the globe today. Among the rows are special use aircraft including the AWACS, P-3 maritime patrol bombers, aeromedical evacuation aircraft, and reconnaissance planes that serve a variety of missions, along with celebrity aircraft such as MiG killers that dominated the skies in aerial combat. As well as bringing the reader up to date with recent activities at AMARG, including the intake of new aircraft types, regeneration and the return to the fleet of aircraft formerly in storage, this book presents new, never-before-seen images that provide a visual tour of the Boneyard.
Download or read book The Fall of the Luftwaffe in Colour written by Clive Ellis and published by Key Publishing. This book was released on 2020-06-24 with total page 137 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Meticulously researched over the course of 20 years, this color rendition of the Luftwaffe’s Eagles in defeat accurately portrays the stark reality of the desperate days in 1940 when Britain stood alone. Using an extraordinary combination of stunning colorized images and extensively researched text, this book gives a new and different perspective on the battle between ‘the few’ and Hitler’s vaunted Luftwaffe. It contains some 200 photographs of downed enemy aircraft, painstakingly colorized today, showing the rare spectacle of new color from the Battle of Britain period.
Download or read book The Paras in Iraq written by Craig Allen and published by Key Publishing. This book was released on 2020-10-13 with total page 273 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For Operation Telic, the 2003 campaign in Iraq, the UK was the junior partner alongside their American allies but still contributed a substantial force. This was based around the 1st Armoured Division consisting of 7th Armoured Brigade, 16 Air Assault Brigade and 102 Logistics Brigade, with the Marines of 3 Commando Brigade under command. This photographic diary concentrates on 16 Air Assault Brigade’s two parachute battalions, 1 and 3 Para. Beginning with the invasion and operations in the southern oilfields, the story follows 3 Para’s successful entry into Basrah, before the action switches to 1 Para and a move to Baghdad to secure the British Embassy. This is followed by a look at life at the Embassy and on patrol in the city before 3 Para’s return south. Written by a media escort and photographer with 3 Para, who was himself a Para for 23 years and continued to serve as a reservist, this book shows how paratroopers looked and fought during the campaign. Illustrated with over 200 color photographs, it shows the reality of British forces in a modern-day war, with insights into the Parachute Regiment’s equipment and operations.
Download or read book Dassault Super Etendard written by Frédéric Lert and published by Key Publishing. This book was released on 2022-06-20 with total page 184 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Dassault Super Étendard, which became the Super Étendard Modernisé in due course, had a remarkable career. It was a humble aircraft that was often faced with thankless and difficult tasks. There was no excessive power in this aircraft, but simply a remarkable versatility that made it the backbone of French carrier aviation for 40 years. Solid, reliable, well-designed, and adaptable, the Super Étendard was an aircraft that France regularly upgraded, enabling it to maintain its rank with increasingly sophisticated equipment and armaments. It gained notoriety for its role in anti-ship missions flown by Argentinian pilots, but paradoxically, France never used it in combat in this role. On the other hand, the aircraft was extensively used as a bomber in numerous wars, in a variety of places, including Lebanon, Syria, Yugoslavia, and Afghanistan. With over 160 images, this book looks at the history of the Super Étendard and the impact it had on aviation.
Download or read book Lynx written by Henri-Pierre Grolleau and published by Key Publishing. This book was released on 2022-06-30 with total page 217 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When introduced in 1978, the Westland Lynx constituted a massive improvement over the helicopters then in service with the French Navy for antisubmarine duties and quickly became a highly popular rotorcraft. From an asset specializing in antisubmarine warfare, it was soon turned into a multirole platform that proved incredibly versatile, performing an extremely wide range of roles. However, after more than 40 years in service, the Lynx was an aging design, and in August 2020, it was withdrawn from Aéronautique Navale service. Containing over 200 full-color images, this book charts the final year in French service of this much-loved machine.
Download or read book Su 57 Felon written by Piotr Butowski and published by Key Publishing. This book was released on 2022-08-31 with total page 211 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In December 2020, the first Sukhoi Su-57, codenamed Felon by NATO, entered service with the Aerospace Forces, making it Russia’s most recent combat aircraft. It is a multirole aircraft combining the functions of both a fighter and strike aircraft, with design features that include stealth, supersonic cruising speed and maneuverability, the latest sensors and weaponry, and network-centric warfare capability. Fully illustrated with over 170 full-color photographs, this book describes the trials of the T-50 prototypes and the implementation of the Su-57 into series production, as well as looking at the design, characteristics and combat capabilities of this fifth-generation fighter.
