Böcker av Tony (Author) Buttler

Surveys World War II U.S. fighter prototypes from 1940-1946 that never entered production, showcasing innovative designs.During World War II, America's air arms fielded some superlative fighters such as the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, North American P-51 Mustang and Vought F4U Corsair. The large numbers of these excellent fighters produced by the US aircraft industry made a significant contribution to the eventual success of the Allies. However, even as the war was raging and the industry was working flat out to produce the huge numbers of aircraft required for front line duties, extensive research and development programmes were also being pursued to create the next generation of fighters. This book focuses on the aircraft generated by those programmes and provides a detailed survey of the fighter prototypes produced and flown during the period from 1940 to 1946, which, for various reasons, did not progress to production and service.The work has twenty-four chapters that embrace the great diversity of design and layout of these prototypes. They demonstrate the remarkable creative flair that was present in the US aircraft industry during the war. There are designs of all shapes, sizes and configurations powered by piston, jet and mixed power plants. The designs encompassed various configurations including pusher layouts, swept and flying wings. Each of these prototypes is given its own chapter.The book also reviews a selection of production fighter types that were kitted out for trials and used as test bed aircraft. A small number of unbuilt projects and studies are also included. The thoroughly researched text is complimented by a superb collection of photographs and illustrations.For all of those interested in World War Two US aviation and the aircraft produced in its aftermath, this book will be a revelation. Written by Tony Buttler, one of our most distinguished aviation writers, it will be a must read for all modellers and students of aviation history in this era.

This book examines the last generation of high-performance British propellor-driven fighters, types such as the Firecrest, late mark Spitfires and Seafires, Spiteful and Seafang, Sea Fury, late mark Tempests, Hornet and Sea Hornet, M.B.5 and Wyvern. From about 1942 onwards these extraordinary and very complex aeroplanes brought British piston fighter development to its zenith, but then in a very short space of time the new jet engine wiped this generation away. Perhaps it would not have been possible to take piston power and further anyway but the turboprop might have been a longer-term alternative, though in the end the only British type with this form of powerplant would be the Westland Wyvern naval strike fighter.Chapters look at the engines involved including the Rolls-Royce Merlin 130 series, Griffon and Eagle, Napier Sabre and Bristol Centaurus, propellor developments (contra-rotating) and then take each fighter type in turn. The coverage described their development and testing and includes quotes and passes from flight test reports.Additional appendices look at some British one-off designs and testbed programmes, then the only fighter types flown abroad powered by these engine types (the Australian CA-15 and Argentine IAe 30) and finally two similiar unbuilt projects proposed by Sweden (the J 27 Mustang lookalike) and Switzerland (the N-6). Illustrated with over 300 photos, many previously unpublished, this is a must for enthusiasts of World War II aviation and the history of the British fighter.

Having completed the revision of his series of British Secret Projects titles, Tony Buttler has now begun the same treatment for his early volumes on American Secret Projects. This first revised book describes the design and development of American bomber and attack aircraft from the end of World War II to the mid-1970s, both for the Air Force and the Navy. Once again the emphasis is placed on designs that were never built, particularly within the context of competitions between the various manufacturers against official requirements.The projects and programmes described range from the largest and most outrageous ideas for heavy strategic bombers down to much smaller anti-submarine and ground attack types. The majority of the work has been compiled from extensive research using primary source material and this second edition includes many additional and previously unseen three-view drawings, original artist''s impressions and photographs of manufacturer''s models. They are accompanied by a new selection of photos, many in colour, which makes this revised and expanded edition a great resource for modellers in particular. In addition to the comprehensive text, supplementary appendices list the projects by manufacturer and their specifications

A revised investigation of the design and development of UK military aircraft. Also covers designs that were not built, providing artists' impressions of how they might have looked.