Aircraft : the definitive visual history

Dorling Kindersley, Inc., (publisher.). Smithsonian Institution, (contributor.).

Summary: Uncover the engineering behind more than 800 aircraft models, from military jets to commercial planes. This visual history book captures the fascinating story of airplanes and aviation, and how their groundbreaking discovery has influenced the 21st Century.

Record details

ISBN: 9780744027457
ISBN: 0744027454
Physical Description: print
320 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 27 cm
Edition: Second edition.
Publisher: New York, NY : DK Publishing, 2022.
Copyright: ©2022

Content descriptions

General Note:

Includes index.

Formatted Contents Note:

Before 1920: Lighter than air -- Pioneers -- Otto Lilienthal -- Successful pioneers -- Profile: Blériot XI -- Engine: Anzani three-cylinder fan -- Military two-seaters -- Great manufacturers: Fokker -- Single-seat fighters -- Profile: Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a -- Racers and record breakers -- Lincoln Beachey -- Great manufacturers: Sopwith -- Multi-engine giants and seaplanes -- Engine: Gnome 100 horsepower -- The 1920s: Mailplanes and barnstormers -- Private flying begins -- Bessie Coleman -- Setting speed records -- Profile: DH60 Gipsy Moth -- Engine: De Havilland Gipsy I -- Outstanding achievements -- Biplanes dominate -- Airliners emerge -- Great manufacturers: De Havilland -- The 1930s: Private aircraft for all -- Profile: Piper J3 cub -- Quest for speed -- Setting records -- Ameilia Earhart -- Great manufacturers: Piper -- Airliners win through -- Profile: Douglas DC-2 -- Flying boats and amphibians -- Rotorcraft emerge -- Engine: Rolls-Royce Type R -- The warplane evolves -- Trainers, parasites, and parasols -- The 1940s: Bombers -- Profile: Boeing B-17 -- Wartime fighters -- Profile: Supermarine spitfire -- Military support aircraft -- Great manufacturers: Douglas -- Civil transport -- Post-war light aircraft -- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp -- Piston perfection -- Early jets -- Frank Whittle's jet engine -- Early helicopters -- Toward the sound barrier -- Ahead of their time -- Great manufacturers: North American -- The 1950s: Jet fighters -- ProfileL F-86 Sabre -- Bombers, Attack aircraft and trainers -- Rotorcraft mature -- The glamour of air travel -- Piston-engine transport ends -- Profile: Super Constellation -- Civil jets and turboprops -- Engine: General Electric J79 -- Modern classics -- Great manufacturers: Cessna -- Experimental aircraft -- Supersonic fighters -- The 1960s: America dominates -- Great manufacturers: Boeing -- Jet and propeller transport -- Engine: Rolls-Royce Pegasus -- Business, utility, and fire-fighting -- Military developments -- Profile: McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II -- VTOL, STOL, and speed -- Rotary-wing diversity -- Air support -- Great manufacturers: Sikorsky -- The 1970s: US rivals and French classics -- Business and utility aircraft -- Airport design -- Diverse airliners -- Profile: Concorde -- Great manufacturers: Airbus -- Military support -- Frontline aircraft -- Engine: Allison 250/T63 Turboshaft -- Europeans challenge -- Profile: Bell 206 JetRanger -- The 1980s: Great manufacturers: Lockheed -- Military aircraft -- Profile: Mikoyan MiG-29 -- Stealth bomber -- Helicopter developments -- Great manufacturers: Robinson -- A scattering of British types -- Engine: Rotax UL-1V -- Bizjets and turboprop rivals -- Two-crew cockpits -- The 1990s: Business and utility -- Tradition and innovation -- Sports and sailplanes -- Profile: Duo Discus glider -- Europe challenges the US airliners -- Engine: Rolls-Royce Trent 800 -- Upgraded helicopters -- Carrier aircraft -- Military technology -- Great manufacturers: Northrop -- After 2000: Europeans lead -- Engine: Rotax 912ULS -- Ultra-efficient civil transport -- End of the line for manned fighters? -- Profile: Eurofighter Typhoon -- Alternative power -- Great manufacturers: Scaled composites -- More efficient and greener -- WhiteknightTwo and SpaceShipTwo -- How aircraft fly -- Piston engines -- Jet engines -- Landmark engines.