Combat Aircraft Since 1945

Rating:
Summary: Good format and coverage
Review: "Combat Aircraft Since 1945" provides excellent coverage of the subject. While almost all the books of this type would skip experimental planes like Canada's Avro CF-105, Britain's TSR 2, Israel's Lavi, a Mirage-like fighter co-developed by Egypt and Spain, and even the Russian V/STOL Yak-141, and many other more obscure planes, this book gives each equal coverage. In addition, since this is about "combat aircraft", bombers and attack aircraft are covered along side fighters. One plane, however, that it chooses not to cover, is Mirage 4000, which could have seen eye-to-eye with the F-15.

As this book was published in 2000, most the newest planes are covered: the 2 JSF's, India's LCA, F-22, Su-37, etc.

I find the format simply and effectively designed -- each page has two columns, each covering one plane. Each plane has one photo, and the characteristics of the plance are listed below the photo, followed by descriptions and historical backgrounds. The information is fairly complete. For example, under "armament," ordinance, and usually the maximum load, are listed. This makes it easy to compare differnt planes.

Descriptions are interesting instead of terse and purely technical like many other books. There is a good balance between objectivity and subjectivity. For example, about Avro CF-105, it is obvious that the author thinks very negatively of the Canadian government's decision to cancel this project because it thought missles would soon replace airplane.

For a book of this size (i.e., relatively thin), it is the most comprehensive available, nd the best organized.

Rating:
Summary: Good format and coverage
Review: "Combat Aircraft Since 1945" provides excellent coverage of the subject. While almost all the books of this type would skip experimental planes like Canada's Avro CF-105, Britain's TSR 2, Israel's Lavi, a Mirage-like fighter co-developed by Egypt and Spain, and even the Russian V/STOL Yak-141, and many other more obscure planes, this book gives each equal coverage. In addition, since this is about "combat aircraft", bombers and attack aircraft are covered along side fighters. One plane, however, that it chooses not to cover, is Mirage 4000, which could have seen eye-to-eye with the F-15.

As this book was published in 2000, most the newest planes are covered: the 2 JSF's, India's LCA, F-22, Su-37, etc.

I find the format simply and effectively designed -- each page has two columns, each covering one plane. Each plane has one photo, and the characteristics of the plance are listed below the photo, followed by descriptions and historical backgrounds. The information is fairly complete. For example, under "armament," ordinance, and usually the maximum load, are listed. This makes it easy to compare differnt planes.

Descriptions are interesting instead of terse and purely technical like many other books. There is a good balance between objectivity and subjectivity. For example, about Avro CF-105, it is obvious that the author thinks very negatively of the Canadian government's decision to cancel this project because it thought missles would soon replace airplane.

For a book of this size (i.e., relatively thin), it is the most comprehensive available, nd the best organized.