Customer Reviews

50 Aircraft that Changed the World

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The collaborative work of aviation historians Ron Dick and Dan Patterson, "50 Aircraft That Changed The World" is a profusely illustrated, 208-page compendium providing an informed and informative survey of fifty of the most influential aircraft in the history of aviation to date. Beginning with the Wright Brothers' 1905 Flyer, then addressing and illustrating the strides in aircraft and aircraft production spurred on by the demands of World War I, then noting the trail-blazer aircraft of the inter-war years (including the first passenger flights and the great flying boats), to classic World War II era aircraft such as the Bf 109, the Spitfire, and the Mustang, to the coming of age of the jet aircraft in the Korean and Vietnam wars, to modern commercial carries, private jets, experimental aviation designs, and concluding with the new generation of combat fighters featuring Stealth technology. An impressive and encyclopedic history of influential aircraft, "50 Aircraft That Changed The World" truly lives up to its title and should be a part of every personal, professional, academic, and community library's Aviation History reference collection. Also very highly recommended for such library reference collections is Ron Dick and Dan Patterson's five volume 'Aviation Century Series'.

I read the description of the SPAD XIII aircraft (page 30) and was disappointed to find disparaging comments about famous WWI pilot Rene Fonck. As an aircraft and history buff, I prefer authors who focus on technical and personal achievements instead of those more interested in satisfying their personal prejudice. It is an unfortunate tendency of several British authors of Ron Dick's generation to routinely publish disparaging comments about French pilots or French aircraft. Although this is a very nicely done book, this sort of personal bias remains both unnecessary and irritating to some readers.