Customer Reviews

Concorde and the Americans: International Politics of the Supersonic Transport (Smithsonian History of Aviation and Spaceflight Series)

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An interesting if somewhat heavy read! A very detailed account of the political history surrounding not only the Concorde but the rise (& fall?) of the SST projects. Whereas other Concorde books (such as the excellent one by Brian Trubshaw) looked at the developmental trials, tribulations & achievements from an engineering point of view, this book puts an entirely different slant on the whole SST ideal. It looks at how the changing economic, environmental & social attitudes impacted on the course of the SST, and the effect they had on the political manouvering of the time. Much of the earlier chapters are devoted to the one-sided political push to form a UK/US collaboration. Later chapters are devoted to the desperate efforts made at gaining landing rights at New York, while the final chapter examines future prospects for a new SST, although here the book is beginning to show its age.

Comprehensive yet very readable account of the political battle fought to establish a supersonic transatlantic Concorde service.

Interesting nuggets throughout.

Recommended.

This book is seriously good if you're in to international politics, cultural devides between Britain, France and America and how to stifle a good scientific idea.

However, the detail that the author has included is at times heavy going and if you want information on this great and controversial aircraft I would recommend you read other books on the subject.

If you are fascinated by how people can get in the way of progress for no good reason... buy it now.

This really is a rather good book. Trust me