Customer Reviews

Lockheed Constellation & Super Constellation - Airliner Tech Vol. 1

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2 star:		(2)
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While I am a fan of the Lockheed Constellation, and any book on the subject is bound to be a pleasure, this book lacks the focus necessary to tell the full story of this classic airliner. I bought this book simultaneously with Jim Winchester's book on the Constellation and the differences stand out.

This book only covers 2/3 of the Constellation Story, leaving out the history of the Starliner. While the cover of the book clearly states that it covers the Constellation and Super Constellation, there really is no reason not to cover the small (but important) history of the Starliner model. Adding to the confusion are a couple of photos of a Starliner with a collapsed landing gear. If the intention was to publish a separate book on the Starliner, why weren't these photos saved for a future edition? It makes it appear as if the Starliner is nothing but a footnote to the Constellation story.

Photos, and overall print quality, of the Germain book are also somewhat lacking. New and old photos are intermixed and are, for the most part, presented in somewhat grainy black-and-white format on rather rough non-glossy paper. A few pages of color shots are presented in the middle, but at least one color shot is a duplication of the same photo presented a few pages earlier in black and white. Even the color shots appear to lack resolution and sharpness to make them fully satisfying. Some very similar in-flight photos of the same Constellation are also presented a few pages apart, making it appear that the author had very little source material to work with. Airline advertisements and posters fill out a good portion of the book, but since they are presented in B&W instead of their original color, they lack their full appeal.

Another aspect lacking is the organization necessary to tell the story in a well laid format that logically steps from model to model. It's not totally confusing, however, and reads fairly well...but doesn't match the quality in writing that the Winchester book has.

In contrast, the Winchester book presents loads of beautiful (and sharp) photos, well captioned, and printed on high quality glossy paper. A nice mix of B&W and color is used to show all angles of this beautiful plane. Beyond that, the text is well thought out and follows the logical progression of the airliner. Even more helpful are the tables showing the history of every Constellation every built and what their eventual fate was. Seperate tables also detail every accident and every surviving plane (as of 2001).

I had no particular bias for either book when they arrived simultaneously on my doorstep. But based on reviewing them both, I find no other option that to recommend the Winchester book over the Germain one. The extra price is well spent, especially since the Winchester book is longer as well. Eventually, you may want both books, but if only only get one, get the Winchester book. If nice color photos of the Constellation are what you want, go for the Steve Pace book next.

I have been a Constellation fan for a long time. I was really happy to find this book. Loved all the old pictures-many of which I had never seen before. It was interesting to read more about my favorite aircraft. When is your next book due out Mr. Germain?

I've also bought this book, and totally disagree with the first review. If that guy was so disappointed, he should have looked at it more closey before he bought it.

The first volume of the new Airliner Tech series focuses on all of Lockheed's Constellation's, from the model 049 to the 1649 Starliner. Mr. Germain gives well written insights into the tricky development of the Connie during WWII, and finally shelves the popular notion that Howard Hughes actually designed the aircraft.

Many of the black and white photos have never before been published, and give a great view on the Connie in its airline days. All models of the Connie are covered in a chronological order, detailing the advances in the design over the years.

Other highlights include a great color section, details on the Wright R-3350 engines and what it's like to fly the Connie.

Overall, the book gives a well-accounted history of the first truly modern airliner.

Nice book but it all suffers from a lack of closure, no pics or detail of 1649, the best of the best. No inside shots of 1649 and only one exterior - collapsed landing gear at Stockton Airport. How ignoble an edited ending for the most beautiful aircraft ever built, before or since. Kicker is that this is billed as Volume No. 1 with no indication of how to get Vol. 2. Maybe Vol. 2 vindicates Scott Germain. He should hope so!