Customer Reviews

McDonnell F-4 Phantom II: Spirit in the Skies (World Air Power Journal)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

AS we all know, the Phantom went down as the greatest jet fighter in the history of military aviation. Personally I have over 10 books on the Phantom and "Spirit In the Skies" by John Lake is by far the best one yet....This book is worth every penny. This is such a fantastic Phantom book, I would easily pay $100 for it. This is a "must have" for all you Phantom Fanatics out there...!!!!!!

If you love the Phantom, you will love this book! It has many wonderful pictures and diagrams, plus loads of information. If you are thinking of getting a high quality Phantom book, you've found the best choice. I highly recommend this book!

If there is a better book about the F-4 Phantom II, I'd like to see it!

I have been a long time fan of the F-4. Spirit In The Skies is the book I have been looking/ waiting for. I just received my copy yesterday (found and bought right here from Amazon.com) and I can't believe how great this book is. It covers every conceivable aspect of the venerable F-4, including but not limited to, variants, weapons, users, production summary by block numbers, as well as tons of combat related stories and achievements.

The thing that took me by surprise was the fact that the copy I received was the updated and expanded edition (2002). When I purchased my copy it was based on the older cover (F-4 diving with Col. Robin Olds in the forground) that appears (as of this date)on the Amazon.com site. Suffice it to say it was a fantastic plus that I did not expect, as I had no idea that the updated and expanded version existed.

Spirit in the Skies was first published in 1992 as a 232-page book. This updated and expanded 272-page edition includes the editorial work that appeared in the first edition, plus editorial material that first appeared in World Air Power Journal Vol. 40 in 2000, as well as new material prepared specifically for this 2002 release. 40 extra pages!

This is a beautiful, BIG book. Glossy pages..., great photos..., tons of info and beautiful technical artwork.

If you want to know more about the F-4 Phantom II, or if you are a fan...do NOT let this one pass you by.

Excellent database on the F-4. This book is by far the best on the Phantom, with excellent images and an indepth study of the aircraft from its inception to its retirement. Jon Lake takes us on a detailed tour of the venerable F-4 describing all the squadrons and air wings it served with, plus all foreign operators of the Phantom with detailed descriptions on the modifications and improvements. All variants of the F-4 are thoroughly discussed and any reader would no doubt become fully acquainted with the intricacies of the Phantom. A must for any aviation library.

To all you Phantom fans out their this book is for you . I have bought books for AIR Time publishing and they are wonderfull books , if you love naval interseptors this is for you also check out the F-14 Tomcat book by this same company.

This book is cyclopaedia of Phantom. It includes many many information of Phantom, for example, proto type, in combat, service, variation, weapon, equipment, and so on. And many picture, mostly of color. It uses drawing to introduce difference of per Phantom variation. This is very useful to modeler. It attach a production list of Phantom. I cannot use words to praise it. But why I just give it four star? Because if it could supply per Phantom's final result, and air to air combat record, and then it is a perfect Phantom book. But however, this book is worthy to purchasing and reading.

An excellent reference source on the Phantom with operating units world-wide. Unfortuntely, it does contain misinterpretation of unit development events in SEA, especially relating to 12th TFW. With so much information to compile in one source, discrepencies are to be expected.

Based on the reviews, it would be easy to think this book is the ultimate in Phantom literature in one volume.
Having just bought the expanded edition, here is a reality check.
On the plus side:
Kieth Fretwell's artwork. He was simply the best.
The chapter on weapons will satisfy all ordnance freaks.
Some of the photos are expertly reproduced.
Lots of in - flight photography.
On the minus side:
The Singapore - based printer attempted to cut costs by cutting quality: the paper easily absorbs moisture, the cover boards also warp easily, and the typeface is ultra-thin to save on ink costs. (This was not a problem when Airtime Publishers used an Italian printer.)
The quality of photo reproduction is all over the map. Some images are exquisite, others look like somebody smeared vaseline on the enlarger, and still others look like bad photocopies.
Design history is scattered all through the book, instead of in a chapter of it's own.
Author bias, such as stating that Americans are "..unable to grasp anything foreign."
A book that reads like a collection of semi - related articles.

So, is it worth it, fellow Phantom lovers? At the current discount of 30% off, probably. It's your money.

Very cool book, great pix, clear text. A must phor phantom phanatics all over the world