Customer Reviews

Prop Perfection: Restored Propliners and Warbirds

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If you thrill to the sound - er, music - of those mighty radial engines of the 1940s that powered spectacular bombers, transports, and patrol aircraft, this book is a "must have." Feast your eyes on these beautiful airplanes and the superb photography with which they are captured, and let your imagination wander. You will find examples of the Consolidated B-24 Liberator (with a PB-4Y Privateer thrown in for good measure), the Boeing B-17, the Douglas A-26 Invader, the Fairchild C-23 Provider, the Grumman HU-16 Albatross, the Lockheed P-2V Neptune, the Consolidated-Vultee (Convair) PBY Catalina, the Grumman S-2 tracker, and (saving the best for last) several versions of Lockheed's Constellation.

Each of these magnificent flying machines has been resurrected from a dilapidated or abandoned hulk, as the "before and after" pictures so starkly demonstrate. Graham Robson describes each aircraft and its history, along with other related and fascinating facts. Included are spectacular air-to-air shots, as well as a few interior and cockpit photos.

My criticisms are few. First, not every surviving and airworthy bomber has been included. For example, I would have like to have seen a picture or two of the following B-17s: Yankee Lady, Fuddy Duddy, and a Bit O' Lace. I am also surprised that the B-25 Mitchell (e.g., Executive Briefing and Yankee Warrior) is not mentioned at all. I also wish the two surviving Avro Lancasters (the one owned by the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum and the other operated by the Battle of Britain Memorial) had been included. Second, if you like transports such as the Curtiss C-46, Douglas C-47 and C-54, Consolidated C-87 (disguised as B-24D Diamond Lil), and Junkers Ju-52, you will have to turn elsewhere. Fortunately, there is Graham Robson's follow-up book, Propliner Renaissance to cover most of that ground.

Nevertheless, for anyone who loves these wonderful old planes, I am happy to recommend this book with two thumbs up.

Excellent photograhpy, thorough research of the historical aspects of these great airplanes, and a willingness by Mr. Robson to get to know the people who fly and maintain these beauties. Mr. Robson is an excellent author, and he definitely knows his subject matter. Great reading!