Known as "The X-Hunters", authors Peter W. Merlin and Tony Moore have located more than 100 crash sites of exotic aircraft from Edwards Air Force Base and Area 51. Together, they have recovered parts of supersonic rocket planes, stealthy spy craft, and vehicles that have reached the edge of space. Each story in the book profiles an unusual aircraft and the brave men who flew them. The authors examine the contributing causes of each crash and use then-and-now photographs to illustrate their findings. The stories end with The X-Hunters' search for the crash site and what they discovered. Each adventure combines C.S.I.-type skills with X-Files persistence, with a dash of Indiana Jones for adventure. Aircraft profiled include the YB-49 and a pair of N9M flying wings, X-1A, X-1D, VB-51, XB-70, SR-71, YF-12, U-2 prototype, and many more.
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It all makes for a most interesting read and is a book that I enjoyed going through. I know you will find it equally as fascinating. ---Modeling Madness, reviewed by Scott Van Aken, November 2008
All in all, this is an interesting look at the tremendous price paid in the furtherance of aeronautical science. ---Air Classics, reviewed by George Hulett, December 2008
I have found this book most interesting especially with the accompanying photos of not just the sites but parts of these craft that were found on their quests. I would recommend it to anyone that has even a passing interest in the X-Planes and their fates. - --IPMS, reviewed by Jack Kennedy, December 2008
All in all, this is an interesting look at the tremendous price paid in the furtherance of aeronautical science. ---Air Classics, reviewed by George Hulett, December 2008
I have found this book most interesting especially with the accompanying photos of not just the sites but parts of these craft that were found on their quests. I would recommend it to anyone that has even a passing interest in the X-Planes and their fates. ---IPMS, reviewed by Jack Kennedy, December 2008
All in all, this is an interesting look at the tremendous price paid in the furtherance of aeronautical science. ---Air Classics, reviewed by George Hulett, December 2008
I have found this book most interesting especially with the accompanying photos of not just the sites but parts of these craft that were found on their quests. I would recommend it to anyone that has even a passing interest in the X-Planes and their fates. - --IPMS, reviewed by Jack Kennedy, December 2008
All in all, this is an interesting look at the tremendous price paid in the furtherance of aeronautical science. ---Air Classics, reviewed by George Hulett, December 2008
I have found this book most interesting especially with the accompanying photos of not just the sites but parts of these craft that were found on their quests. I would recommend it to anyone that has even a passing interest in the X-Planes and their fates. ---IPMS, reviewed by Jack Kennedy, December 2008
About the Author
Peter W. Merlin is an archivist and historian at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, under contract to TYBRIN Corporation. He is the author of Mach 3+: NASA/USAF YF-12 Flight Research, 1969-1979 (NASA SP-2001-4525) and co-author of Donald L. Mallick s autobiography The Smell of Kerosene: A Test Pilot s Odyssey (NASA SP-2003-4108), and Archangel to Senior Crown Design and Development of the Blackbird.
Tony Moore is a museum assistant at the Air Force Flight Test Center Museum at Edwards Air Force Base. He is also a graphic artist and previously served as an audiovisual archivist at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, under contract to Analytical Services & Materials, Inc. He is a founding member of the X-Hunters Aerospace Archeology Team and a member of the Flight Test Historical Foundation.
Tony Moore is a museum assistant at the Air Force Flight Test Center Museum at Edwards Air Force Base. He is also a graphic artist and previously served as an audiovisual archivist at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, under contract to Analytical Services & Materials, Inc. He is a founding member of the X-Hunters Aerospace Archeology Team and a member of the Flight Test Historical Foundation.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A winner from Specialty Press,
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This review is from: X-Plane Crashes: Exploring Experimental, Rocket Plane & Spycraft Incidents, Accidents & Crash Sites (Hardcover)
Authors Peter W. Merlin and Tony Moore have given us an accessible and engaging first person account of their adventures in locating the crash sites of experimental airplanes in the Edwards AFB area. They have uncovered the story behind each crash with details on the airplane type, the specific airplane, how they found the site and what they found there. They are respectful of the airmen who were lost in some of these crashes. The then and now photos are particularly fascinating.
Specialty Press has been really turning out the aviation titles. These are all fine looking books, filled with informative writing and terrific photos. Somehow, though, they are a bit of a slog to get through. Even though I enjoy these kinds of books and have bought many of the Specialty Press titles, I find that my eyes glaze over a bit when reading them. But not this time! This book sparkles and is highly recommended.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great reference book,
By OtherHand (SoCal) - See all my reviews
This review is from: X-Plane Crashes: Exploring Experimental, Rocket Plane & Spycraft Incidents, Accidents & Crash Sites (Hardcover)
There are very many books about historical aircraft, especially X planes. Books about how the crafts were created, what they did, etc. But very few books, maybe only this one, describe how they met their ends.
Peter Merlin and Tony Moore go into great detail about what brought these birds down and how they were clever enough to find their current resting places in the American Southwest. There are two appendices which contain complete crash lists for Edwards AFB, as well as the ever mysterious Groom Lake/Area 51 facility. The book itself has a substantial amount to read (so you get a lot for your money), and the graphic layout is excellent. There are some very unusual historical photos that I had never seen before. To anyone interested in hunting for these sorts of things on their own, the authors give a lot of pointers and ideas for research. No, they don't tell you exactly where the crash sites are, as that's considered a major faux pas in this odd, quirky hobby (like asking a fisherman where his secret fishing hole is!). But there are plenty of clues, pictures and background data that should get amateur hunters on their way.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Xplanes Then and Now,
By
This review is from: X-Plane Crashes: Exploring Experimental, Rocket Plane & Spycraft Incidents, Accidents & Crash Sites (Hardcover)
I have received this book for Christmas and have not managed yet to put it down.
I had the pleasure to meet with the authors and was priviledged at the time to see some of the artifacts retrieved. It is even nicer now to read about it and to realize how the field of aviation archeology is a very difficult one. Kuddos for a great book! Superb photos not seen before, a plus! Jean-Louis Delezenne
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