Author: Simonsen, Erik.
Title: A complete history of U.S. combat aircraft fly-off competitions : winners, losers, and what might have been.
Description: Forest Lake, MN : Specialty Press, [2016]. Hardcover. Dustjacket. 227 pp. illustrations. 26 cm Mailorder only - Alleen verzending mogelijk. Book condition : as new. - Since the first days of rivalry between the Wright Brothers and Glenn Curtiss, aircraft manufacturers have been vying for lucrative military aircraft contracts and competing for prized long-term production runs. As a result, many advanced and now legendary aircraft have been designed, built, and flown in every generation of aviation development. Focusing on the Cold War era, this book shows readers how crucial fly-off competitions have been to the development of America's military air arsenal. This book not only explains in detail how fly-off competitions are conducted, it shows the reader what both competing aircraft designs looked like during their trials, and then what the losing aircraft would have looked like in operational markings had it actually won. Described in vivid detail are the specific aircraft and how they fared, as well as the inside political maneuvering and subterfuge involved in often-controversial aircraft contract awards. Beginning with the Boeing B-47 Stratojet's decisive victory over rival Convair and Martin designs and ending with today's advanced unmanned aerial marvels, this book covers every era of Post-World War II aviation. Author Erik Simonsen uses 120,000 words of text and over 550 photos, some uniquely created for this work, to provide the reader with many of aviation's most tantalizing 'might have beens' Contents : Prelogue: Early technology shapes the future -- Jet engines and swept wings -- The quest for a medium jet bomber -- NAA XB-45, Convair XB-46, Boeing XB-47, Martin XB-48 -- Continuing the journey to jets -- NAA AJ-1 Savage, NAA B-45, Avro CF-101, Martin XB-51, English Electric Canberra -- The penetration fighter -- McDonnell XF-88, Lockheed XF-90, McDonnell F-101 -- The heavy bomber comes of age -- Boeing YB-52 versus Convair YB-60 -- The Cold War tactical fighter -- Republic YF-105A versus NAA F-107A -- Phantoms and Crusaders -- McDonnell F4H-1 Phantom II versus Chance-Vought F8U-3 Crusader IIi -- Pursuit of Close Air Support -- Northrop YA-9A versus Fairchild YA-10A -- Battle of the lightweight fighters -- General dynamics YF-16 vs. Northrop YF-17 -- Wings over the Mojave Desert: the advanced tactical fighter -- Lockheed Martin YF-22 versus Northrop YF-23 -- Competition of the century: the joint strike fighter -- Boeing X-32 vs. Lockheed Martin X-35. ISBN 9781580072274.

Keywords: AVIATION,