Aerei Hawker: libri illustrati di storia e guide

Hawker Typhoon: The RAF's Ground-Breaking Fighter-Bomber

Although first designed as a fighter, during the fighting in and over Europe during 1944 and 1945 the Hawker Typhoon gained a tremendous reputation and true fame as a ground-attack aircraft and tank-buster. This was a remarkable achievement because, during its development and early career, the Typhoon had experienced severe problems with its Napier Sabre engine and catastrophic failures of its airframe.

The Typhoon's offensive ground-attack work is well known, but that tends to overshadow the type's successes operating from 1942 as a true fighter based in the UK. Nevertheless, during the final year of World War Two, following the D-Day landings in June 1944, the Typhoon performed a crucial role in the European theatre.

After May 1945 it disappeared from RAF squadrons very quickly, so to leave such a record of success over such a short time is nothing short of outstanding! It was not a world-beater, but the Typhoon was perfect for the job that was required of it.
Many books that document the Typhoon cover it in conjunction with its successor, the Hawker Tempest. However, this work, fully illustrated with over 180 photographs, gives this heavyweight machine a well-deserved volume of its own.

Dettagli del libro

Tempest V vs Fw 190 D-9 : 1944-45 (Osprey)

Arguably two of the finest piston-engined fighters ever built, the Tempest V and Fw 190D-9 raised the bar in terms of aircraft design and operational capability during World War II. The long-nosed 'Dora 9', designed by Kurt Tank, first appeared in the skies over the Western and Eastern Fronts in the late summer of 1944. Fast, and with an exceptional rate of climb, it quickly bettered almost every fighter that the RAF, USAAF and Soviet Red Air Force could field.

The Hawker Tempest V entered service in early 1944, initially proving itself a stalwart performer when it was deployed to intercept V1 flying bombs over southern England. From the autumn of 1944, the Tempest V also equipped squadrons of the 2nd Tactical Air Force, operating in support of the Allied armies advancing across north-west Europe.
It became a potent ground-attack aircraft, armed with underwing rockets, but also a first-class interceptor when pitted against the Luftwaffe's advanced Fw 190D-9 and Me 262.

Featuring full colour artwork, this book describes in fascinating detail combats between the Tempest Vs of No 274 Sqn and the Fw 190D-9s of I. and III./JG 26 between February and April 1945.

Dettagli del libro

125: The Jet Dragon that Roared

The 125, with its various prefixes, was first conceived in the 1960s. Initially the response was lukewarm, but as the benefits of individual jet travel began to become apparent, particularly in North America, the orders began to arrive.
This mid-cabin size business jet had a huge appeal to the corporate business market, and its list of operators read like something out of the Forbes 500.
It was also sold widely to the military market and was the first western aircraft ever to achieve full certification in the former Soviet Union.

This fully illustrated book looks at the development and history of this hugely popular jet.

Dettagli del libro

Hawker Siddeley Aviation and Dynamics 1960-77

Hawker Siddeley's history can be traced back to 1912 and the formation of the Sopwith Aviation Company by Tom Sopwith which metamorphosed into Hawker Aircraft after World War One.
In 1934-35, Gloster, Avro, Armstrong Siddeley, Armstrong Whitworth and others were taken over to create the Hawker Siddeley Group.

The Group built some of the most important aircraft and missiles of the 1960s, 1970s and beyond; its best-known products included the Harrier, Buccaneer, Nimrod and Hawk warplanes, Sea Dart missile and HS748 airliner. Its collaborative projects included the European Airbus and various satellite programmes.

Hawker Siddeley was subsumed into British Aerospace in 1977, but some of its products still remain in service to this day. This is their story.

Pagine del libro "Hawker Siddeley Aviation and Dynamics 1960-77"

Dettagli del libro

Hawker's Secret Cold War Airfield : Dunsfold - Home of the Hunter and Harrier

In 1948, Hawker Aircraft, faced with new jet projects that could not use their existing airfield at Langley, began the process of searching for alternative accommodation for their flight-testing requirements. It would, however, take three hard years before Dunsfold Aerodrome would be made available by a reluctant Air Ministry and the company was able to launch its first jet aircraft design - the Sea Hawk - into series production for the Royal Navy, closely followed by the superlative Hunter. Hawker Aircraft would go on to produce nearly 2,000 Hunters before other projects came to the fore.

As Hunter production continued in the late 1950s, the company looked to its successor - the Mach 2 capable air superiority fighter designated P.1121, though this would stall before flight in the wake of serious national financial short-falls. With the loss of its premier project, the company came upon a radical new engine proposal and schemed an aircraft around it capable of vertical take-off and landing. While many decried the proposal, claiming it would never amount to anything, the Harrier would go on to prove the nay-sayers wrong as it came into its own during the Falklands War.

Following the Harrier, Hawker Siddeley stepped into the competitive trainer aircraft market with the Hawk for the RAF. After completion of the RAF requirement, Hawk was sold into air arms across the world, including the US Navy, an incredible achievement for a UK design. British Aerospace then brought forth the Harrier GR.5, the UK version of the US AV-8B, a completely upgraded and improved Harrier.

One might expect that this prolific output was the result of some massive industrial plant in the Midlands rather than an isolated aerodrome tucked in the rural hinterland of south Surrey. Surrounded for most of its existence by secrecy, due to the nature of its work, Dunsfold has largely escaped the notice of the general public. This work shines a light on the remarkable work carried out there.

Dettagli del libro

Sea Fury - In British, Australian, Canadian & Dutch Service

Well illustrated, this book tells the story of the Hawker Sea Fury in British, Australian, Canadian and Dutch service.

Dettagli del libro

Tempest Squadrons of the RAF (Osprey)

Hawker's charismatic Tempest V entered RAF service just in time to be the most successful counter to the V1 flying bomb assault on southern England in the summer of 1944. With more than 800 of the robot missiles to its credit, Tempest V units then crossed the Channel to lock horns with the best the Luftwaffe had to offer - Fw 190D-9s, Ta 152s, Me 262s and Bf 109G/Ks - achieving an impressive kill/loss ratio in aerial combat.

With incredibly detailed aircraft profiles and exciting combat reports this title covers the full history of Tempest squadrons, from their initial design and combat experience in World War 2 through to their post-war role and the eventual decline of this iconic British fighter.

Contents:
Chapter 1 - Development and entry into RAF service
Chapter 2 - Battle against the V1 flying bomb
Chapter 3 - Service with the 2nd TAF 1944-45
Chapter 4 - BAFO and Cold War
Chapter 5 - Confrontation in the Middle East
Chapter 6 - Service in the Far East (India and Malaya)
Appendices: Listing all font line units equipped with the Tempest, along with their bases and commanding officers, Plate Commentaries

Dettagli del libro