Airforces

http://www.airforcesmonthly.com #367 OCTOBER 2018 // 87

Book

Reviews

Decimomannu: Air

Weapons Training

Installation 1957-

2016

Decimomannu is home to

NATO’s Air Combat Manoeuvring

Instrumentation (ACMI) range

• the Air Weapons Training
  Installation (AWTI). Situated
  north of Cagliari, between
  the villages of Decimomannu,
  Decimoputzu, San Sperate and
  Villasor on the island of Sardinia,
  it makes use of a former
  World War Two airfield. It was
  established in 1960 through a
  NATO partnership between Italy,
  Germany, the UK and Canada.
  As one of the most important
  air bases in Europe, it’s
  surprising that so few books
  have been published about
  the facility. Those that have
  been, tend to be picture-
  led titles focused on the
  fighters visiting the range.
  This Italian-language volume
  is the first to cover the history
  of ‘Deci’ and how, over
  the decades, the site was
  developed into one of the
  world’s premier ACMI ranges.
  For such a significant book,
  it’s disappointing there is no
  English translation, and although
  many of the pictures have not
  been published before, not all
  are worthy of reproduction.
  Nevertheless, this doesn’t
  detract from an interesting
  book, and illustrations of the
  Royal Canadian Air Force at
  Deci in the early years are
  particularly impressive. The
  black and white images of
  polished-metal CF-104Ds racing
  across the range at rooftop
  height are worth the cover
  price alone. Glenn Sands

These titles are available from: The Aviation Bookshop, 31-33 Vale Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent,

TN1 1BS, United Kingdom. Telephone: +44(0)1892 539284 Website: http://www.aviation-bookshop.com

In the late 1980s the Embraer

Tucano revolutionised pilot

training by air forces around

the world. Previously, many

nations had relied on jets for

advanced training,

but the Brazilian

company took

a new approach

with its tandem-

seat turboprop

boasting a single-

piece canopy and

ejection seats.

The powerplant

was controlled by

a single lever in

the cockpit and

could be started

at the press of a

button. Cockpit

instrumentation

resembled that of

a third-generation

jet and could be

easily upgraded.

Air forces ordered

the new trainer

in its hundreds.

Such a

revolutionary aircraft deserves a

substantial reference work and

Harpia Publishing has risen to

the challenge. Opening with an

extensive development history

of the Tucano, successive

chapters are divided into

countries that operate the type.

The book covers everything

from the first delivery flight

through to operational service

and, in some cases, recent

retirement. However, the Tucano

offered more than tuition and

it was quickly pressed into

the counter-insurgency role.

The detailed text is supported

by high-quality images,

many of which have not

appeared in print before.

The colour profile artworks

that Harpia is known for are

exceptional – those depicting

aircraft in Brazilian and Mauritian

service are particular highlights.

Another impressive Harpia work,

on one of the world’s leading

advanced trainers. Glenn Sands

Publisher: Harpia Publishing

Author: João Paulo

Zeitoun Moralez

Pages: 253

Price: £34.99

ISBN: 9780997309232

Publisher: Alisea Edizioni

Authors: Alessandro Ragatzu

and Carlo Dedoni

Pages: 215

Price: £34.99

ISBN: 9788890201486

Aircraft of the Cold War in Focus 2:

Italian Air Force (AMI) F-104G Starfi ghter

Colour Photo Album

This latest offering from

AirDOC’s Aircraft of the Cold

War series profiles one of the

most iconic jets of the era – the

F-104 Starfighter. Its sleek lines,

small wings and unforgiving

handling forged a legendary

reputation that lasts to this

day. Having previously covered

Starfighter operations of the

Luftwaffe in extensive detail, this

softback provides an overview of

the Italian Air Force F-104s that

operated from 1963 to 2003.

Focusing on one air arm

allows the author to provide a

detailed dual English/German

text of the Italian variants,

indigenous upgrades and

how the squadrons operated

the fighter – adapting it to

fulfil some surprising roles.

The volume includes

a staggering amount of

detail on the RF-104G

reconnaissance Starfighter.

A wealth of new technical

detail has come to light

and is supported by superb

images from official archives

and personal collections.

Given the Italian Air Force’s

enthusiasm for special markings,

the F-104s were a canvas

for a number of flamboyant

schemes. All are presented

here in colour – the most

striking is perhaps 28° Gruppo’s

‘Nocciola’, complete with

cartoon-style witch on the tail.

Aimed at the aviation enthusiast

and modeller, this is one of

the best books to date on

Italian F-104s. Glenn Sands

2016

Decimomannu is home to

EMB-312 Tucano: Brazil’s

turboprop success story

Publisher: AirDOC Publishing

Author: Pierpaolo Maglio

Pages: 65

Price: £15

ISBN: 9783935687225

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