X Planes - TSR2
AUTHOR: Andrew Brookes
YEAR: 2017
PUBLISHER: Osprey Publishing Ltd
ISBN: 978-1-4728-2248-2
FOR M AT: 79pp SoftbackO
ne of the more hotly debated
aircraft produced in the UK
during the 20th century,
the TSR2 was also one of the most
impressive aircraft the UK has
ever produced. A supersonic all-
weather strike aircraft, capable
of STOL performance and able to
conduct photographic and radar
reconnaissance, it was to fall foul
of costs and politics and scrapped
before it entered service. This
book is written by a former RAF
pilot and illustrated throughout
with archive photographs and
some excellent artwork.
The book itself is broken down
into seven chapters, which includes
a one-page introduction at the
very start. The next five chapters
cover the origin of the project,
the development of the airframe,
engines, and avionics, and lead into
flight testing. The last two chapters
cover the politics and a speculative
view of “what might have been.”
The writing is very
straightforward and factual and
covers a huge amount of history
in such a compact book. I found it
a relatively easy, if involved read
and Andrew Brookes should be
commended for making what is a
history book rather more interesting
than might otherwise be expected.
My father, who worked on XR220,
has talked about the introduction of
the undercarriage bracing strut on
XR219, the only one to fly, and this isdutifully covered (although there are
a few small differences in the details).
Nonetheless, the flight testing
chapter is perhaps my favourite part,
to read the opinions and words of
Roland ”Bee” Beamont and Jimmy
Dell, the two test pilots for the
aircraft and who were to that period
what some footballers are this period.
The final chapter extrapolates
from the design and testing of the
aircraft to discuss more of what
the mission profiles might have
been for the aircraft, including the
concept of nuclear attack, a major
factor during the aircraft’s life.
The illustrations and artwork
throughout are very much in
keeping with the style of the book,
and the era of the aircraft and the
photographs include many I had
not seen before. I’d recommend this
book to anyone with an interest in
the TSR2. Historians will find an
interesting read and modellers will
no doubt find many more details than
they had before, as well as perhaps
a few ideas for ”What If” models.
My sincere thanks to
Osprey for the review copy.
Jonathan DaviesFighters Over the Aegean
Hurricanes Over Crete, Spitfires
Over Kos, Beaufighters Over the
Aegean, 1943-44AUTHOR: Brian Cull
YEAR: 2017 (hardback edition published
2012)
PUBLISHER: Fonthill Media
ISBN: 978-1-78155-632-0
FOR M AT: 256 pp PaperbackW
ith the imminent defeat
of Rommel’s forces
in North Africa, the
Allies’ thoughts naturally turned
to Southern Europe. The American
preference was to attack Italy
via Sicily, but there was a strong
British argument for making some
gains – which were considered to
be relatively easy – by retaking
Greece first, and securing the
Eastern Mediterranean.
History relates that the first
course was taken. However, the
British were still very much engaged
in the Eastern Mediterranean and
Aegean, and this book relates the
story of this little-known aspect of
air operations in the Mediterranean
theatre, predominantly from
the British point of view.
The prologue shows the situation
in 1943. Each subsequent chapter
then tackles a specific aspect of
operations: some example chapter
headings include “Hurricanes over
Crete – Air Attack on Crete (Operation
Thesis)”; “Beaufighters in Support
of Kos Operations”; “Spitfires
vs the High Flyers – 1942-44”;
and “Luftwaffe Reconnaissance
Operations in the Eastern
Mediterranean”. The text is a mix
of the author’s words with a liberal
sprinkling of quotes and longerextracts from contemporaneous
records, eyewitness accounts,
diaries, and interviews. There is
one short section of photographs,
which although few in number
appear to be carefully chosen.
There are a number of
appendices, which include a
list of Beaufighter losses, some
reminiscences from airmen shot
down and made POWs, and one
concerning clandestine activities
by Kommando Sud, a detachment
of I./KG200. Finally, there is a
bibliography and index of personnel.
This book is particularly
relevant for those with an interest
in this little-known aspect of this
theatre, but will also appeal to
those with a more general interest
in the period. Recommended.
Thanks to Fonthill Media
for the review copy.
MJCThe Two Seat Spitfires
AUTHOR: Greg Davis
YEAR: 2018
The Two Seat Spitfire Page
ISBN: 978 138873-122-9
FOR M AT: 49pp SoftbackI
am very lucky in that I live quite
close to Sywell airfield, the
current home of the Grace two-
seat Spitfire. Aero Legends also
regularly operate their Spitfires
from Sy well too, so in the summer
months I can often look up to see
a Spitfire dancing in the skies.
Back in 2016 Greg Davis, the
author of this book, started the
Two Seat Spitfire Page on Facebook,
which I follow. I have found thepage very useful for information
on the current airworthy two-seat
Spitfires, as well as finding out
where they will be flying and indeed
how to go about getting a flight,
something I would love to do one day!
This book opens with a list of
all of the known two-seat Spitfire
conversions, starting with the
prototype G-AIDN, followed by
those converted by Vickers for
India, Ireland, Netherlands and
Egypt, as well as the more recent
conversions and new builds.
The next section looks at each
extant Spitfire, with a short history
and description. This section
is well illustrated with colourphotographs, but the prototype
two-seater has by far the best
photographic coverage. Showing
its many unique features will
be very helpful if you wish to
model this particular Spitfire.
The last section looks at how
to fly in a Spitfire, with prices
(correct at going to press), and
contact details for the operators.
If you like Spitfires and or
have the AZ two-seat kit in your
stash, this book will be a handy
addition to your bookshelf. My
thanks to Greg Davis for supplying
this book for review. One of these
days I may get to fly in a Spitfire!
TMU-SBOOKS & MEDIA
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