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- British Secret Projects 3: Fighters 1935-1950
The British Secret Projects series covers the design and development of UK military aircraft since the mid-1930s with strong emphasis on designs that were never built, particularly those types generated by the various design competitions held. The original Volume Three (Fighters and Bombers 1935 to 1950) has now been split into separate volumes with this book covering fighters and a new Volume Four in preparation solely devoted to bomber designs. This split has allowed space for the inclusion of much new information and many new photographs.
This book describes the design and development of the British fighter from the end of the biplane fighter to the start of the jet era. The projects and programs which feature in its pages begin with those prepared in the mid-1930s in the knowledge that war was coming and go through to some which appeared after the war had ended. During this period the art of fighter design took some big and important steps forward and here can be found fixed-gun fighters and turret fighters, in both single and twin-engine form, plus the first generation of jet fighters. Types such as the Folland Fo.118 and the Westland P.13 and many more which were designed to meet the requirements of both the Royal Air Force and the Fleet Air Arm are included.
As with the companion volumes, the author has undertaken extensive research and made full use of primary source material. Three-view drawings plus photographs of models or original artist's impressions combine to show how these unbuilt designs would have appeared. Data and appendices summarize the projects, contracts and specifications and provide a detailed insight into many fascinating aircraft.
Pages: 224
Size: 8.3 X 11 (inches)
Format: Hardback
Illustrations: 300 photos & drawings
Publisher: Crecy Publishing
ISBN: 9781910809174
Product Code: AD917
Introduction
Acknowledgements
Chapter One - Pre-War Single-Engine Fixed-Gun Fighters
Chapter Two - Wartime Single-Engine Fixed-Gun Fighters
Chapter Three - Pre-War Twin-Engine Fixed-Gun Fighters
Chapter Four - Wartime Twin-Engine Fixed-Gun Fighters
Chapter Five - Turret Fighters and Night Fighters
Chapter Six - Naval Fighters Part One
Chapter Seven - Naval Fighters Part Two including Strike Fighters
Chapter Eight - Advances in Technology
Chapter Nine - Stand Alone Projects
Chapter Ten - Jet Fighters from Gloster
Chapter Eleven - Jet Fighters from Other Manufacturers
Appendix One - British WW2 Fighter Aircraft Project Summary
Appendix Two - British Fighter Project Specifications
Appendix Three - British Fighter Prototype Contracts
Bibliography and Source Notes
Glossary
Index
Tony Buttler
Tony Buttler was born in England in 1956 and completed his education at Prince Henry's Grammar School in Evesham. He joined High Duty Alloys in 1974 as a metallurgist and for nearly twenty years was involved in the testing of aluminum and titanium airframe and engine components for all of the world's major aircraft. It was during this period that his great interest in aviation began to blossom. After leaving HDA in 1993 Buttler earned his Masters Degree in Archives and Library Studies at Loughborough University, and became a freelance aviation historian specializing in the design and development of military aircraft. His special interest in one-off prototypes and research types made co-authoring X-Planes of Europe a particularly enjoyable task.
