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- On Atlas' Shoulders: RAF Transport Projects Since 1945
In August 1945 RAF Transport Command found itself with almost 2000 C-47 Dakotas acquired under Lend-Lease that had to be returned, destroyed or paid for. This left the RAF with converted bombers such as the York and Halifax C.VIII or, in the Far East, interned Japanese aircraft including the Ki.48 Lily, Post war, Britain's aircraft industry embarked on equipping RAF with the full range of transport aircraft which could carry troops and cargo to the Far East and Australia.
On Atlas' Shoulders describes how the lessons of WWII were absorbed and design studies and aircraft projects including the Beverley, Vickers' V.1000 and Type 799, the Argosy and HS.681 V/STOL transport or the Britannia, HP.111, VC10 and Belfast. On Atlas' Shoulders also explains how the RAF developed their transport force from the late Sixties to today's precision delivery of equipment to forward operating bases in Afghanistan and beyond.
The Mounting Base strategy followed with proposals for long-range transports such as the HP.135, Jet Belfast and VC10 developments whilst at the opposite end of the scale, liaison and observation aircraft such as the Pioneer were soon overtaken by the helicopter, culminating in the Wessex, Puma and Chinook.
Illustrated throughout with photographs, drawings and specially commissioned artwork, On Atlas' Shoulders is a unique reference to the aircraft and technologies developed for logistics support of the British armed forces since 1945.
Pages: 176
Size: 8.3 X 11.7 (inches)
Format: Hardback
Illustrations: over 250 photos
Publisher: Crecy Publishing
ISBN: 9781902109510
Product Code: HK951
Introduction
Acknowledgements
The Tausendfüßler and a Logistics Revolution
Fetch and Carry: Holds, Wheels and Engines
Transports for the Austerity Years
An Argosy Abandoned - OR.323 Medium Transports
Strategic Freighter Round One - Vickers V.1000
Strategic Freighter Round Two – Air Staff Vs Shorts
To Singapore by the Cable Route : AST364
Theatre Transport Replacement Aircraft: OR.351
Blown away by the Chinook - Light Cargo Aircraft
The Only Practicable Alternative – C-130
South of Suez and a Return to the East
Conclusion
Appendix NATO’s Airlifter: NBMR.4 and 22
Index
Chris Gibson
Educated at Auchinleck Academy in Ayrshire, Chris Gibson read Geology and Mineralogy at University of Aberdeen, graduating with honors in 1984. Chris has worked in the oil exploration industry since 1985 and this work has taken him all over the world, with the added bonus of the occasional glimpse of unusual aircraft. In 1978 his interest in aircraft took Chris into the Royal Observer Corps where he represented his group, area and country in aircraft recognition competitions between 1980 and 1991. On the standing down of the ROC in 1991, Chris began researching historical aviation and has written several books on un-built projects, particularly guided weapons.
