Modern Military Aircraft

Modern Military Aircraft PDF

Author: Jim Winchester

Publisher: Amber Books

Published: 2013-05-19

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781907446405

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"This material was originally published as part of the reference set Aircraft of the World"--Title page verso.

The Cutting Edge

The Cutting Edge PDF

Author: Mark A. Lorell

Publisher: Rand Corporation

Published: 1998

Total Pages: 247

ISBN-13: 0833025953

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The proposition that innovation is critical in the cost-effective design and development of successful military aircraft is still subject to some debate. RAND research indicates that innovation is promoted by intense competition among three or more industry competitors. Given the critical policy importance of this issue in the current environment of drastic consolidation of the aerospace defense industry, the authors here examine the history of the major prime contractors in developing jet fighters since World War II. They make use of an extensive RAND database that includes nearly all jet fighters, fighter-attack aircraft, and bombers developed and flown by U.S. industry since 1945, as well as all related prototypes, modifications, upgrades, etc. The report concludes that (1) experience matters, because of the tendency to specialize and thus to develop system-specific expertise; (2) yet the most dramatic innovations and breakthroughs came from secondary or marginal players trying to compete with the industry leaders; and (3) dedicated military R&D conducted or directly funded by the U.S. government has been critical in the development of new higher-performance fighters and bombers.

The Vital Guide to Military Aircraft

The Vital Guide to Military Aircraft PDF

Author: Robert Hewson

Publisher: Airlife Publishing

Published: 2001

Total Pages: 128

ISBN-13: 9781840370652

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This second edition provides concise and complete coverage of every major combat aircraft in service, or under development, around the world. With nearly 120 fully revised and updated entries, it details the history, current status, and plans for each aircraft while providing full specifications and technical details for every type. This indispensable guide also covers many important second-line types. Illustrated in color. For military aviation enthusiasts.

F-104 Starfighter Units in Combat

F-104 Starfighter Units in Combat PDF

Author: Peter E. Davies

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2014-11-20

Total Pages: 213

ISBN-13: 1780963157

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This title covers the technical characteristics of the F-104 Starfighter, one of the most widely-used and popular aircraft in history. Although built in small numbers for the USAF, the F-104C fought and survived for almost three years in Vietnam. There, it was engaged in some of the war's most famous battles including the legendary operation Bolo, where seven North Vietnamese MiGs were destroyed without the loss of a single US fighter. This small, tough and very fast fighter, dubbed 'The Missile with a Man in It', was called upon to do things it was not specifically designed for, and did them admirably. Featuring illustrations and photographs detailing the variety of nose-paint schemes and weapons configurations, this comprehensive appraisal of the F-104 Starfighter is ideal for modelling and aviation enthusiasts alike.

Trial By Fire: Forging American Close Air Support Doctrine, World War I Through September 1944

Trial By Fire: Forging American Close Air Support Doctrine, World War I Through September 1944 PDF

Author: Major Philip W. Wielhouwer

Publisher: Pickle Partners Publishing

Published: 2014-08-15

Total Pages: 127

ISBN-13: 1782898298

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Proper doctrine for close support of American ground forces by airpower has been a tumultuous issue since the first days of combat aircraft. Air and ground leaders struggled with interservice rivalry, parochialism, employment paradigms, and technological roadblocks while seeking the optimum balance of missions given the unique speed, range, and flexibility of aircraft. Neither ground force concepts of airpower as self-defense and extended organic artillery, nor air force theories focused on command of the air and strategic attack fit the middle ground of close air support (CAS), leaving a doctrinal void prior to American combat in World War II. This thesis focuses on the critical period from September 1939 through the doctrinal and practical crucible of North Africa, which eventually produced a resoundingly successful system. Theoretical and practical changes in organization and command, airpower roles, and the tactical air control system are examined, with subarea focus on cooperation and communications technology. Upon examination, discerning leadership, able to transcend earlier compromises and failures, emerges as the essential element for CAS success during the war. While many airpower concepts proved valid, air-ground cooperation through liaison proved indispensable, a lesson repeated even today.