Throughout its 34-year Cold War career with the USAF and CIA, the top secret Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird spy plane was the world's fastest and highest-flying operational manned aircraft. Dedicated to strategic reconnaissance, the Blackbird was so fast that no other aircraft could catch it. The co-authors are world authorities on the Blackbird and give rare insights into the secret world of the SR-71, its genesis, construction and anatomy (including its use of stealth technology), and its operation and maintenance in peace and war.

Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird: 1964 onwards (all marks) (Owners' Workshop Manual)

History

Davies, Steve

Crickmore, Paul F.

Military

Haynes Publishing, UK

The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, highly maneuverable, all-weather tactical jet fighter, designed to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. It is considered among the most successful of modern jet fighters with 104 aerial combat victories to its credit, with no losses (combined figure across all user-air forces). The F-15 Eagle first flew in July 1972 and entered service with the USAF in 1976. It is expected to remain in service with the USAF until 2025.

McDonnell Douglas/Boeing F-15 Eagle Manual: 1972 onwards (all marks) (Haynes Owners Workshop Manual)

Engineering & Transportation

Transportation

The eight-engine Boeing B-52 Stratofortress jet was the USA’s first long-range, swept-wing heavy bomber. It began life as an intercontinental, high-altitude Cold War nuclear bomber. With each new variant the B-52 increased in range, power and capability, seeing active service in the Vietnam War, both Gulf Wars of 1991 and 2003, and over Afghanistan in 2001. Author Steve Davies recalls its combat history, gets up close to look under the skin of the B-52, and talks to the flight crews and maintainers of this legendary aircraft.

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress: 1952 onwards (all marks) (Owners' Workshop Manual)

Officially called the Fighting Falcon by the USAF (a name loathed by pilots and ground crews), the F-16 is popularly referred to as the "Viper". First introduced into service with the USAF in 1978, the F-16 is a successful all-weather multi-role jet fighter of which more than 4,500 have been built and exported to 25 countries worldwide. It remains in service more than 30 years later. The Viper incorporates a number of innovative design features that include a frameless bubble canopy for better visibility, pilot's side-mounted control stick for ease of control when manoeuvring, a seat reclined 30 degrees to reduce the effect of g-forces on the pilot, and the first use of a relaxed static stability/fly-by-wire flight control system that makes the Viper a highly agile aircraft. At the 'business end' the F-16 has an internal M61 Vulcan cannon and eleven weapon-mounting stations.

General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon Manual: 1978 onwards (all marks)

Flowers from the Slaghills

Literature & Fiction

Poetry

Arc Publications

AQA GCSE English Language and English Literature Higher Student's Book has been devised and written by a highly experienced team of examiners and teachers to support students preparing for GCSE English, English Language and English Literature for AQA. - Approved by AQA - Written specifically for students aiming at grades C-A* - Detailed guidance on preparing for the Controlled Assessment tasks

English Language & Literature: Higher (Dynamic Learning)

Teen & Young Adult

Clare, John

Clyde, Helen

Devitt, Mike

Etheridge, Shelly

Education & Reference

Hodder Education

The US-designed and built McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is one of the most important Fourth Generation fighters in the world. Its twin-engine, twin-tails (canted outwards), and leading edge root extensions make it one of the most recognizable fighters in operation. The latest version is the enlarged Super Hornet. It was controversial in being chosen as the replacement for the much loved F-14 Tomcat, but the truth is that it is a potent and fearsome fighter that boasts one of the most capable radars in service and a weapons loadout that takes full advantage of it. The Super Hornet currently performs the bulk of the Western world's airstrikes on the nefarious terrorist group 'ISIS' in Iraq and Syria. Developed initially by Northrop as the P-530 Cobra in response to the US Air Force's Light Weight Fighter competition (winner: the General Dynamics F-16), the Hornet had a troubled start in life. Designated the YF-17 for the LWF fly-off in 1974, it failed to impress the Air Force. However, contractor McDonnell Douglas stepped in confident that it could be improved sufficiently to make it a contender for the US Navy's new fighter competition. McAir, as was often the case, were right. Re-designed and re-designated the F/A-18 (fighter/attack), it won the competition and entered service with the US Navy as a carrier-borne, multi-role fighter, marking the beginning of the Hornet's journey from Air Force 'reject' to 'king' of the US Navy's Fleet Defenders

McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet: An insight into the design, construction and operation of the US Navy's supersonic, all-weather multi-role combat jet (Owners' Workshop Manual)

Arts & Photography

Drawing

Dubbed 'Warthog' - or just 'Hog' - by those who fly and maintain it, the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is the world's undisputed close air support attack jet. As tough as it is ugly, it has built a fearsome reputation as a tank buster and infantry killer in conflicts around the globe, and its GAU-8 Avenger 30mm cannon strikes fear into the hearts of all unlucky enough to be on the wrong side of it.he A-10 was clutched from the jaws of retirement by the 1991 Gulf War. At the time of the conflict, the United States Air Force was making plans to shed it's A-10 fleet, citing obsolescence and redundancy. As the ensuing conflict showed, nothing could have been further from the truth, and no other airframe could have provided the US and Coalition commanders with the sort of forward air control, close air support, combat search and rescue, and tank busting capabilities that the Hog did. Since then the A-10 has delivered capabilities to battlefield commanders in the Balkans (1990s), Afghanistan (2001 onwards) and the second Gulf War (2003 onwards), and Libya (2011). A-10s have flown around 11 per cent of Operation Inherent Resolve sorties (striking IS targets in Iraq) since combat operations began in August 2014.

Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II: 1972 to date (all marks) (Owners' Workshop Manual)

The F-15E looks set to remain in USAF service beyond 2030. It has proved to be the safest tactical fighter ever procured by the Air Force, and its 16,000-hr service life could well see it in use beyond 2030. It is arguably the best all-round combat aircraft in the world and has a magnificent operational record gained in combat during Desert Storm, Balkan operations and the war against Terrorism. This book traces the history and development of the Strike Eagle from its conception as a replacement for the F-111 in 1984 to the present day. Every aspect of the aircraft and its operation are examined including airframe, powerplant, avionics and weapon systems. Design plans, photographs and color profiles give graphic portrayal of this meanest of mean machines.

Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle: All-Weather Attack Aircraft

The Crowood Press, UK

The F-15A/C is irrefutably the most successful jet fighter of the last 30 years. Serving in the Air Forces of Israel, the United States and Saudi Arabia, it has racked up a kill ratio exceeding 105:0. Despite its age, it remains the leading operational air superiority and intercept platform in service today. The hi-tech wizardry of modern air combat detailed in this book makes for fascinating reading, even to those not immediately familiar with modern airpower, and a huge pool of previously unpublished information on both aircrafts' combat records is uncovered.

F-15C Eagle Units in Combat

Osprey_Publishing

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