During the last century the British aircraft industry created and
produced many outstanding airplanes. These aircraft were world leaders
in advanced technology, utilizing inventions by British engineers and
scientists such as radar, the jet engine, the ejector seat and vertical
take-off and landing. This book describes the design-history,
development and operational careers of twenty-two legendary military and
civil airplanes. Each one has played a significant part in aviation
history.
Sopwith Camel, SE.5, Bristol F2B Fighter and the Airco DH4 were all
great successes in the relatively early days of flight. In the thirties
the Bristol Bulldog fighter was an outstanding export success and the
Short 'C' Class flying boat, later to become the Sunderland of World War
II fame, pioneered the long-distance routes to the Empire. The
pugnacious foreign policy of Hitler's Reich rung sudden alarm bells,
rapid advances in fighting aircraft for the RAF became a premium
objective. The brilliant Geodic construction of the Vickers Wellington
bomber helped it survive terrible punishment throughout World War II,
both the Hawker Hurricane and the Supermarine Spitfire saved England
from invasion and the Bristol Beaufighter, de Havilland Mosquito and
Avro Lancaster took the war to enemy soil.
The Gloster Meteor became the word's first operational jet fighter and
the English Electric Canberra became the RAF's first jet bomber and was
manufactured under license in the USA as the Martin B-57. In post-war
years the Vickers Viscount became the world's first turboprop airliner
and eventually became Britain's best selling commercial aircraft, whilst
the de Havilland Comet became the world's first jet airliner. Despite
Britain's recessionary years in the 50s and early 60s, military success
came with the beautiful Hawker Hunter, the super-sonic Fairey Delta
experimental aircraft that broke the World Air Speed Record and the
Vickers Valiant that pioneered the operational techniques to deliver
Britain's nuclear deterrent. Later, there followed the Mach 2 English
Electric Lightning and the ill-fated TSR-2, the cancellation of which is
still regarded as one of the greatest mistakes ever made in British
aviation history. Finally, the Harrier, the world's first vertical
take-off and landing jet fighter that is still in service and now only
being built in the USA.
Finally the Harrier, the world's first vertical take-off and landing jet
fighter, still in service and now being further developed in the USA.
