Encyclopedia of AIRCRAFT

Ever since the pioneering Wright brothers coaxed their flying machine into the air, man has strived to make increasing use of the sky as a sphere for waging war and for the most peaceful activities of trade and travel. In this beautifully produced book, two leading aviation experts describe nearly 250 of the world’s most important and interesting aircraft to tell the whole story of powered, manned flight – from the Wright flyer, officially recognised as the first heavier-than-air machine to achieve powered flight, to the exciting and sophisticated supersonic airliners and military aircraft of today. 

The book is arranged alphabetically and within each entry the development and significance of the aircraft are described, together with its most daring and interesting exploits. Carefully researched illustrations accompany all the entries and include rare and historical photographs of early aircraft, the military craft of the First and Second World Wars, special colour artwork, and stunning full-colour shots of modern aircraft in action. Full technical details are given in tables at the end of the book. The Encyclopedia of Aircraft thus provides a lavishly illustrated, highly informative reference work on the whole history of aviation from its earliest days to the present. 

John W. R. Taylor and Michael J. H. Taylor are a father and son team who between them have edited or authored over 200 aviation reference books. 

John Taylor – recognised as one of the world’s foremost authorities on aircraft – is head of the team who produce most of the Jane aircraft books, including the famous and authoritative Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft and the popular Pocket Book series. He is also the author of many invaluable general and specialised aircraft books, such as Rockets and Missiles and Aircraft of the World. 

Michael Taylor is an established writer with eleven international reference books to his credit. As well as being on the editorial staff of Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft, he has co-authored with John Taylor Missiles of the World, Helicopters of the World and with David Monday in the Guinness Book of Air Facts and Feats.

Source: Publisher's summary printed on the cover