Clipped Wings

The aviation industry has seen tremendous growth and success, but it has also been plagued by wasted ideas, designs, and money. This book explores ten "middle-of-the-road" aircraft that never quite made it, including the B.E.2c, R.E.8, General Aircraft Monospar, Armstrong Whitworth Argosy, Fairey Battle, Blackburn Roc, Westland Whirlwind, Saro Lerwick, Avro Manchester, and Vickers Supermarine Swift.

Format: Hardback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2023
Publisher: Key Publishing Ltd

The tale of aviation is, above all, a tale of triumph. Few industries could have matched the incredible speed at which flight was developed. For many, however, it was also a story of failure—of wasted ideas, wasted designs, and wasted money. There is also a third category of aviation. A sort of success-failure tale. These were the aircraft that never quite made it—and their histories and development are as fascinating as any.

This book explores ten of these "middle-of-the-road aircraft." Some were simply poor aircraft; others arrived at the wrong time; some were misused; and some found themselves in the most dire of circumstances—they became the target of political bias. But they were all characters. They all had a working life, however brief, and they all had their vices and virtues. Including first-hand accounts from designers, test pilots, operators, and aircrew, this book presents detailed research into the truth behind the image.

The aircraft included are the B.E.2c, R.E.8, General Aircraft Monospar, Armstrong Whitworth Argosy, Fairey Battle, Blackburn Roc, Westland Whirlwind, Saro Lerwick, Avro Manchester, and Vickers Supermarine Swift.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781802826418