Plane Spotter’s Guide
Series: General Aviation
Author: Tony Holmes
ISBN: 9781780960517
Pages: 216
Formats: Paperback, PDF, eBook

Introduction

This new pocket guide gives the reader the essential details of 70 iconic aircraft, including the Sopwith Camel, the Spitfire, the Messerschmitt Bf 109, the P-51 Mustang and the F-4 Phantom. Drawing on Osprey’s comprehensive aviation archive, the Plane Spotter’s Guide uses detailed profile artwork to illustrate and aid recognition, as well as specification boxes to provide all the technical details.

Between the Covers

Author Tony Holmes has been Osprey’s aviation editor since 1989. He established Osprey’s Aircraft of the Aces series. Now drawing upon his knowledge and resources, Osprey has brought us 70 aircraft. Each has two full color profiles and a page of history and technical data.

The aircraft included are:

• Sopwith Pup
• Albatros D III
• Nieuport 17
• SPAD VII
• Sopwith Camel
• RAF SE 5 / 5a
• Fokker Dr I
• Fokker D VII
• Polikarpov 1-16
• Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
• Bristol Blenheim
• Consolidated PBY Catalina
• Messerschmitt Bf 109
• Gloster Gladiator
• Hawker Hurricane
• Junkers Ju 87
• Supermarine Spitfire
• Short Sunderland
• Messerschmitt Bf 110
• Fiat CR.42 Falco
• Junkers Ju 88
• Mitsubishi A6M Zero-sen
• Curtiss P-40 Warhawk
• North American B-25 Mitchell
• Grumman F4F Wildcat
• Douglas SBD Dauntless
• Bristol Beaufighter
• de Havilland Mosquito
• Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik
• Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa
• Martin B-26 Marauder
• Lockheed P-38 Lightning
• Focke-Wulf Fw 190
• Hawker Typhoon
• Consolidated B-24 Liberator
• Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
• Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien
• Macchi C.202 Folgore
• North American P-51 Mustang
• Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
• Grumman TBF/TBM Avenger
• Vought F4U Corsair
• Avro Lancaster
• Lavochkin La-5 and La-7
• Boeing B-29 Superfortress
• Grumman F6F Hellcat
• Messerschmitt Me 262
• Yakovlev Yak-3
• Mikoyan MiG-15
• North American F-86 Sabre
• Grumman F9F Panther
• Martin B-57 Canberra
• North American F-100 Super Sabre
• Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
• Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
• Handley Page Victor
• Avro Vulcan
• Vought F-8 Crusader
• Republic F-105 Thunderchief
• Mikoyan MiG-21
• McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II
• Dassault Mirage III
• Lockheed SR-71
• Grumman F-14 Tomcat
• McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle / Strike Eagle
• General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
• McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet
• Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk
• McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II
• Rockwell B-1B Lancer

No photographs are used. The illustrations are straightforward and high quality. Some uncommon aircraft variants and camouflage is depicted.

Conclusion

This is a nice starter book for enthusiasts. The fine color profiles are wonderful, as always.

Overall this is a good picture book of most of the important warplanes of the ages. I recommend it.

Please remember, when contacting manufacturers and sellers, to mention you saw this book here — on Aeroscale.