Known as the "Jug" because of its fuselage shape, the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt flew in every theatre of WWII except Alaska. Nearly 13,000 were built by war's end. The large aircraft carrier eight Browning machine guns and up to 2,000 lbs. of bombs or rockets, and proved an effective fighter and bomber. The radial Pratt and Whitney powerplant put out over 2500 h.p. and propelled the P-47 at a maximum speed of 426 mph at 30,000 feet. Originally published by the U.S. Army Air Force, this handbook taught pilots everything they needed to know before entering the cockpit. This affordable facsimile of a real WWII manual has been reformatted. Care has been taken to preserve the integrity of the text.

Designed without horizontal stabilizers, the X-4 Bantam had a semi-tailless design that bore some resemblance to Germany¿s Me-163 rocket plane. The small, twin-jet craft relied on combined elevator and aileron surfaces ¿ known as elevons ¿ for pitch and roll control. The role of the X-4 was to explore the transonic speed zone, and to determine whether the design would lessen the stability and control problems affiliated with compressibility. Although two Bantams were built, only one proved mechanically sound. The second was flown over eighty times by Northrop, Air Force and NACA pilots. They learned that the X-4 was sensitive in pitch, and showed a tendency to ¿hunt¿ about all three axes as it approached Mach 1.0. Thus, the X-4¿s design proved a failure. Originally printed by Northrop, NACA and the USAF, this handbook provides a fascinating glimpse inside the cockpit of this experimental plane. The manual was recently declassified and is here reprinted in book form.

The epitome of grace, beauty and design, the Supermarine Spitfire was one of the most deadly fighters of WWII. The Spitfire prototype, designed by Supermarine¿s Chief Designer R.J. Mitchell, first flew in 1936. By the time the Battle of Britain began in earnest, nineteen Spitfire squadrons were available to the RAF. Their pilots were most often tasked with engaging Luftwaffe fighters, including the Bf-109. With its superior maneuverability, it proved more than a match. This pilot¿s flight operating handbook, for the Model IIa and IIb, was originally produced by the Royal Air Force during World War II. It has been slightly reformatted but is reproduced in its entirety. It provides a fascinating view inside the cockpit of one of history¿s great planes.

En instruktionsbog (Flight Manual) for B-58 Hustler.

The F-82 ¿Twin Mustang¿ was conceived during WWII as a long-range fighter escort. Like the P-51, it was designed by North American's brilliant engineer, Edgar Schmued. The F-82 utilized two extended P-51 fuselages, mounted to a newly- designed center wing and tail. The plane incorporated new propeller assemblies and a unique, four-wheel landing gear. In short, while the plane would be cosmetically similar to the Mustang, in reality it was an entirely new beast. The F-82 wasn¿t ready before WWII ended, but the program escaped cancellation, and planes entered operational service in 1948. The F-82 became the last piston- powered fighter ordered by the USAF. It flew as an escort for SAC B-29s, and with distinction as a night fighter in Korea. It was retired in 1953. Originally printed by the USAF and North American, this pilot¿s handbook provides a glimpse inside the cockpit of this warbird. Originally classified ¿Restricted¿, the manual was de-classified and is here reprinted in book form.

Designed by Douglas Aviation engineer Ed Heinemann, the A-20 Havoc and its variants served in the U.S. Army Air Force and those of several allies. The plane was configured for attack, night fighter, and bomber roles, and nearly 7,500 were built from 1939 through 1944. The first order for the Havoc came from the French, who extensively tested the prototype aircraft after the USAAF failed to place an order. The French insisted on modifications that included new 1000 hp Pratt & Whitney engines (later upgraded to 1100 hp) and a narrower fuselage. The improved A-20¿s speed and handling compared favorably to a fighter aircraft. Little wonder it became one of the most extensively-built light bombers of WWII. Originally printed by the U.S. Army Air Force and Douglas, this handbook provides a fascinating glimpse inside the cockpit of this warbird. Originally classified ¿Restricted¿, the manual was declassified and is here reprinted in book form.

An improvement over the Bell X-1 - the first plane to break the sound barrier in level flight - the X-1A was designed to reach Mach 2.0. Initial test flights commenced in January of 1953. On December 12th, test pilot Charles "Chuck" Yeager set a record with the aircraft, reaching a speed of Mach 2.43 at 75,000 feet. In 1954, pilot Maj. Arthur Murray flew the plane to a new altitude record of 90,440 feet. Roughly a year later, the X-1A was severely damaged by an explosion while strapped to its B-29 mother ship. The plane was jettisoned and destroyed. Variants of the design, including the X-1B, X-1D, and X-1E continued to fly as late as 1958. Originally printed by the U.S. Air Force and NACA / NASA, this handbook provides a fascinating glimpse inside the cockpit of one of history's great planes. Classified "Restricted", the manual was declassified. This affordable facsimile has been slightly reformatted. Care has been taken to preserve the integrity of the text.