Trace the historical beginnings of the aircraft that pushed aviation-performance levels to new heights, many of which were developed into the great operational fighters and bombers of yesterday and today. See photos of pioneers of aviation such as the Bell XP-59A (America's first jet fighter). Get the pilot's story of test-flying an XB-70 Valkyrie. See the prototypes for tomorrow's Lockheed F-22.

Renowned German aviation specialist Manfred Griehl has collected a unique and valuable selection of photographs of Luftwaffe projects that never made it into battle. They remained on the drawing board or at prototype stage either because they were deemed unsuitable or the developers simply ran out of time and the projects never went into production. Most photographs come from the development sites and testing grounds of the major manufacturers of Nazi Germany: companies such as Dornier, Junkers, Focke-Wulf and Heinkel all received funding from the government to develop bigger and faster aircraft. A huge amount of private testing went on with major organizations such as Daimler-Benz, BMW and Siemens investing huge amounts in new engine systems and other advances such as radar. This book also details the innumerable alterations that were made to existing service aircraft to equip them for new roles. There are examples of Fw190s developed for the delivery of chemical and toxic weapons, the high altitude Junkers EF 61, the early prototype WNF 342 helicopter as well as numerous examples of developmental jet fighters that could very well have been realized had it not been for the effectiveness of the Allied bombing campaign in restricting the supply of necessary materials.

Climb into the cockpit of some of the world's most exciting experimental and test aircraft, like the revolutionary Vought XF5U. Nicknamed the "Flying Pancake," the XF5U's unique saucer shape fueled rumors that the United States government was secretly testing a UFO! Fascinating stories about fabled prototypes and designs that would shape aviation history abound in this authoritative book edited by aviation expert Jim Winchester. Spreads feature plenty of historical photographs, full-color graphics, timelines and fun facts that showcase the genius behind some of the greatest designs in aviation history. Though many of these designs never flew, this new book in the Aviation Factfiles series is definitely ready to fly.

While World War II raged, pioneering aircraft and engine designers were busy developing the world's first practical jet-powered research aircraft to test and prove the new technology. This book examines the aircraft that paved the way for Germany's Me 262 and Britain's Meteor - the world's first jet fighters. Throughout the war, Germany, Italy and Britain engaged in top-secret jet programmes as they raced to develop the airpower of the future. Various experimental aircraft were trialled in order to achieve the goal of producing an effective engine and fighter that could harness the potential of the jet power. These included the German Heinkel He 178 research aircraft and Heinkel He 280 jet fighter prototype, the famed British E.28/39 research aircraft built by Gloster Aircraft as well as the stillborn E.5/42 fighter and E.1/44 Ace fighter prototype, and finally the remarkable Italian Caproni-Campini N.1/CC 2 research aircraft. Illustrated throughout with full-colour artwork and rare photographs, this fascinating study examines the fore-runners to the military jet age.

Exotic research aircraft designed, built, and flown in Europe in the two decades following World War II were the foreign equivalent of the legendary American X-Planes. Many of these advanced aircraft flown by test pilots such as Peter Twiss and Andre Turcat captured speed and altitude records previously held by their American counterparts. Some of today's most famous and successful aircraft were influenced by advanced technologies first tested and flown on European X-Planes. A significant number of aviation "firsts" occurred at secluded flight test facilities located in England, France, and Germany. The world's first jet airliner (1948), first jet transport with rear-mounted engines (1956), first VTOL jet fighter (1964), and first supersonic airliner (1969) were all developed in Europe utilizing technological advances pioneered by these rare and highly advanced X-Planes. Unpublished photographs, detailed appendix, and stories of these historic aircraft combine to produce an in-depth look at these secret aircraft.

This illustrated WWII history reveals the full range of experimental military aircraft that the Third Reich nearly flew into combat. From jet planes and high-altitude aircraft to radar-equipped fighters configured to deliver chemical weapons, numerous secret Luftwaffe planes reached prototype stage during the Second World War. Had these innovative aircraft made it into combat, the course of the war could have gone very differently. Renowned aviation expert Manfred Griehl explores these projects through an informative and fascinating selection of images, including numerous wartime photographs. Despite the Allied authorities' ban on research, countless aircraft were designed and tested by the Luftwaffe and German manufacturers before World War II. The research went ahead at secret evaluation sites in Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and the USSR. Though this work continued after the outbreak of war, many projects were never completed, often because the developers simply ran out of time. This definitive guide reveals the remarkable range of planes that the Third Reich failed to complete.