Aviation

More than ten years in the making, and in an incredible combination of personal passion and exhaustive research, Fia 0 Caoimh presents this comprehensive visual encyclopedia in exquisite illustrations of planes and helicopters, each accompanied by detailed technical specifications.The author recreates the progression of aircraft, beginning with the early days of flight, with special emphasis on obscure or forgotten planes. Included are the Bücker BU-133 'Jungmeister', aerobatic champion of Europe from 1933; the Piaggio P.180 'Avanti', now associated with the great Ferrari racing marque; the Japanese seaplane Shin Meiwa US-1, able to carry out rescue in 15 ft-high waves; and the legendary Ryan B1-Brougham, 'Spirit of St. Louis', first to cross the Atlantic east to west. The book also features a beautifully illustrated timeline of man's attempts to fly - from the myths of ancient times to modern space exploration.