One of the most legendary naval aircraft of WWII, the Grumman TBF Avenger (and the General Motors-produced TBM) saw action in most of the major battles in the Pacific including Midway and Leyte Gulf. Armed with a forward machine gun and a second in a dorsal turret, the plane could carry a 21-inch torpedo or four 500-lb. bombs, or a combination thereof. Avengers are credited with sinking the Japanese superbattleships Musashi and Yamato. A young aviator who would later become President, George H.W. Bush flew a TBF off the carrier USS San Jacinto in 1943-44. Originally printed by Grumman, G.M. and the U.S. Navy late in the war, this TBM-3 Flight Operating Handbook taught pilots everything they needed to know before entering the cockpit. Classified "Restricted," the manual was declassified long ago and is here reprinted in book form. This affordable facsimile has been reformatted and color images appear in black and white. Care has been taken however to preserve the integrity of the text.
In 1944 Allied codebreakers learned the Imperial Japanese Navy had dispatched the cargo submarine I-52 to occupied France with tons of military supplies and payment—in gold—for German assistance. I-52 undertook the mission as part of the Yanagi missions, a military program meant to alleviate Japan’s desperate need for military material and technical knowledge. After tracking I-52 from Asia to the Atlantic, the Allies destroyed the vessel in a battle that ended the Yanagi missions and left I-52 an unlikely treasure ship on the seafloor. David W. Jourdan adds to the history of I-52 with a spellbinding account of his efforts to find the sunken submarine. One of the first joint American-Russian research expeditions, the search for the wreck combined a team effort, exhaustive detective work, and a dramatic battle with the sea. The effort paid off when the group found I-52’s nearly intact hull three miles down. The expedition also earned an unexpected historical dividend when it uncovered one-of-a-kind recordings of American Avenger torpedo bomber attacks on an enemy submarine. Part war tale and part seagoing adventure, Operation Rising Sun tells the story of the two very different missions to find submarine I-52.
A compact guide to 70 of the most iconic aircraft to have shaped warfare over the last 100 years. Aviation has revolutionised warfare over the last 100 years, and 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, Plane Spotter's Guide uses detailed profile artwork to illustrate and aid recognition, as well as specification boxes to provide all the technical details.
Don't think you can become a pilot? I think you can - learning to fly is easier than you think! Have you always dreamed of becoming a pilot? Are you wondering if now is a good time to become a pilot? Do you want to get started with flight training, but need help choosing a school? All your questions will be answered in this book! This book may be the most important book you will ever read if you want to become a professional pilot... But first a warning, this is not a book about "learning to fly" in a literal sense. You won't learn how aerodynamics work or how to control an aircraft in flight - that's something you will learn once you start your flight training. Instead, this book contains information that flight schools won't teach you. The information you NEED to know before you should commit to flight training! The knowledge you gain from this book is essential for you to have a successful and enjoyable career as a commercial or airline pilot! The main focus of the book is on FAA and EASA flight training in the U.S., but most of the principles apply regardless of your nationality. Whether you want to earn your private pilot certificate, become a corporate pilot, or become a captain in a major airline - this book is for you. And one note to the ladies - it is now the golden age for female pilots! Did you know you could become a commercial pilot, or even a flight instructor, at the age of 18 with less than 12 months of training? Right now is an excellent time to become a pilot because there is a global pilot shortage that is expected to last for the next two decades or longer. Boeing estimates that there will be a worldwide demand for 790,000 pilots between 2018 and 2037. That's a lot of pilots! How do I know the pilot shortage is not just a myth? Currently, most airlines in China are hiring airline captains from foreign countries because there are not enough Chinese pilots. And what's the pay like? Boeing 737 or Airbus 320 captains can earn an annual salary up to $380,000! That's over 30k per month! ...and, wait for it--it's all tax-free (in China)! Yes, it will be a long road to become an airline captain earning a good salary. But guess what? Reading this book will help you decide if you want to pursue the career. Who is this Author? With Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Vesa knows a thing or two about aviation. With several years as a flight instructor, assistant chief flight instructor, and ultimately as the Chief Flight Instructor of a major flight academy, he is an expert in pilot training. Having trained hundreds of pilots who currently work for many airlines (including many Chinese airlines), he has the first-hand knowledge of the demand for new pilots. Because of his experience as a corporate airline captain, he understands the benefits and downsides of pilot life and can help you decide whether it's a good career path for you! Here are some of the questions this book will answer: Is a pilot career a good choise for me? How much does flight training cost? What are the medical requirements for pilots? How can I finance flight training without any savings or income? What are the benefits and downsides of a pilot career? What kind of certificates and ratings do I need to start working as a professional pilot? How to choose the best flight school (and flight instructor) based on my individual needs? Flight training is fast-paced, fun, and exciting. Why not get started now?
II as the second of the great Essex-class carriers to be commissioned, Lexington destroyed more than one thousand Japanese aircraft, sank more than a million tons of enemy shipping in the Pacific, and in September, 1945, had the honor of being the first American aircraft carrier to enter Tokyo Bay in victory. Photographer-writer Hugh Power has captured every aspect of this great warship through beautiful photography, detailed floor plans, and illuminating text. Serving.
This aviation handbook is designed to be used as a quick reference to the classic military heritage aircraft that have been restored and preserved in the state of California. The aircraft include those flown by members of the US Air Force, the US Navy, the US Army, the US Marine Corps, the US Coast Guard, the Air and Army National Guard units, and by various NATO and allied nations as well as a number of aircraft previously operated by opposition forces in peace and war. The interested reader will find useful information and a few technical details on most of the military aircraft that have been in service with active flying squadrons both at home and overseas. 150 selected photographs have been included to illustrate a few of the major examples in addition to the serial numbers assigned to American military aircraft. For those who would like to actually see the aircraft concerned, aviation museum locations, addresses and contact phone numbers, websites and email addresses have been included, along with a list of aircraft held in each museum's current inventory or that on display as gate guardians throughout the state of California. The aircraft presented in this edition are listed alphabetically by manufacturer, number and type. Although many of California's heritage warplanes have completely disappeared, a few have been carefully collected, restored and preserved, and a good number have been restored to flying condition. This guide-book should help you to find and view California's Warplane survivors.
