Some Future Titles of Interest for SPF Members

[alberchico]

Picked this up on a whim, not expecting much, but boy was I surprised. Written by someone who was intimately involved with the carrier, this book is clearly a labor of love and recommended for anyone who has an interest in the airlines that operated behind the Iron Courtain.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/8690880801?ref_=ppx_hzod_title_mob_b_fed_asin_title_0_0

 

[boxkite]

@blackstar posted the cover of the book about the F8U in #1,086.



Has anyone read it yet and can give a summary? I’d also appreciate a table of contents.

Thanks a lot.

 

[blackstar]

 

[blackstar]

@blackstar posted the cover of the book about the F8U in #1,086.
Has anyone read it yet and can give a summary? I’d also appreciate a table of contents.
Thanks a lot.

FYI, if you are on Facebook, the Aviation Enthusiast Book Club is a good way to find out about aviation titles.

 

[BigD]

Maybe not the most in-depth book on a technical or operational level, but it does look charming as hell...
https://www.quarto.com/books/9781836009795/how-to-fly-a-spitfire

 

[BigD]

I wonder how much of this could possibly be in here that wasn't already in Dan's book...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/HOTOL-Skylon-Story-Britains-Spaceplanes/dp/B0H2VPSB1L/

 

[SteveO]

View attachment 813785
I wonder how much of this could possibly be in here that wasn't already in Dan's book...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/HOTOL-Skylon-Story-Britains-Spaceplanes/dp/B0H2VPSB1L/

British Interplanetary Society publication so should be decent. I was worried it was AI for a moment

I better get around to reading Dan’s book!

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

British Interplanetary Society publication so should be decent. I was worried it was AI for a moment

About the Author​

Rob Coppinger has been writing about aviation and aerospace since the year 2000. Formerly a project engineer in the automotive industry, Rob studied engineering to postgraduate level before entering industry. Changing careers to journalism in 2000, Rob has written about science and engineering across a range of sectors but has specialised in aviation and aerospace. He has written regularly for a number of leading aviation, aerospace and science titles and the BBC. Today, he is Editor of the British Interplanetary Society's SpaceFlight magazine and a columnist for the Royal Aeronautical Society's Aerospace magazine. He lives in France.

 

[FighterJock]

Definitely getting this book,

 

[SteveO]

Re: HOTOL & SKYLON book

Just published in UK. by BIS. (May 2026) unfortunately not as good as I had hoped since hearing about it during a visit to Lambeth 2 years ago.
More a background story using anecdotal interviews and previously published material than a technical reference resource.
An impressive 256 pages, A5 size format, abiet minimal image count of low print quality (no GA. type drawings, all widely published colour images converted to greyscale) and with text containing a surprising number of typos and strange sentence form too (possible auto assist ?)

We still need a good quality volume on REL. Skylon/Lapcat/Sabre/HVX. in similar vein to Dan Sharp's HoTOL. opus

 

[RAP]

Not a future title but still interesting. Lots of photos, some interesting interior mockups of MOL amoung them.

 

[aim9xray]

Not a future title but still interesting. Lots of photos, some interesting interior mockups of MOL amoung them.

The full book is online at:
https://www.nro.gov/Portals/135/Documents/history/csnr/NRO_History_in_Photos_7May2024_web.pdf?ver=Qtx2ES0HJFSkxmH4ziElIA==

 

[blackstar]

The full book is online at:
https://www.nro.gov/Portals/135/Documents/history/csnr/NRO_History_in_Photos_7May2024_web.pdf?ver=Qtx2ES0HJFSkxmH4ziElIA==

Yes, has some photos that I've never seen before (and I've been doing this a long time). The Samos images are new, and at least one of the CORONA images and one of the GAMBIT-3 images have not previously been released.

 

[BigD]

Cautiously optimistic about this one...


Nautilus to Columbia was a disappointing mess, but James Goodall's books on the Los Angeles, Seawolf, and Virginia classes had a lot of excellent close-up, "in action," and interior walk-around shots, so hopefully it'll at least deliver on a visual level.
Ohio-Class Submarines : The US Navy's SSBN and SSGN Boats

 

[Foo Fighter]

TSR2: Britain's Lost Cold War Strike Aircraft: Revised and Updated Edition​

https://www.amazon.com/TSR2-Britain..._n_publication_date:1250228011&s=books&sr=1-3

Any reviews on this book? It's available on amazon and a review would be useful.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Its better than the first edition, but still inferior to Damien Burke's TSR.2 book for Crowood.

 

[FighterJock]

I have both books but I have to agree that it does not compare to Damien Burks TSR.2 book which I have always thought was far superior.

 

[joshjosh]

Who's buying Frank Kendall's upcoming book? Doesn't seem like it will have a whole lot of meat in it, but you never know.

Lethal Autonomy: The Future of Warfare Whether We Like It or Not​

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0GKPPM45S

 

[Foo Fighter]

Its better than the first edition, but still inferior to Damien Burke's TSR.2 book for Crowood.

Thanks, ordered from Hamazonian.

I have both books but I have to agree that it does not compare to Damien Burks TSR.2 book which I have always thought was far superior.

Thank you, much appreciated folks.

 

[SteveO]

Helion books free shipping to USA offer on orders over £80 3rd - 5th July 2026
https://www.helion.co.uk/

Lots to choose from!

 

[Dagger]

Probably not much news for experienced members, but could be of interest to young members with a limited budget: a Key Publishing bookazine on American X-planes, expected two weeks from now.

 

[SteveO]

https://tankmuseumshop.org/products/tank-art-the-mick-graham-story

Tank Art - The Mick Graham Story

Just got this and highly recommend it based on the first flick through. The artist life story and a great selection of his work showing and explaining his process.

 

[Hood]

Couple of forthcoming releases from Crecy.

This one looks really interesting.

Scanning the Skies
Radar Research and Development Flying 1935-1977
https://crecy.co.uk/product/scanning-the-skies

And a shameless self-promotion product placement!
I'm currently going through the layout now, will be 400 pages of Hawk goodness.

Famous British Aircraft
Hawk
https://crecy.co.uk/product/the-hawk

 

[FighterJock]

The Hawk book looks interesting. If the Jaguar book is anything to go by then the new Hawk book will just be as good.

 

[alberchico]

Some interesting titles being released soon by Pen & Sword.

https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Grumman-F-14-Tomcat-Hardback/p/62260

https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Folland-Gnat-Hardback/p/58547

https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Cold-War-Air-Thieves-Hardback/p/58714

 

[joshjosh]

Some interesting titles being released soon by Pen & Sword.

AI-free research and writing, I hope

 

[FighterJock]

I have bought several military aviation books from pen & Sword over the years and they all seem to be relaible.

 

[Dagger]

One can never have too many X-15 and F-22 books, I guess, so in the coming months Key Publishing will release two new books by author Jon Lake:

 

[Neufrank]

https://www.helion.co.uk/military-h...rike-fighter-a-great-and-terrible-program.php

F-35 JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER​

A Great and Terrible Program

Author: Abraham Abrams

There is one that I found rather interesting:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D47PD1PS?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback

 

[SteveO]

There is one that I found rather interesting:

Yep, got that one too. Good read. Bill has a thread for it https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/th...-out-the-us-air-force-by-bill-sweetman.43555/

 

[Owens Z]

One can never have too many X-15 and F-22 books, I guess, so in the coming months Key Publishing will release two new books by author Jon Lake:

I happen to dislike landscape size (wider than its height) for books, and from Key Publishing's blurb this seems like it will be a picture book rather than a substantive text. But longtime author Jon Lake is well respected, and I agree with Dagger that a man can't have too much about the fascinating X-15 rocket plane. So we will see...

 

[Neufrank]

Yep, got that one too. Good read. Bill has a thread for it https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/th...-out-the-us-air-force-by-bill-sweetman.43555/

After having read the overly positive "F-35 The inside Story of the Lightening II" (https://www.amazon.de/F-35-Inside-Story-Lightning-II/dp/1510777571#immersive-view_1787547191561) I found the critical view of events discribed in both books rather refreshing.

 

[fightingirish]

Project 083. 70 years of Starfighter
Author: Claudio Coll
The English edition is scheduled for release in October 2026, one year after the publication of the Italian original.
I would not be surprised if our member, Giuseppe De Chiara aka @archipeppe , contributed some of his artwork.


Sources (with preview):
https://www.aviationmegastore.com/e...ber-2026-project083-9791296584020-221828.html
https://varesepress.info/comuni/viz...-il-libro-project083-70-years-of-starfighter/

 

[Erdosain]

Argentine Events Series #1

USAF Secret Operations in Argentina 1966-1974
One of the lesser-known chapters of the Cold War unfolded in Argentina. Based on extensive research — including government archives and eyewitness accounts — Gustavo Marón reconstructed the secret air operations carried out by the US Air Force, such as “Quick Dip,” “Skin Diver,” “Burning Light,” and “Airstream.” This work covers the period from 1966 to 1974, during which a significant number of photographic, electronic, and nuclear intelligence aircraft, such as the WU-2C, RB-57F, and NB-135, operated from the IV Air Brigade. This monograph includes a unique selection of high-quality images—many of them previously unpublished—and profiles of the aircraft that operated from Argentine territory.

Argentine Events Series #1
USAF Secret Operations in Argentina 1966-1974
Author: Gustavo Marón
Australis Publishers
84 pages, 84 images, and profiles by Pablo Albornoz
Available: August 2026

 

[Erdosain]

There is a previous book by the same author, written in Spanish and very interesting, which covers the USAF's secret operations from Argentina from 1945 to 1974.

Three books on the same subject were subsequently published in English.

 

[Owens Z]

Argentine Events Series #1
USAF Secret Operations in Argentina 1966-1974
Author: Gustavo Marón
Australis Publishers
84 pages, 84 images, and profiles by Pablo Albornoz
Available: August 2026

There is a previous book by the same author, written in Spanish and very interesting, which covers the USAF's secret operations from Argentina from 1945 to 1974. Three books on the same subject were subsequently published in English.

Thanks, Erdosain. I had noticed this new three-volume Flashes in the Dark series on the Helion & Company Ltd website, after Alberchico provided the link in post #1064 above. Those secret USAF missions from Argentina sound interesting, including sniffing for high-altitude radioactive dust from any nuclear tests in the Southern Hemisphere. I don't read Spanish. But if you endorse the skill of Argentine author Gustavo Marón and the quality of his research, then I will buy his three-volume set in English.

 

[Erdosain]

Thanks, Erdosain. I had noticed this new three-volume Flashes in the Dark series on the Helion & Company Ltd website, after Alberchico provided the link in post #1064 above. Those secret USAF missions from Argentina sound interesting, including sniffing for high-altitude radioactive dust from any nuclear tests in the Southern Hemisphere. I don't read Spanish. But if you endorse the skill of Argentine author Gustavo Marón and the quality of his research, then I will buy his three-volume set in English.

I know him personally, and for me, he is one of the best, if not the best, Argentine aeronautical researchers.

He has published several books and a large number of articles. He is currently in charge of the civil aviation history magazine, Lima Victor, one of the best publications in Spanish on the subject (although it focuses on Argentine civil aviation from its beginnings to the present).

https://revistalimavictor.blogspot.com/

Everything published about the Condor II missile from the 1990s onward is based on his research.

He also has a very interesting book about the case of the Transportes Aereos Riplatenses cargo plane that was smuggling weapons from Israel to Iran and was shot down over Armenia by a Soviet Su-15TM fighter jet from the Soviet PVO.

He provides a comprehensive account of the company, its activities, the historical context, the Iran-Iraq War, the Iranian Revolution, the Iran-Contra scandal, etc., that led to the downing and what happened afterward.



He also published that book in English.

 

[Owens Z]

Probably not much news for experienced members, but could be of interest to young members with a limited budget: a Key Publishing bookazine on American X-planes, expected two weeks from now.

Thanks, Dagger. I bought a copy at my local Barnes & Noble. As a bookazine X-Planes can't compete with the three editions of Jay Miller's famous reference The X-Planes, but it's nevertheless worthwhile for enthusiasts. This new bookazine includes articles about several X-planes, the last-numbered being the X-62 project. And also some aircraft that were not formal X-planes, such as the QF-106 that was towed from a runway to altitude behind a C-141 transport in 1997-98 to prove the concept of a delta-winged spaceplane towed behind a mothership, thereby saving propellant to make it easier to reach orbit (though nothing has been done with the successful test results since).

 

[Erdosain]

These two books were published last year

After many years of collecting information, thousands of hours of work and visits to archives, today Wings of Argentina was finally ready, the complete history of the Military Aircraft Factory (today FAdeA). By mid-year it will be published by Crecy Publishing.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1753876169038888965

Ver: https://twitter.com/santiagoR24/status/1753876169038888965?t=Mfr9-gYHrz1lJCvQj2glLQ&s=19

 

[Erdosain]

In 2025 a new book was published about the projects of Augusto Cicaré