Aviation Books

The Influence of Air Power upon History tells the tale of flight from the first balloon travels through to the modern era. As one would expect, much of this history is more accurately termed military history as the evolutionary process and specific modifications to the various crafts were often driven by military need.

This book contains good detail about flight history while still managing to be an interesting read. Moreover, the chapters are separated into useful time periods or specific changes in technology that will allow this book to also serve as a useful reference for those individuals looking for information on a particular craft, wanting to explore the influence of flight in particular campaigns, or wanting to understand the air power strategies that each country used in these battles.

The Influence of Air Power upon History is a very good all round reference on the history of air power. This book is suitable for those with very little knowledge of flight and is also useful as a reference for those individuals wanting to look deeper into these aspects.

An easy read. Despite the book's title and its implication that it is related conceptually to Mahan's book on seapower, it is not. It is about the influence of air power in a broader sense -- not necessarily on the battlefield. In addition to war, it is about the influence of air power in the areas of politics, diplomacy, technology, and mass culture because Boyne believes that air power has been not only significant in battle but maybe even more in, "the direction of national policies, the growth of industries, and perhaps most important, the rapid advance of technology, even in times of peace." Unlike seapower, airpower presents an immediate threat to a nation's population, whereas a sea-based blockage takes time to be felt. Boyne believes there has always been a symbiotic relationship between air power and the mass media, and that it is no coincidence that popular perceptions and enthusiasm for air power have been influenced by the simultaneous advance of the mass media.

Walter Boyne's The Influence Of Air Power Upon History is an informed and informative history which examines the nature and applications of air power from the early days of the balloon to current space warfare and jets. Air power exercised in both war and peace times survey the contributions made by people and technology of each era, drawing some important links between individual achievement and usage.

This is a surprisingly easy read about a complicated subject--really the effect of heavier-than-air aircraft upon military history, and to a lesser extent, upon industrial development. Author Boyne is obviously possessed of a vast knowledge about his subject. Sometimes this can be the downfall of a book of this type, where a torrent of facts can overwhelm the overall theme of a work. Not here. Boyne tells the story of the rise and development of air power in a clear, concise, and yet nevertheless surprisingly detailed way. I was frankly expecting something of a hard slog to get through a serious work such as this. I was pleasently surprised, because this is a readable work that keeps the reader interested and the pages turning. Mr. Boyne does not merely relate facts--he tells a story, punctuated with interesting insights, opinions, and conclusions. The reader can decide whether he or she agrees with Mr. Boyne's various conclusions. Personally, I was usually persuaded, if not necessarily always.

Since this is an overall look at the rise of air power, it contained less details on some subjects than I would have liked to see. For example, the book covers the battle between the US 8th Air Force (and its British counterparts) and the German Luftwaffe with just enough detail to leave me wanting more, this being a subject of intense interest to me. Another fascinating observation by Mr. Boyne is his conclusion that the development of air power, and its demand for high-quality industrial specifications, had far-reaching effects upon industrial development. This is undoubtedly true, although I personally had never really thought about it before. More facts illustrating this plausible conclusion would have been welcome. On the other hand, too much more detail on these and many other subjects would of course have increased the scope of this book beyond the appreciation of most readers. This is the inherent shortcoming of a work of this type, and Boyne strikes a reasonable balance.

Overall, the reader is unlikely to find a better written or researched book about this broad subject.

Shlomo Aloni's ISRAELI F-15 EAGLE UNITS IN COMBAT joins others in the 'Osprey Combat Aircraft' series to narrow the focus on the Israeli F-15 Eagle Unit, bought in the mid-1970s to secure Israeli air superiority in the region for decades. The history of these aircraft, their engagements, and their crews is supplemented with black and white and color photos throughout.

Osprey Publishing has produced another winner written by Shlomo Aloni. All of his books (and the series for that matter) are thoroughly researched, and when possible, take accounts from BOTH sides of a conflict.

Equip some of the deadliest fighter pilots in the world with a killer fighter superior to anything flown by its opponents and what do you get? Kill ratios of 33-to-0! That is the record of the superlative F-15 in Israeli service, a record chronicled in Shlomo Aloni's latest book for Osprey.

This is Aloni's third Israeli Air Force book for Osprey and, like the previous volumes, his unparalleled access to aircrew and commanders once again shines through. After years of reading books on the IAF/DF recounting the exploits of "pilot X" and "Captain Z," it is so refreshing to read of crack pilots named Yoram Peled, Benny Zinker and Avner Naveh.

After reading the many first-person accounts of dogfights featured in the book, you almost feel sorry for the hapless MiG-21 and -23 pilots who sortied against Israeli F-15 squadrons! Aloni's book also supplies useful background on the politics behind the IDF/AF acquisition, introduction and development of the F-15.

The text is illustrated with 75 color and black & white photographs along with nine pages of color profiles by Chris Davey.

A very nice package on an awesome aircraft and its crack pilots!

By 1973, the Israeli Air Force had built a strong reputation. While its aircraft were broadly equivalent to those of its enemies, the Israelis were generally superior in training, motivation, maintenance, intelligence and command and control. This situation dramatically changed when the Israelis became the first foreign customer of the US Air Force's new F-15 Eagle, a truly superior aircraft. By 1979, Israeli F-15s were blooded in combat against the Syrians, and over the next few years destroyed dozens more Syrian aircraft with no combat losses of their own. Israeli F-15s also flew top cover in the strike against the Iraqi nuclear reactor, destroyed the PLO headquarters in Tunis, and were ready to strike during Operation Desert Storm. A new chapter in Israeli Air Force history opened with the arrival of the F-15I. Unfortunately the book does not cover the use of Israeli F-15s in Lebanon in 2006, which presumably happened after the book was written.

Author Shomo Aloni not only writes about the combat usage of the F-15 by the Israelis, but also its acquisition, deployment, non-combat losses and upgrading. It's a fascinating story, told well and with Osprey's usual outstanding color plates. What is surprising is that the normally secretive Israeli Air Force allowed this kind of information to be published about a type that is in front-line service.

My only complaint with the book is that it contains several small but annoying errors. On page 33, the date of the photo is given as 1972 which is obviously impossible since the Israelis did not have any F-15s in 1972. In several places in the book, the F-15 is described as using the AIM-9G missile. In fact, the AIM-9G was a US Navy missile that was not compatible with the F-15, and the AIM-9J was used at this time.

Despite these errors, this is a fine book.

Mr. Harvey brings to light a side of history that goes unnoticed for the most part, with well-researched detail the story starts with the first canals and steamboats and how with courage and determination ambitious inventors, steamboat men, and capitalists helped to influenced other men and women in our great history to reshape our society and changed America forever.

He takes us through the first century of mechanical transportation with his focal point on the scenic waters of New York State and its Finger Lakes and shows us how it become a major link in the transportation system that moved America westward and also how each step forward in transportation technology they moved onward to bring about the modern age of travel.

He includes detailed drawings of the steamboats, constructions techniques, and how they traversed the Finger Lakes in the mid to late 19th century which I feel makes this book a delight to read and I would recommend this great book to students, history hounds looking for a wonderful addition to their library and the everyday reader who just wants a good book to read.

This amazing story of how we Americans went from having only our feet to trod dirt roads to possessing the worlds finest transportation system is remarkable! Mr. Harvey takes us through the first century of mechanical transportation and shows us how it reshaped our society and changed your nation forever. New York State and its Finger Lakes is the focal point of this story that starts with the first canals and steamboats and ends with Glenn Curtiss and his airplanes. This is a great book for students, history hounds and the everyday reader who just wants a good book to read.

Steve Harvey appropriately sub-titled this book "An American Saga." After horseback and buggies in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State came the steamboat making "It Started With A Steamboat" a most adept title. As I started reading I found myself engrossed with the words written and, almost, unable to put the book down. The discussions about the particular steamboats, including constructions techniques, then traversing the Finger Lakes in the mid to late 19th century are wonderful examples of Mr. Harvey's writing. His drawings of the steamboats are among the finest I have ever seen. In addition, it was a delight to read yet another discussion about Mr. Glenn H. Curtiss, far advanced beyond the Wright Brothers, as the leader in the development of aviation in this country and throughout the world. "It Started With A Steamboat" is written with the Finger Lakes Region as a focus but written as such so that any history buff would find it an interesting read and wonderful addition to their library.

A major chapter of the American story unfolded on the scenic waters of the Finger Lakes of New York. That area, now known for its wines and resorts, was once a major link in the transportation system that moved America westward and the place where the technology that made it all possible was invented or improved.

Mr. Harvey brings that story to life with rich and well-researched detail that tells the story of ambitious inventors, steamboat men, and capitalists and how they changed this country and and brought about the modern age.

Society is shaped, made possible even, by the technologies it uses. Mr. Harvey shows how transportation technology shaped America--how and where we lived and how we did business. His focus is on the steamboat age but he places that story in a continuum that moves onward to the airplane and the space ship, each evolution growing out of the previous stage.

A large cast of larger-than-life characters gives this book the immediacy of drama but Mr. Harvey also puts the strivings of these energetic men and women into the bigger picture to show us the world that they created and the legacy that they left.

To my mind, Oswald Boelcke has always been the most fascinating German fighter pilot of World War I. Boelcke's achievements as an astute tactician, masterful fighter leader and top-scoring ace far outshone those of his most apt student, von Richtofen. Greg VanWyngarden examines the career of this pivotal figure along with the Boelcke Squadron in this insightful and entertaining volume from Osprey, #26 in their 'Aviation Elite Units' series.

Boelcke scored 40 kills from August 1915 to October 1916. More importantly he created and codified the basic tactics for air combat and put those tactics to great effect when he commanded Jagdstaffel 2 beginning in August 1916. As Jasta 2 CO he nurtured von Richtofen and other pilots, developing them into first-rate fighter pilots and leaders. His death in a mid-air stunned his squadron - and the nation - but Jasta 2 labored on, often under inferior commanders, to eventually score 336 victories by war's end, second only to the Red Baron's Jasta 11. It lost 35 pilots in return.

The glory days of Boelcke's reign and the subsequent uneven combat history of Jasta 2 are well-covered in VanWyngarden's book. Since it deals with a squadron rather than a group or wing, this Osprey book can devote more space to the inner workings of the unit, which makes for fascinating reading. For example, I was unaware that super-ace Boelcke was an asthmatic(!) and suffered so badly from it that he was sometimes unable to fly. Another interesting tidbit: a Jasta 2 pilot - Otto Bernert - was the first fighter pilot on EITHER side to be credited with five kills in a single day. Yet more fascinating, little-known history: Jasta 2 pilot Werner Voss was so disgusted with the leadership of one of Boelcke's successors that he filed a formal complaint to higher command, an unheard-of breach of protocol that got him booted from the squadron.

All of the preceding along with coverage of Jasta 2's combats make for a delightful read. Then too VanWyngarden's book features 125 vintage black and white photographs of Boelcke & Co., the fighters they flew, crashed aircraft, etc. and 11 pages of color sideviews by Harry Dempsey.

JAGDSTAFFEL 2 BOELCKE is one of the best Osprey titles to come along in some time. It sheds considerable light on this prestigious fighting unit and its most famous commander, a man who was literally a legend in his own time. Highly recommended.

A very good book. Very entertaining and informative at the same time. Again the color plates are very useful to a modeler.

Very well written,excellent artwork and pictures. Fits in well with other books in this series(Aviation Elite Units) Would recommend it to anyone who likes World War I aviation.

The author has written another exciting book illustrated with wonderful photos and exceptional color profiles. This is the gripping true story of one of the first German fighter units of WWI, and one of the greatest. It was lead by one of the great aces of all time, Oswald Boelcke, who was an exceptional teacher of fighter pilots as well as a great example. The Red Baron got his start in this unit and, taught and inspired by Boelcke, became a legend. This book tells how the Red Baron got his start. The text, full of first-hand combat stories, gives the essential history of this unit's highs and lows. Very engaging and enjoyable to read, and a must for historians and modelers.

Thomas Reilly identifies Antony H. Jannus as one of the most significant transitional pilots between the Wright Brothers and Charles Lindbergh. More than just an intrepid aviator, Jannus was an aircraft designer, mechanic, and visionary. He anticipated airmail, transatlantic travel, and aerial warfare. Perhaps most importantly Jannus played a pioneering role in the first scheduled commercial heavier-than-air passenger transportation company in the world though it was not the first airline. That distinction belongs to Deutsche Luftschiffarts AG (DALAG) which began operating a Zeppeline airship on November 16,1909.

While the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line, operated only briefly during the first three months in 1914, it presaged one of the most remarkable industries of the twentieth century, that of scheduled commercial air service. Carrying about one thousand passengers, the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line was the first of all companies now transporting millions. In many ways the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line mirrored the successes and failures of aviation ventures to follow.

The designer of flying boats, Thomas W. Benoist, from the St. Petersburg Daily Times, March 18, 1914 explains the significance of Jannus' airline. "Many of the formulae, methods and details that have been worked out were and are still being worked on, will become a part of the classics of the science of aeronautics." The airboat line did indeed foretell the future, but Benoist went on to say, "the most encouraging thing about this experiment was the discovery of how easy the whole thing was."(157) Though it may have been easy to set up and operate, the company proved not to be viable economically. The establishment of a reliable American air transportation system would prove much more challenging.

Many of the challenges facing the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line in 1914 paralleled those of today's airlines. An airline begins with a grand idea. In the case of the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line, it began with Percival Fansler's idea of operating a scheduled flying service. Fansler, a traveling sales representative, saw the advantage of a quick twenty minute flight across the bay between St. Petersburg and Tampa. The land journey by steamship or rail could take hours. The publicity from Jannus' 1,973 mile flight down the Missouri and Mississippi rivers in a Benoist flying boat led to the formation of a partnership between Fansler, Benoist, and Jannus.

At five dollars each way, the fare would only cover operating costs but Benoist agreed to operate at a loss, expecting future profits. Additional financial support came from St. Petersburg boosters pledging financial support. The publicity, they felt, would be good and the city agreed to construct a hangar. A three month contract bound the city, Benoist, and Fansler. Succes, it was hoped, would lead to additional routes. In the modern era, one is reminded of Herb Kelleher's Southwest Airlines providing low cost service within Texas, taking advantage of convenient Love Field in Dallas as a hub for its operations.

Of all considerations in the operation of an airline, safety must be paramount. Jannus recognized this fundamental precept when he spoke prior to the inaugural flight. Reilly writes: "He promised to `always keep the maxim of safety first foremost in my mind.'"(130) These were not words only spoken for the moment. Jannus, in fact, had the reputation of being a safe, non-flamboyant flyer. As the first scheduled airplane pilot, he was a good role model. Indeed "Schedule with Safety" is the motto of the Airline Pilot's Association (ALPA) founded in 1931.

Information on the scheduling reliability of the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line from mechanical problems or the weather is lacking. Unquestionably a fatal accident would have been reported in the papers and probably shut down the airline permanently. This didn't happen. What is undisputable is that, once the contract expired, it was clear the company could not continue operating without additional capital or a subsidy.

The principle organizers undoubtedly intended the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line to be profitable but, as was so common in the early days of aviation, it proved only to be a noble experiment. Nonetheless, by being first, it was a significant milestone in the evolutionary development of commercial aviation.

Seldom have I read a more thoughtful and well-researched treatment of early American aviation. The author should be commended for his full treatment of the subject. As I read each page, I sat on the edge of my seat waiting for what was to happen. This historical biography reads almost like a work of fiction. What a beautiful and well written story of one of America's early heroes of aviation. I would encourage everyone to read this book. It's uplifting not just because it deals with a very important part of American aviation, but because it fully tells the story of an American hero. Forget the Wright brothers, Amelia Earhart, Charles Lindbergh; Tony Jannus had the "right stuff" long before Chuck Yeager. Buy it, read it, it's a great book.

I met the author in Tampa Florida on April 18, 1998. His grasp of the subject as well as the subject of early American aviation is amazing. I encourage everyone to read this book. END

Before I read this book, I knew absolutely nothing about what it was like to fly in the early days of American aviation. After reading this book, I felt as if I had been there on each of the many dangerous flights that Tony Jannus had undertaken. What a man, what a man he must have been.

Our three year old carries this book everywhere. He is constantly flipping through the pages and looking at the jets. He can name all of the jets in the book. The book contains great photographs, and facts about each jet. I also recommend the Airplane Alphabet book. Buy them and add them to your child's collection. You won't be sorry.

The Jet Alphabet Book is really good because it has my favorite jet is in it; the SR-71 Blackbird. I really like that kind of jet because it can go 3 times the speed of sound and flies so high and so fast the pilot needs to wear a spacesuit and I recomend this book to children ages 4+.

I bought this book for my airplane-aficionado son when he was far too young to appreciate all of the advanced details about the jets. No problem - it's a great book to go through, looking at the pictures, and reading just what each letter stands for, starting with "A is for Aerocomet". It was the best airplane book we've found for little kids. Now that he's five, I'm reading the whole thing, every word. It stands up better than most to repeated rereadings.

My 2 year old son loves this book. He requests it and has "read" it over and over. He can pick out and name specific jets by their shape and color. Illustrations are realistic. Not only does this book show both capital and lower case letters, it also shows an example of jets that begin with each letter. Information about current and past jets, some history, and a little about how they work.

This work, for the young reader, is an excellent additon to one of the best series for young people over the past fifty years. This is the story of the Wright Brothers, from their early childhood through the time of their invention of the "flying machine." It does stress the influence their parents, particularly their mother, had upon them. It is simply written and very direct. The story is quite easy to follow and gives the young reader a very good insight to the minds and work ethic these brothers had. It is an excellent introduction to the subject of flight. Overall the book is quite inspirational. I can remember reading it as a child (mid-fifties) and am quite gratified to see my grandsons read it today. Recommend quite highly.

My 7 year old really liked this, and more generally this whole Landmark series is very good for young readers. Vocabulary and sentence structure are age appropriate. Content is good solid history. As opposed to much of the stuff for this age which is "silly" reading, this series lets them learn something while improving their reading skills.

This book was easy to read and helped me gain an understanding of the Wright brothers and the influence their mother had on their lives as well as their accomplishments and what drove them to invent, and invent, and invent! Not only did it provide a good review of their acccomplishments, but it also provided inspiration to my 11 year old daughter. These men had a can do attitude and never gave up. I recommend this book for anyone who wants knowlege of the Wright brothers, and inspiration to always keep trying.

A book that truly describes what happened to the Wright Brothers. It tells of how they went from almost nothing to building arplanes. It tells how they worked to build the airplane, and always wanted to build one. Recomended for anyone who wants to know more about Orville Wright and Wilbur, and wants to read a good book

Simon Nasht's book is like an icebreaker charting a course through the Antarctic and revealing one of its greatest explorers. It is hard to believe that one person so "aggressively modest" could have done so much with so little. Up until now, few had remembered him. What a pity. Thanks for bringing him back to life. Now, when is the movie coming out?

This true account of one man's lifelong exploration
of the polar regions makes history come alive. Yet for some reason Hubert Wilkins amazing exploits have faded from public memory.
This biography about a far-sighted adventurer who understood the importance of polar ice caps on global climate. It is a page turner that deserves a place on every bookshelf,an inspiration to the youth.

THE LAST EXPLORER: HUBERT WILKINS, HERO OF THE GREAT AGE OF POLAR EXPLORATION tells of the most successful explorer in history: a self-taught farm boy from the Australian outback who became a cameraman, reporter, pilot, spy and adventurer. His surveys were captured on camera, he helped map the Canadian Arctic, and his amazing life has only not received much in-depth coverage in past because he avoided publicity. Author Simon Nasht discovered Wilkins' journals, records and photos and used them to recreate his life and achievements: any library interested in adventure biography will welcome this vivid account.

The fact the Sir George Hubert Wilkins is a virtual unknown against the supposed greatness of his contemporaries, Hurley and Mawson, is due mainly to his "aggressive modesty".

Now Australians are rediscovering this truly remarkable man's life and Simon Nasht does him an immensely great service.

Simply a 'must-read'!

The life of Bill Kholer reads like fiction, good fiction. It is, instead, fact. Growing up through the depression years, he developed the strenth of character necessary to survive the rigors and dangers of his trek behind enemy lines. This should be read by American history students so they can better understand this remarkable generation.

A reader is essentially an outsider looking in. The story of William Kollar and his fellow survivalists on his journey towards Freedom during World War II opened a door that allowed me the ability to walk with them.

This book is for the most part well written, easy to read and exciting. With descriptive language that makes you feel as if you too are experiencing the adrenalin, laughter and tears on a personal level.

It appears that Mr. Kollars personal experiences during his youth gave him the determination and skill required for his survival. In fact, it seems as if bad times, people and situations can be used to build a character of necessary strength to survive even in the face of death and destruction.

This was a wonderful story. You feel as though you are walking with them on this journey. Bill is an amazing guy. How do you say thank you to someone who has given such a service to our Country? In this time, when we are in conflict with so many nations, and feel as though we are alone, it is important to remember our Heros who made sure we have the freedom that we do today. Thank you, Bill and thank you for this book!

The Last Mission: The Incredible Story of William Kollar, speaks about those on the front lines. It also talks about how life events can shape a person into someone who could be called-- a survivor.

That is what I liked about this book. It is not only the story of war, both the glory and the tragedy. It is not only about this man finding the love of his life and marrying her. It is about this man as a child growing up in Michigan and about how his difficult childhood prepared him to survive an extraordinary situation. It is about a sense of duty and doing what you think is right out of love, love for your country.

I feel this book is very timely due to current events, and was written in a way that is very easy and enjoyable to read. It flows very quickly, is very descriptive, and has the ability to move the reader. It is very easy to "be there" climbing mountains, and avoiding enemy soldiers. I found myself at times ducking to avoid enemy fire or laughing at the crazy antics which occured.

I read some of it to my 9-year-old son and he was on the edge of his seat begging me to tell him what happened next.

I highly recommend this book, not only for its historical value, but for the empowering emotional journey it takes the reader on.

A very informative and comprehensive study of the subject matter, with a bonus in the form of photos of other than the Cheyenne Lockheed helicopters. What I missed as a modeller were colour close-up photographs of the airframe details and more photos of the desert camouflage variant than just the one on the cover. Worth buying, but not sufficient if you want to build a scale model replica of the AH-56.

The Lockheed Cheyenne was an innovative compound rotary wing/fixed wing aircraft developed in the late 1960s - early 1970s. The company that brough us aircraft like the SR-71 was also highly innovative in its short-lived foray into rotary wing aviation. The cheyenne was capable of higher speeds and different flight attitudes than most (or any?) conventional helicopter before or since, owing to it's short stubby wings and pusher propeller located behind the tail rotor. A second twist-grip forward of the conventional throttle control on the collective lever controlled the 'beta' or pusher propeller pitch angle.

This book covers basic helicopter and autogyro aerodynamics without getting bogged down in the details, the evolution of the Army's helicopter programs from early piston engine models to turbine-powered vietnam-era helicopters, the bitter 'roles and missions' debate between the Air Force and the Army that lead to and ultimately doomed the Cheyenne program. The Cheyenne's unique rotor and control system are covered in detail, as well as the history of the research program from early rigid rotor prototypes to the last flight of the program. In short, there are plenty of pictures and history packed into this book, and any reader interested in rotary wing aviation won't be disappointed.

I first heard of the Cheyenne while stationed at Fort Rucker in 1992. After seeing it on TV I walked over to the aviation museum and found it on display. I distinctly remember that in was indoors and was in good condition. Recent web site pictures (search for 'AH-56 walk-around'), and also pictures in the book, show it sitting outside in front of the museum, clearly showing the effects of abuse from the sun and weather. Hopefully some more recent visitors can comment on the aircraft's current condition and whereabouts.

In addition to being one of the most innovative and revolutionary aircraft projects in the past 50 years, the AH-56 Cheyenne program also stands out as an interesting look at how on one hand great aerodynamic minds can elegantly overcome seemingly insurmountable problems, only to be mired down by short-sighted policies and entrenched cliques. This book is a long time in coming, is informative and insightful and is without a doubt an essential addition to the collection of anyone who appreciates clever design, aviation history and is prone to wonder 'what if?' about the projects that could-have-been.

Lockheed AH-56A Cheyenne is volume 27 of the Specialty Press "Warbird Tech" series and covers all aspects of one of the most radical and highly developed helicopter to be built and flown today. Authors Tony Landis and Dennis Jenkins collaborate to relate an authoritative and informative account of the evolution and eventual failures of the Lockheed AH-56A Cheyenne. Included is the aircraft's structural breakup in wind tunnels, factory tech photos and cutaway views, propulsion and weapons system details, rigid rotor explanation, and a great deal more. As with all books in this outstanding series, Lockheed AH-56A Cheyenne is profusely illustrated throughout with black and white as well as color photographs. Highly recommended.