This is the first of any of the -Tech books that I have actually read. I've leafed through a few of them on the book shelves from time to time, but for some reason never picked one up.

It seems like they all follow a similar format, so first let me get the dimensional and quantitative information out of the way. It is softbound (actually, card-bound would be a better term), 8 1/2 x 11, 104 pages, and a ton of photos, some in color. Except for the pages with color photos, which are glossy, the rest of the book is on a semi-thick matte paper. Photographs are very well done and chosen. They also are of a very good quality and nice and sharp.

Basically the book is broken down into an introduction and background history, in this case, a brief history of Douglas transports up to the DC-6. Then the meat of the book as it goes into the DC-6 airliner. This section includes not only a developmental history, but also gives photos of the airlines that bought the planes and scattered throughout the book where appropriate, are sections taken out of the various tech manuals. These only are used to highlight a specific point, such as the layout of the cockpit and other parts of the plane. Most of the images are photographs. Another chapter is dedicated to the various versions of the DC-6.

The DC-7 is given similar treatment in terms of development and the different versions. There is a four page color section to add some interest and this particular one is of some of the more interesting variants of the DC-6/7. After the DC-7 section, are a few pages on the influence of the Constellation, followed by a section of miscellanea concerning the aircraft. The final portion is an appendix with the usual weights and measurements along with some drawings of the differences between the versions.

I must tell you honestly that my impressions of this book are extremely favorable. It was quite well written and flowed well when I read it. It isn't just a repetition of facts and figures, but gives some insight as to what it was like to be part of the development of the most successful four-engined piston-powered airliner that there ever was.

Highly recommended

Review book courtesy of , where you can order your copy of this and many other superb aviation and modeling books.

If you would like your product reviewed fairly and quickly by a site that has well over 150,000 visitors a month, please contact me or see other details in the Note to Contributors.