Focke-Wulf was known before WWII mostly for their trainers and transports. However, unlike many other German aircraft manufacturers, they were willing to look into building all sorts of aircraft types. They built the very popular FW-44 biplane trainer, the FW-200 Condor airliner and were involved in projects later in the war like wooden nightfighters, medium bombers, helicopters, and early jet types. However, what the company is most well known for is the FW-190 family of day fighters.

Here was an aircraft that was borne of no competition, unlike most other Luftwaffe types. It was the pre-war rumors of the superiority of the Spitfire that moved the RLM to ask Focke-Wulf to build a fighter that was better that what they'd heard rumored. As is often the case, the designers were up to the task and the result was a small, radial engine aircraft that showed a lot of improvements over the current fighter, the Bf-109. There were two major differences that one could spot right away. First was the radial engine. The Luftwaffe had previously relied mostly upon liquid cooled engines, however, BMW developed a small, dual row 14 cylinder engine based on the Twin Wasp. The other major difference was the wide track landing gear. The 109 was infamous for its ease in ground looping, all thanks to the very narrow track landing gear. While a narrow track gear had its benefits, ground handling was not one of them.

The prototype first flew in mid 1939 with an unusual ducted spinner, thought to be more aerodynamically efficient. It was not. In fact, it caused the engine to overheat due to a lack of cooling air and the plane's performance actually improved once this thing was removed. During flight testing, it was discovered that the wing was actually too small causing landing speeds beyond what most pilots found comfortable. It also did not leave a ton of room for armament. Only the early preproduction types had this shorter wing. There were also teething troubles with the engine and fires on the ground were a real problem with the early variants.

Eventually these things were worked out and the 190 became a real surprise to the RAF. Here was a German fighter that outclassed their latest Spitfires and it was not until the Mk IX reached units that parity was reached. So successful was the 190 design that it was in production in one form or another until the end of the war.

Volume one covers a brief history of Focke-Wulf along with the development of the 190. Smith and Creek have impeccable credentials as Luftwaffe historians, thanks to their thorough research into whatever subject they choose. This is quite evident throughout this, the first of three volumes on this aircraft.

The book is absolutely chock full of period photos, drawings and color profiles. We get to see not only the development of the aircraft (and the 190 was built in many experimental variants), but the various systems that were tested on the aircraft up until 1943. This covers basically up until the initial deployment of the FW-190A-6. In this are also combat use as well as the development of the airframe. No where will you find more information on these planes and their operational use than this series. If I sound like a convert, then I am. I have been buying books in this series since #1 and this is #18. These books have settles many differences of opinions and are valuable to the enthusiast and modeler alike. If you can afford the cover price, then these are for you.