It is always a delight to get the opportunity to read Hikoki books. They are generally superbly researched and equally well written, this one being no exception. It is also on a subject that many of us love to get a chance to look into, in this case, experimental aircraft.

Like the US, the British put forth many different aircraft types for consideration for production just before and during WWII. A surprising number of these planes actually made it into flying prototypes and some were even built in small numbers before events overtook the aircraft and they were not required.

The book covers a wide variety of aircraft from fighters, to bombers to seaplanes and flying boats. All of the aircraft in this edition were planned on being used in combat or were pure research types that were to lead to production types. I have to say that I fully expected to see nothing new in this one. After all, when one has been interested in aircraft as long as I have, many types have been studied. Even more so as I grew up on the Wm. Green pocket books on various types that included many of these planes. However, I found several in this book of which I was totally unaware and that added to the delight.

This book goes into considerably more depth than any previous material I have read so if you want to know about the Miles M.20 emergency war fighter, for instance, you will find several pages on the type. Other more well known aircraft such as the Gloster 'Pioneer'  and Supermarine Spiteful shown on the cover are also included in this volume. I was particularly intrigued by the sections on the Vickers Windsor four engine bomber, the Folland Fo.108/116 engine test bed, and the beautiful Gloster F.9/37.

There are dozens of other types included in this book, which makes it a true delight to read and to discover new and unknown types. In all, a book that I found very interesting and while it is not a quick read, is an excellent reference on a large variety of British aircraft. If your interest is experimental types or even if you just like aircraft, it is a book that I highly recommend to you. You will be glad you picked this one up.

December 2012

Review book courtesy of Specialty Press, where you can order your copy of this and many other superb aviation and modeling books. Visit their website at the link above or call them at 1-800-895-4585. Shipping and handling is $6.95

If you would like your product reviewed fairly and fairly quickly, please contact me or see other details in the Note to Contributors.