I always enjoy Hikoki books. They provide a ton of information along with an excellent selection of period photos. So is the case with this one. Since it covers a fairly modern block of time, most of the images are in full color. The book does not cover all fighters, just jet fighters.

Initially, the Navy wasn't totally sold on turbojets for fleet service. The earliest jets tested (basically the P-59) were not suitable for carrier operations. These aircraft had a fairly high landing speed which wasn't good for period ships. They also were fairly low in power with engines which had a fairly low operational time before they needed overhauls. The benefit was that when they got up to speed they were uncatchable, however the pilot had to be gentle with the throttle as attempts to 'firewall' the engine usually resulted in the engine stopping.

Engine power and operation was always an issue with early jet fighters. These early aircraft had to have straight wings to provide the low speed lift required. Still, all of that was eventually overcome, though it wasn't until the late 1950s that engine manufacturers were able to provide the flexibility and power that was really needed. Up until and even somewhat past that time, there were hits and misses with some aircraft entering service only to prove themselves to be not quite what was expected.

The book follows a fairly chronological order of development and includes paper projects, prototypes, and even test aircraft. A fair number of the planes covered went on to long and fruitful careers, while others died in the early testing and prototype stage. Each of the chapters covers a type or period of time and there are other sections on engine development as well as ship and aircraft safety. The author is quite knowledgeable on the subject and this is only one of many books he has authored on Naval aviation. It is a superb reference for your shelf and you get a lot of pages for the money. Highly recommended.

October 2026

Review book courtesy of  Casemate Publishers, where you can order your copy at this link. 

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