50 Aircraft That Changed the World

The flying machines that pushed the boundaries of aerospace development. “A close-up survey of 50 of arguably the most remarkable and influential aircraft in aviation history.... Beautifully presented... this book will grace the coffee table of any aviation aficionado.” —Airforce Magazine. In December of 2019, Vancouver-based airline Harbour Air took to the sky in a 1956 De Havilland Beaver retrofitted to fly on battery power. Eschewing aviation fuel and easily able to fly commuter distances, this old new plane took the first steps of 21st-century flight. 50 Aircraft That Changed the World is about exactly this type of flight revolution. Written by the authors of the widely acclaimed Aviation Century series, it profiles 50 of history’s most influential aircraft and their pilots and designers. Now an aviation classic, the book has been reformatted to a smaller size but otherwise remains the same. It begins with the 1905 Wright Flyer III, and moves on to the birth of aerial warfare in World War I, the trailblazers of the interwar years, classic World War II aircraft, the jets of the Korean and Vietnam wars, modern commercial carriers, private jets, experimental designs and new combat fighters featuring stealth technology. Featured aircraft in 50 Aircraft That Changed the World include: Fokker E.111, Charles Lindbergh’s Ryan NYP, Amelia Earhart’s Lockheed Vega, Messerschmitt Bf 109, Supermarine Spitfire, Boeing B-17, Avro Lancaster, De Havilland Mosquito, Howard Hughes’s Lockheed Constellation, Concorde, Learjet, Boeing B-52, Rutan Voyager. Hundreds of colour and archival photographs enhance the informative and entertaining text making this an ideal choice for aviation buffs.

[Review of previous edition: ] A close-up survey of 50 of arguably the most remarkable and influential aircraft in aviation history... Beautifully presented... A bargain at 40 bucks, this book will grace the coffee table of any aviation aficionado.-- (09/01/2007) [Review of previous edition: ] An impressive and encyclopedic history of influential aircraft [that] should be a part of every personal, professional, academic, and community library's Aviation History reference collection.--James A. Cox"Midwest Book Review" (11/01/2007) [Review of previous edition: ] Dick and Patterson have made unusually fine choices.... The 50 aircraft...receive analytical but accurately admiring write-ups... Reasonable affection for aircraft is shown throughout this attractive, literate volume. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers.-- (04/01/2008) [Review of previous edition: ] Fascinating.--Sheldon Kirshner"Canadian Jewish News" (12/09/2010) [Review of previous edition: ] Really a must read for everyone -- imagine the history.-- (12/13/2007) [Review of previous edition: ] This is much more than a composite rehash of the "Aviation Century" series. The text is new, the team's selections are defensible, and the illustrations, sidebars, pilot and aircraft profiles, and human-interest stories are all fresh, appealing, and insightful. Recommended for all aeronautical collections.-- (11/15/2007)

Ron Dick served with the Royal Air Force for 38 years, retiring with the rank of Air Vice-Marshal. After his retirement, he lived in the USA and wrote and lectured on military and aviation history until his death in May 2008. Dan Patterson received the first annual Combs Award, honouring his contribution to the photographic preservation of America’s air and space heritage.