Magic Factory MF2001

BIRTH OF A LEGEND McDONNELL F4H-1 PHANTOM II 185-pages, 69-color photos, 251-b&w photos, 127-illustrations. In late 1953, McDonnell Aircraft made an unsolicited proposal to the U.S. Navy for a big, carrier-based, supersonic, "All-Weather Attack Fighter". After not much more than a cursory review, it was rejected. That inauspicious beginning subsequently resulted in one of the world's best known jet fighters, the F-4H/F-4 Phantom. This book covers the 1st 47 F4H-1/F-4A aircraft. This monograph by highly regarded U.S. Naval aircraft historian Tommy H. Thomason documents in well-illustrated detail how the Phantom came to be, including previously unpublished information about the Bureau of Aeronautics evaluation in 1954 of unsolicited proposals from other manufacturers competing for the Navy's fighter business that resulted in the award of a development contract to McDonnell for the AH-1; the conflict within the Navy over the decision to convert it to a all missile-armed, fleet-air-defense fighter, the F4H; and the fly-off between the F4H and the Vought F8U-3. Also illustrated in three-view drawings and photographs are the evolution of the configuration from the proposal to the final one that took flight in 1958. The most significant steps in the process of designing , developing, and evaluating the Phantom in the late 1950s are highlighted, with a discussion and depictions of the most significant new technology incorporated and the changes that rested. A description of each of the flights that resulted in records and two that tragically didn't is included. At least one photograph is provided of each of the first 47 F4Hs, along with a summary history of each one from its first flight to the circumstances of its withdrawal from service and the location of the 10 known survivors. Other sections provide a matrix by Bureau Number of configurations, cockpit and technical illustrations of interest to modelers, a summary of model kits/conversions available, and color photographs of notable F4Hs and test pilots. cover NF108 ads.jpg Naval Fighters Number 108

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General-Dynamics F-111 AARDVARK IN ACTION (Softcover) The F-111, which ultimately proved to be a very capable fighter-bomber for the US and Australian Air Forces, was born out of the desire of Secretary of Defense Robert Strange McNamara to force the USAF and the Navy to use a single aircraft for all tactical missions strike, close air support, air superiority and fleet air defense. The initial effort, called the Tactical Fighter Experimental, or TFX, was based largely on the Air Forces requirements, with a few adaptations to approximate the Navy's desires. The initial Air Force version of the aircraft would be the F-111A, while the Navy variant was the F-111B. Although General Dynamics was the prime contractor, the company had little recent experience in building carrier-borne aircraft, and turned to Grumman as a subcontractor for the assembly and testing of the Navy planes. The F-111 itself, the first production variable wing geometry aircraft, would have a remarkable 30+ year service history. During that time the aircraft was produced in five models, and modified and rebuilt into three additional models. Illustrated with over 200 color and B/W photos. 80 pages [F-111A F-111B F-111C EF-111]

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