Grumman F6F Hellcat

by Corwin “Corky” Meyer & Steve Ginter

With a kill-to-loss ratio of 19-to-1 and producing 307 aces the “Wildcat’s big brother,” specifically built to counter the Japanese Zero, was probably the most important Naval aircraft in WWII.

Flying Fox – Otto Fuchs: A German Aviator’s Story, 1917–1918

by Adam M. Wait (editor)

Not your basic autobiography! As much a novel as a historical investigation this first-ever English edition adds many layers of commentary by the translator.

The Racing Bicycle: Design, Function, Speed

by Richard Moore, Daniel Benson

A beautifully illustrated look at the development of the racing bicycle in the form of individual features of leading manufacturers and several landmark bikes.

War on the Waters: The Union & Confederate Navies, 1861–1865

by James M. McPherson

Almost a David-and-Goliath scenario! Civil War-era naval engagements were relatively small and few but had a disproportionately large impact. This excellent book too is relatively small—and makes a large impact.

History’s Greatest Automotive Mysteries, Myths, and Rumors Revealed

by Preston Lerner and Matt Stone

Did you hear the one about . . . ? Next time you start an argument at a cocktail party, come prepared! You don’t have to be a gearhead to recognize a lot of the names/events in this book.

A Girl Aboard the Titanic: A Survivor’s Story

by Eva Hart

Written by one of the youngest Titanic survivors this biography deals with the life-altering effect such an event has, traumatic on the one hand but also with the potential for good.

Lightning Eject: The Dubious Safety Record of Britain’s Only Supersonic Fighter

by Peter Caygill

After an accident in 2009, decades after being withdrawn from service, all remaining private Lightnings were grounded and relegated to museums. This book examines the good and the bad.

The Diaries of Ronnie Tritton, War Office Publicity Officer 1940–45

by Fred McGlade

War needs PR? You bet, just take a look at the news! Tritton faced an uphill battle in his own department but really did succeed in changing how the public sees a side of life neither it nor the people engaged in its pursuit “enjoy” talking about.

The U-2 Spyplane: Toward the Unknown, A New History of the Early Years

by Chris Pocock

Iron Curtain. Cold War. Nuclear winter. The end of the world. It was the U-2 that made it possible to step back from the brink. Anyone with an interest in world affairs and aviation “firsts” should read this.

Rolls-Royce and the Indian Princes

by Murad Ali Baig

Indian Maharajas and Rolls-Royces make for a colorful combination. This little booklet captures some of that in the form of period postcards.

Automotive Climate Control: 116 Years of Progress

by Gene D. Dickirson

How do we stay warm in a car? In the olden days, lap robes and braziers; today, electronically controlled multi-zone systems with memory function that let you drive from pole to pole with only minimal temperature fluctuation inside the cabin. Also covers a/c and ancillary systems.

Contact

by Carl Sagan

Is there anybody out there? Why should we care? The scientific details made Sagan’s novel utterly plausible, even if every reader may have a  different take on the grey area where science and religion touch.