Flying the SR-71 Blackbird: In the Cockpit on a Secret Operational Mission

In the Cockpit on a Secret Operational Mission

by Col. Richard H. Graham

As aircraft historian Jay Miller rightly says in his Foreword, this book is the “missing link” in the existing literature on the Blackbird, “arguably the most significant aircraft of our time.”

Lockheed Blackbird: Beyond the Secret Missions

by Paul F Crickmore

In automotive terms the Blackbird is a veritable hot rod, doubling, almost trebling the altitude and flight envelopes of the best fighters of its day, such as the F-100 Super Sabre and F-101 Voodoo.

The Bahamas Speed Weeks

by Terry O’Neil

At six years in the making, this book took almost half as long to compile as the event itself lasted—13 years, starting in 1954. It is the first and to date only book to chronicle an event whose importance on the motorsports calendar is difficult to peg.

Sunderland Over Far-Eastern Seas: An RAF Flying Boat Navigator’s Story

by Group Captain Derek Empson

This autobiography is the first account of post-WWII operations conducted by Sunderland flying boats assigned to the British RAF’s Far East Air Force Flying Boat Wing (FEFBW). Empson was 21 and a newly minted RAF navigator on his first tour of duty with just 450 flying hours under his belt.

Closing Speed

by Ted West

The author traveled to Europe as a racing reporter in 1970 and was assigned to cover the World Manufacturers Championship. This fictional account covers the racing—and a whole lot more on the sidelines.

Avro Vulcan (Darling)

by Kev Darling

Among the several aviation books Kev Darling has done, this one is probably the topic for which he has the greatest affinity: he spent almost half his 20-year life as an RAF engineer on the Vulcan.

Concorde: A Photographic History

by Jonathan Falconer

You might be looking at the 18 feet of Concorde books on your bookshelf and wonder what could there possibly be that’s new under the sun? Been there, done that. Not so fast there . . .

Concorde (Darling)

by Kev Darling

With over 20 years of RAF engineering background and over 20 aviation books since 1986 under his belt, Darling knows his way around an aircraft. Since seeing the first production examples being built at Filton he’s kept an eye on this plane and harbored a desire to learn more about it.

Vulcan Units of the Cold War

by Andrew Brookes

As all titles in this series this slim paperback combines a brief but solid overview of the subject by an expert with first-hand commentary by various personnel, archival photos, and the hallmark set of color profile drawings. Not only is author Brookes an ex-Vulcan pilot, he also held various command posts.

The Marmon Heritage

by George Philip & Stacey Pankiw Hanley

Marmon approached the auto industry methodically by hiring university trained engineers and building thoroughly tested prototypes. They then designed bespoke production facilities to build the end result.

SM: Citroën’s Maserati-Engined Supercar

by Brian Long & Philippe Claverol

How many cars do you know that were both state vehicle and rally car? The SM was a tour de force par excellence. Or, in ‘Murrican, it was out there, big time.

Abarth: The Man, The Machines

by Luciano Greggio

As with several other automotive histories author Greggio has to his name, this one too ranks among the serious, reference-level literature. It is the story of Alberto Abarth whose name and accomplishments are not nearly as well known as the staggering 7300 races between 1958 and 1971 in which cars built or enhanced by him were victorious.