I thought it was about time for another update!


The History Press has accepted the finished work on the Bristol Brabazon - I'm not sure when that is going to come out or much about it to be honest - I believe it's going to be a 128 page softback, but in truth anything about the Brab is going to fill a big hole in the market!


Mosquito - The Original Multi-Role Combat Aircraft came out from Pen and Sword back in March, and by all accounts is doing very well and has been well received!

Pen and Sword tell me that  Boeing B-17 The fifteen ton Flying Fortress has a release date of August 31st 2011 - be good to see that finally out, as I finished it about eleven months ago now!

They are promoting it pretty well...

'The Boeing B-17 was the first American heavy bomber to see action in World War when it was supplied to the RAF. The design originated in 1934 when the US Air Corps was looking for a heavy bomber to reinforce their air forces in Hawaii, Panama and Alaska. For its time, the design included many advanced features and Boeing continued to develop the aircraft as experience of the demands of long distance flying at high altitude was gained. When the USA entered WWII production of the aircraft was rapidly increased and it became the backbone of the USAAF in all theatres of war. This book describes how it was built and utilizes many hitherto unpublished photographs from the design studio and production lines. It illustrates and explains the many different roles that the aircraft took as the war progressed. Heavy bomber, reconnaissance, anti-submarine and air-sea rescue operations – there were few tasks that this solid design could not adopt.'

A month later - on September 31 2011, they are bringing out Valkyire - The North American XB-70.

Again, they seem to be doing a pretty good job of advance promoting!

'During the 1950s, at the time Elvis Presley was rocking the world with Hound Dog and the USA was aiming to become the world’s only superpower, plans were being drawn at North American Aviation in Southern California for an incredible Mach-3 strategic bomber. The concept was born as a result of General Curtis LeMay’s desire for a heavy bomber with the weapon load and range of the subsonic B-52 and a top speed in excess of the supersonic medium bomber, the B-58 Hustler. If LeMay’s plans came to fruition there would be 250 Valkyries in the air; it would be the pinnacle of his quest for the ultimate strategic bomber operated by America’s Strategic Air Command. The design was a leap into the future that pushed the envelope in terms of exotic materials, avionics and power plants.  

However, in April 1961, Defense Secretary McNamara stopped the production go-ahead for the B-70 on grounds of rapid cost escalation and the USSR’s new-found ability of destroying aircraft at extremely high altitude by either missiles or the new Mig-25 fighter. Nevertheless, in1963 plans for the production of three high-speed research aircraft were approved and construction proceeded. In September 1964 the first Valkyrie, now re-coded A/V-1 took to the air for the first time and in October went supersonic. 

This book is the most detailed description of the design, engineering and research that went into this astounding aircraft. It is full of unpublished details, photographs and first-hand accounts from those closely associated with the project. Although never put into full production, this giant six-engined aircraft became famous for its breakthrough technology, and the spectacular images captured on a fatal air-to-air photo shoot when an observing Starfighter collided with Valkyrie A/V-2 which crashed into the Mojave Desert. 

The loss of the $750 million aircraft and two lives stopped future development, although there were several attempts to redesign it as an airliner to compete against the European Concorde.'

In the pipeline? Well, I'm just finishing off one on the B-29 Superfortress - that one will be the same as the Mosquito, B-17, Valkirie and B-24. They are all hardback, all 256 pages and all from Pen & Sword, so it looks like I got a series going there!


Talking about the B-24 Liberator - that title should be out early next year, but I do not have a cover or a a date for it yet!


Concorde Conspiracy - The Battle For American Skies is finished and with The History Press. It's  been 'designed and built' as a 256 page hardback - with 16 pages of colour. As yet, I have no idea as to the publication date. This title I particularly enjoyed putting together.