Project terminated

This book is a recent release from Crécy Publishing in the U.K.

Subject is a number of military aircraft from the Cold War period that were cancelled during their development phase or even before a prototype was constructed. Most chapters are on U.S. aircraft, but also the Canadian CF-105 Arrow and the British TSR-2 are discussed in two separate chapters.

The selection of types for this book by the author was:

-Northrop B-49 flying wing
-Avro CF-105 Arrow
-North American F-108 Rapier
-Boeing X-20 Dyna soar
-Lockheed YF-12
-B.A.C. TSR-2
-North American B-70 Valkyrie
-Rockwell B-1A and B-1B
-Rockwell XFV-12A
-Northrop F-20 Tigershark

Simonsen describes in detail not only how far these project progressed, but also goes beyond this point to discuss ‘what ifs’ of versions that never saw operational life. His book is not only illustrated by company release photographs but also by excellent digital colour artwork of the ‘what if’ versions. Simonson is well known for his digital art and I can only say his ‘graphics’ are really impressing. All chapters are ended by giving technical details, although 3-view drawings are not included.

The author only selected ten subjects for his chapters and that may suggest more will follow.

I have already a suggestion for a next part:

-Martin XB-51 attack bomber
-Grumman XF10F that would have been the first U.S. Navy ‘swing wing’ if continued
-The XF-109 candidates including Bell’s D-188A VTOL project
-The German VJ-101 and VAK-191B VTOL fighters
-The French Mirage VTOL fighter and the Italian Fiat G-95
-The YF-23 as alternative for the F-22
-Martin’s P6M Seamaster jet-propelled flying boat
-The Russian Ekranoplane ‘Caspian sea monsters’ as Soviet tactical assault transporter
-The US nuclear-powered bomber projects

Book rating: very good!

Book details:

Title:                Project Terminated
Author:            Erik Simonsen
Publisher:        Crécy Publishing Ltd. U.K.
Book type:      hardcover, bound, A4 size on glossy paper, 224 pages
ISBN:              978-085979173-1
Price:               UK £ 23.95, U.S.A. $ 39.95, EU € 32.95
Contact:          www.crecy.co.uk and www.specialtypress.com for the U.S.A.