Osprey's Big Reveal: General Aviation

In today’s instalment of Osprey’s Big Reveal we are looking at General Aviation titles that will be landing in 2017.

Concorde

When commercial air services were launched in 1976, Concorde was hailed as one of the wonders of the technological world. Flying at speeds in excess of Mach 2, she was the only commercial airliner ever developed that could maintain twice the speed of sound for periods of over two hours. With stunning photography of the aircraft in development and in service, this concise gift book tells the story of one of the greatest engineering and technological feats of modern history.

Lancaster

Developed from the underperforming twin-engined Manchester, the Avro Lancaster was the RAF’s most successful heavy bomber of World War II. While Britain was unable to hit back on the ground, the Lancaster enabled Britain to take the fight to Germany. Its success meant that it was produced in massive numbers, with more than 7,300 built up to VE Day. Drawing on a wealth of research, stunning illustrations and contemporary photographs, this concise gift book reveals how the Lancaster became a symbol of British resistance, before going on the offensive against Germany in bombing attacks such as the famous Dambusters raid.

Hurricane

The RAF’s first monoplane fighter and its true workhorse, the Hurricane came into its own in the hot summer months of 1940 valiantly defending the skies above Britain. Outnumbering Spitfires three to one, the Hurricane also downed far more enemy aircraft, and was beloved by its pilots for its ability to simultaneously take a battering and inflict serious damage from its remarkably stable gun platform. Through fascinating first-hand accounts from the men who flew her, and truly breathtaking images of the Hurricanes in flight today from celebrated aerial photographer John Dibbs, this stunning new book reveals the Hurricane in all its glory.

Storm of Eagles: The Greatest Aerial Photographs of World War II

Soaring high above the fields and cities of Europe and Asia as well as the vast expanse of the Pacific, Allied and Axis pilots engaged in a deadly battle for control of the skies in World War II. Whoever won the skies would win the war. Published in association with the National Museum of World War II Aviation, Storm of Eagles is a stunningly illustrated large-format book that brings together classic as well as never-before-seen wartime images. Compiled by John Dibbs and Kent Austin Ramsey, this remarkable volume is a must-have for anyone interested in World War II aviation.

Shadow over the Atlantic

As Germany’s war against the Allied convoys intensified in late 1943, the Luftwaffe was ordered to provide a long-range spotting and shadowing unit to act as ‘eyes’ for the U-boats. Equipped with big, four-engined Junkers Ju 290s fitted out with advanced search radar and other maritime ‘ELINT’ (electronic intelligence) devices, the FAGr 5 'Atlantik' undertook a distant, isolated campaign far out into the Atlantic This book tells for the first time the fascinating story of the formation and operations of FAGr 5, the unit that accounted for the reporting and destruction of thousands of tons of Allied shipping.

So six new books for the coming year – let us know what you think in the comments section below!