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Good. Good condition. A copy that has been read but remains intact. May contain markings such as bookplates, stamps, limited notes and highlighting, or a few light stains.
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Juanita Franzi. Very Good. 4to. Near new. This sixth book in the series Legends of the Air examines the three most important pioneer passenger jetliners.
Before there were digital "glass cockpits," before each passenger had a private TV screen, three jet aircraft brought long-distance air travel to the flying public. They were the Boeing 707, Douglas DC-8, and the Vickers VC-10. They were not the first jetliners, however; that distinction goes to the De Havilland DH.106 Comet, Sud Aviation SE-210 Caravelle, and Tupolev Tu-104. Not included in this volume are the long-range Convair CV990 and Ilyushin Il-62 or the medium-range Convair CV880, Hawker-Siddeley Trident, and BAC-111. Nevertheless, the author's choice of airliners offers interesting comparisons, especially as the Boeing and Vickers products have had long, illustrious careers as tankers.
The 707 is presented - along with its sister designs, the 717 (KC-135) and the 720 - both in military and civilian guises, though for some reason the military versions are presented first. There is also an amusing story by fellow Australian aviation historian Geoff Brown about the 707 in early Qantas service, which was a joy to read.
The DC-8 is presented, in all its variants and subvariants, including the Super 70s, DC-9-60 series aircraft that were re-engined with modern CFM-56 turbofans. The DC-8-40 bears the distinction of being the first turbofan-powered airliner, as well as the first airliner to break the sound barrier.
The VC-10 did not sell in the numbers that the 707 and DC-8 can boast, but this airliner was the favorite of the three among many pilots and passengers alike.
Mr. Wilson precedes each chapter with a historical overview of the manufacturer's heritage, offering a context for the design discussed. He also provides charts for each airliner, covering original delivery customers and major variants. A final chapter covers how the three types were "shrinking the world" and their roles in aviation today. Lacking are photographs of the flight decks and interiors; they would have provided a glimpse of the era in which they carried passengers. I would have also like to have seen a list of preserved examples of the three jetliners on display in museums. Nevertheless, this fine book presents a highly readable history of a period of aviation slipping ever further into the past.
