Product Description

This is the comprehensive story of some of the most radical attack
aircraft ever designed to operate from an aircraft carrier. These incredible
projects were developed in 1948 to equip the USS United States,
an immense 65,000-ton supercarrier that was to have been the core
of the Navy s nascent strategic nuclear bombardment capability. Legendary
aerospace companies such as Convair, Curtiss-Wright, Douglas,
Fairchild, Lockheed, Martin, North American, Northrop, and Republic
would each submit proposals to the competitions. Varying widely in
appearance, these studies ranged from Douglas s relatively small and
modern Model 593 to their unconventional Model 1186 series, which
was inspired by the X-3 Stiletto and featured a small parasite aircraft
mounted atop a gigantic missile. Recently declassified, details of these
fascinating projects are presented here for the first time.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #98536 in Books
• Published on: 2009-01-28
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 232 pages

Customer Reviews

outstanding!
The author details the very unknown story of US Navy's first attempt to get nuclear attack capability. At that time the only way to carry out a nuclear attack was to drop it from a bomber. A 4 Ton bomb required a big aircraft to lift it. And a big airplane ned a big carrier to operate from. Neither the bomber nor the carrier existed so a futuristic program was launched to turn both concepts into hardware.
This comprehensive volume reviews every aircraft design proposed to the contest. Some of the manufacturers made full use of available WWII German research into their Science Fiction looking bomber designs. At the end, USAF rivalry and new nuclear vector options resulted in the project cancellation. Information about it remained almost unavailable since Jared A. Zichek compiled it into this beautiful edited volume in the Schiffer tradition. While neatly being a graphic than text book, I found excellent reading in it too. The book has an exhaustive collection of original technical drawings.

I highly recommended it to people interested in unbuilt projects and technology (both naval and aerospace), naval power technology, nuclear weapon technology.

Thanks a lot Mr Zichek!

A new voice in the aerospace projects field...
Why should only the German projects get the high end treatment?

Zichek turns in a wonderful effort: the designs are competently described and illustrated and are placed in their proper historical context.

Production values are superb with only a few minor glitches from the hit and miss editing that bites most Schiffer books. There are a few instances where text has been dropped or duplicated. One table was reproduced twice. Another was reproduced at a size making reading impossible.

But all in all, if you have an itch for aerospace "might have beens", "long shots", or "what were they thinking?" you'll be pleased with this one. You might also want to check out Zichek's American Aerospace Archive at http://magcloud.com/browse/Magazine/3628 .

Back to a future that could have been...
Wow! Jared has opened a window into a stunning project mostly unknown until now. This book is superb, thoroughly well researched and with fascinating illustrations. Highly recommended to anyone with a passion for aviation, and a must-have for those involved in aerospace design. In fact, I'd be almost tempted to suggest it as a college reference book for aerospace design class. The book cover shows this is Volume 1, thereby alluding to possible future volumes. Let us hope so and encourage Jared in his marvelous effort to unveil the blueprints of a future that never was.