Book Review of
English Electric Lightning
Genesis & Projects
Author: Tony Wilson
Morton-Tempest Books
ISBN: 9781911658405
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2021
MSRP: $19.99
ISBN: 9781911658405
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2021
MSRP: $19.99
HISTORY:
Programs on the English Electric Canberra was the main topic of a report written by W.E.W. “Teddy” Petter n June 17, 1948. But a final paragraph headed “High Speed Fighter” said, “Requirements for a high speed fighter are being sent to us. There would probably be two or three prototypes attached to a successful design and a reasonable chance of production orders. Supersonic speeds would be required for short period.”
This marked the beginning of the effort leading to production of the legendary Lightning Fighter. English Electric Lightning Genesis & Projects examines how that effort evolved – focusing on the procurement process and the factors that drove decisions about the aircraft configuration and its weapon system. In particular, author Tony Wilson looks at how other procurement programs influenced choice about the Lightning for good or ill.
Between English Electric product P1 and P34, there were 15 numbers associated with the Lightning. Some refer to development steps in the aircraft’s core program, but others were studies to extend the aircraft’s capabilities. These designs were explored too, along with proposed developments of the Lightning that were never given “P” numbers.
THE BOOK:
Morton Books is located in the UK.
This book is soft-cover of 150 pages in 7 ¼” x 9 ¾” page format. Two pages are blank.
The book contains 36 black and white photos of the aircraft and the engineers that worked on it. There are 60 line drawings of the aircraft and its weapons and 16 charts.
The only color is the cover art illustration. Which shows the P2 Lightning in flight. It has a “V” shaped tail.
This book will be of interest to modelers planning on building a Lightning and to aviation historians alike.
I sincerely wish to thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample. Casemate is the N. American distributor of Morton Books. All Morton titles can be seen on Casemate’s web-site at:
Programs on the English Electric Canberra was the main topic of a report written by W.E.W. “Teddy” Petter n June 17, 1948. But a final paragraph headed “High Speed Fighter” said, “Requirements for a high speed fighter are being sent to us. There would probably be two or three prototypes attached to a successful design and a reasonable chance of production orders. Supersonic speeds would be required for short period.”
This marked the beginning of the effort leading to production of the legendary Lightning Fighter. English Electric Lightning Genesis & Projects examines how that effort evolved – focusing on the procurement process and the factors that drove decisions about the aircraft configuration and its weapon system. In particular, author Tony Wilson looks at how other procurement programs influenced choice about the Lightning for good or ill.
Between English Electric product P1 and P34, there were 15 numbers associated with the Lightning. Some refer to development steps in the aircraft’s core program, but others were studies to extend the aircraft’s capabilities. These designs were explored too, along with proposed developments of the Lightning that were never given “P” numbers.
THE BOOK:
Morton Books is located in the UK.
This book is soft-cover of 150 pages in 7 ¼” x 9 ¾” page format. Two pages are blank.
The book contains 36 black and white photos of the aircraft and the engineers that worked on it. There are 60 line drawings of the aircraft and its weapons and 16 charts.
The only color is the cover art illustration. Which shows the P2 Lightning in flight. It has a “V” shaped tail.
This book will be of interest to modelers planning on building a Lightning and to aviation historians alike.
I sincerely wish to thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample. Casemate is the N. American distributor of Morton Books. All Morton titles can be seen on Casemate’s web-site at:
Recommended.