In the years immediately after World War II, Europe produced a bewildering array of experimental aircraft - 'X-Planes' - testing new aerodynamic ideas and the potential of jet propulsion. These exciting machines are detailed in the bestselling book X-Planes of Europe: Secret Research Aircraft from the Golden Age 1946-1974.
This essential second volume continues the European X-Plane story, covering those aircraft designed to apply newfound technologies and techniques to the military frontline. X-Planes of Europe II details the demonstrator aircraft built to explore jet power, supersonic performance, variable-geometry wings and many other innovations for combat aircraft. It discusses the many prototype military aircraft that never made it to production and passed into history. Most famous of these may be the controversial BAC TSR.2, while other prototypes led to outstanding, successful service aircraft - such as the Hawker P.1052 and P.1081 that preceded the Hunter, and English Electric's P.1, predecessor of the Lightning. Delving deeply into contemporary journals and company, museum and national archives, author Tony Buttler has researched these rare and important aircraft ranging from well-known aircraft - the de Havilland DH.110 and Short Sperrin for example - to the esoteric, including Yugoslavia's Ikarus projects and Spain's Hispano HA-300. He also examines the prodigious output of the French aerospace industry, which created an amazing series of military aircraft prototypes varying from the ill-conceived to the world class.
Complimented with previously unseen archive photography, detailed specifications, manufacturer's drawings and colour artwork, X-Planes of Europe II is the logical and complete companion to the acclaimed X-Planes of Europe and offers a new and exciting perspective on Europe's military aircraft innovation throughout the Cold War years.