An Aeronautical Engineer's View.the Vought F4u Corsair and Its Contemporaries [signed]

"I highly recommend this well-researched, objective and comprehensive book, by a distinguished aeronautical engineer...You'll need this book to settle arguments over which is the best WWII fighter plane!" ---Col. Walter Boyne USAF(Ret), former Director of the Smithsonian National Aviation & Space Museum, and preeminent aviation author/historian. (6th Edition; SIGNED BY AUTHOR). A well-researched, factual and historical description of five legendary United States fighter aircraft of WW II--the Vought F4U Corsair, Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, North American P-51 Mustang, Grumman F6F Hellcat, and Lockheed P-38 Lightning--and also includes information on British, German, and Japanese fighters. This book presents a clear description of the design rationale, capabilities, characteristics, performance, and limitations of each of these superlative aircraft. Also included are American vs. Axis aircraft dog fighting comparisons, results of formal military competitive fly-offs, and mock dog fighting match-ups between these aircraft. Several key flight behavior characteristics which are very rarely discussed are explained, and perspectives on a number of important topics not often given coverage in the popular media are presented. Tom Brinkman's book has been carried by the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museums, the U.S. Air Force National Museum, the U.S. Marines National Museum, and many other major aviation and military museums. He has given many presentations on his book, including symposiums with several original VMF-214 "Black Sheep" pilots, and regular presentations at the annual Oshkosh air shows. Tom Brinkman is a retired engineering manager and program manager in the computer industry, with a BS and MS in Aeronautics & Engineering Mechanics, University of Minnesota; and an MS in Electrical Engineering, University of Vermont. Tom has also co-authored the Regional Best-Seller "Marine Wings: Stories of war & peace as written by the pilots".