 Pomilio
PD/PE
Windsock Datafile 117
By Gregory Alegi
Albatros Publications, ©2006
ISBN 1-902207-83-1
Softbound, 36 Pages
Available from Albatros
Publications
This title literally just came in, but it is such a colorful
subject I had to read it right away. The Pomilio aircraft are interesting
subjects made all the more interesting by the realization that the designer
of the PC and PD gained fame later in life by creating the famous Vespa
motor scooters. If one squints at a photo of a Pomilio PD in a darkened
room, you can almost make out the similarities, too. In all seriousness,
though, this book does an outstanding job of telling the history of this
attractive Italian design. The PD was an improvement over the PC, becoming
a faster than its earlier stablemate. Stability was a bit more challenging,
though, and the aircraft proved to be nose heavy. This prompted the design
to incorporate dual controls, to improve controllability. Throughout its
life, the PD and PE underwent many changes and modifications to try and
create a more stable aircraft.
The text is very well written in this book, making it a fast read. This
is not to say that it is not comprehensive, though, as the level of detail
is quite high. This is supplemented by the many excellent photos spread
throughout the pages. These show both factory assembly and service aircraft,
presenting the modeler with everything they could wish for. As other Datafiles,
this one would not be complete without a set of scale drawings, these
done in both 1/72 and 1/48 by Martin Digmayer. Completing the package
is a trio of colorful profiles by Bob Pearson presenting this plane in
three very different schemes.
For those not familiar with the Windsock Datafile series, there really
is no better WWI reference to have. Although these are few in pages, they
are large in data, and if you are building a model of a Pomilio PD/PE,
this is a book you cannot be without. My sincere thanks to Albatros
Publications for the review copy. |
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