Plane Spotter's Guide
By Chris Banyai-Riepl
Author: Tony Holmes
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-78096-051-7
Binding: Softcover
Pages: 216
Sometimes having a simple quick reference can come in handy, especially when it comes to identifying subjects outside of our main interest. This small yet dense book is aimed at just that, providing a fairly thorough collection of aviation subjects over the past 100 years. This is not meant as a comprehensive history of each subject, but rather a simple overview with a drawing showing the aircraft in typical colors. These drawings are done as a straight side-view profile, which is nice but a three-view drawing might have served better here in terms of actually visualizing the shape of the aircraft.
The book is organized chronologically, starting with the First World War and ending with the modern B-1 bomber. The vast majority of the book is with the Second World War, though, with the vast majority of the 70 aircraft portrayed coming from that conflict. The aircraft covered include:
First World War: Sopwith Pup, Nieuport 17, Albatros D.III, SPAD VII, Sopwith Camel, RAF SE 5/5a, Fokker Dr.I, Fokker D.VII
Second World War: Boeing B-17, Bristol Blenheim, PBY Catalina, Messerschmitt Bf 109, Gloster Gladiator, Hawker Hurricane, Junkers Ju 87, Supermarine Spitfire, Short Sunderland, Messerschmitt Bf 110, Fiat CR.42, Junkers Ju 88, Mitsubishi A6M Zero, P-40 Warhawk, B-25 Mitchell, F4F Wildcat, SBD Dauntless, Bristol Beaufighter, de Havilland Mosquito, Il-2 Shturmovik, Ki-43 Hayabusa, B-26 Marauder, P-38 Lightning, Focke Wulf Fw 190, Hawker Typhoon, B-24 Liberator, P-47 Thunderbolt, Ki-61 Hein, Macchi C.202, P-51 Mustang, SB2C Helldiver, TBF/TBM Avenger, F4U Corsair, Avro Lancaster, Lavochkin La-5/7, B-29 Superfortress, Messerschmitt Me 262, Yakovlev Yak-3
Post-War: MiG-15, F-86 Sabre, F9F Panther, B-57 Canberra, F-100 Super Sabre, B-52 Stratofortress, A-4 Skyhawk, Handley Page Victor, Avro Vulcan, F-8 Crusader, F-105 Thunderchief, MiG-21, F-4 Phantom II, Dassault Mirage III, SR-71, F-14 Tomcat, F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F/A-18 Hornet, F-117 Nighthawk, AV-8B Harrier II, B-1B Lancer
As this is an Osprey publication, it becomes clear why it is so heavy on the Second World War, as they're pulling the information and illustrations from their existing library of books. As that library is heavy on WW2, this one must also be that way. Still, it is a nice general reference and a handy book to have for that quick overview. My thanks to Osprey Publishing for the review copy.