S u m m a r y
|
| Publisher's details and
Title |
The Aviation Workshop
On-Target Special
HMS Ark Royal Fifty Years of Flight 1955-2005
by Denis J. Calvert & Gary Madgwick Illustrated by Jon Freeman |
| Media: |
Soft cover; A4 format;
80pages plus covers |
| Price: |
£22.00 available online from The Aviation Workshop |
| Review Type: |
First Read |
| Advantages: |
Packed with attractive
profiles and in-service photos; many and varied markings across a good selection of aircraft types;
logically organised; detailed and useful captions describing ops, colours, markings and
unusual features; specific references cited; great source of inspiration for modellers. |
| Disadvantages: |
|
| Recommendation: |
Highly Recommended |
Reviewed by
Rodger Kelly
If you are a fan of the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm you will be impressed with this new book from The Aviation Workshop!
Not only does it tell the story of the fourth and fifth ships to bear name Ark Royal in Britain’s Royal Navy but it also tells the post-war history of the Fleet Air Arm and its aircraft through their involvement with the ship.
Following a succinct introduction that informs you all about the name Ark Royal and the ships that have borne that name, the book is chronologically laid out into 15 chapters that span the years 1955 until present day as well as two chapters devoted to aircraft that were tested aboard or visited the two carriers.
- Construction and First Commission 1955-56
- Second Commission 1956-58
- Fourth Commission 1961-63
- Seventh Commission 1974-76
- Joint Harrier and Joint Helicopter Command
- Ark Royal Today and in the Future
The book is lavishly illustrated indeed with 84 sharp good quality black and white as well as 59 colour images. Another feature of the book is the full colour profile-type illustrations by Jon Freeman. They are pertinent to and follow each chapter covering 108 different aircraft in all as well as a profile of each of the Ark Royals. For an aircraft enthusiast, these are really great. Coverage is diverse and includes multiples of each of the types operated by the Fleet Air Arm as well as “visiting aircraft” such as U.S. Navy F-4, F-8 and A-6 as well as an RAF EAV-8B, British Army De Havilland AL 1 Beaver and a Spanish Navy EAV-8B. Are there Phantoms? Oh yes, and they include ones of those “zapped” by the U.S. Navy at Naval Air Station Oceana in 1978. With regard to these aircraft, the word “zapped” is perhaps a little too restrained considering the amount and extent of the “modifications” performed to the markings! Enlargements of Fleet Air Arm squadron insignia and individual markings are scattered throughout these profiles as well. There are both side and upper and lower plan views profiles and all include reasonably comprehensive comments and notes.
The book is A-4 in size, comprises 80 pages all up and is soft bound within cardboard covers.
At £22.00 it is not cheap at all, but if you are a fan of the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm I am sure that this impressive title will somehow find its way onto your bookshelf!
Recommended
Thanks to Model Alliance for the review sample.
Review Copyright © 2008 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 9 January, 2008
Last updated 9 January, 2008
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