Balzer Gerald (15 results)

Hardback. Condition: Good. During the 1930s, American tactical aircraft ranged from small biplanes to all-metal monoplanes, but they lacked the range, performance, and firepower required to combat a new foe in the darkening skies over Europe. With their 300-mph top speeds, these airplanes represented the step before the step in achieving the higher performance of legendary fighters used in World War I, but the secrets of what became America's first next generation fighters lay in the design, construction, and flight testing of radical new airplanes that broke the rules of aeronautical engineering and were intended to push performance envelopes to new limits. Although the Materiel Division of the Air Corps faced a daunting task, unique designs from Vultee, Curtiss-Wright, and Northrop ultimately emerged to win contracts for building experimental prototypes of airplanes with very different configurations. Powered by either inline or radial piston powerplants, these new designs looked more futuristic on paper than anything seen before, but the acid test was to see how they flew. Would they become record-breaking champions, or frustrating aeronautical problem children confounding their engineers, builders, and pilots? Noted author Gerald H. Balzer tells this story using original factory photos and comprehensive information that has never before been published. This fascinating tale of America's first Pusher Fighters highlights the trials and tribulations of innovative designers, dedicated builders, and courageous test pilots, each of whom contributed to bringing the Vultee XP-54 Swoose Goose, Curtiss-Wright XP-55 Ascender, and Northrop XP-56 Black Bullet into reality.…

Hardback. Condition: Good. During the 1930s, American tactical aircraft ranged from small biplanes to all-metal monoplanes, but they lacked the range, performance, and firepower required to combat a new foe in the darkening skies over Europe. With their 300-mph top speeds, these airplanes represented the step before the step in achieving the higher performance of legendary fighters used in World War I, but the secrets of what became America's first next generation fighters lay in the design, construction, and flight testing of radical new airplanes that broke the rules of aeronautical engineering and were intended to push performance envelopes to new limits. Although the Materiel Division of the Air Corps faced a daunting task, unique designs from Vultee, Curtiss-Wright, and Northrop ultimately emerged to win contracts for building experimental prototypes of airplanes with very different configurations. Powered by either inline or radial piston powerplants, these new designs looked more futuristic on paper than anything seen before, but the acid test was to see how they flew. Would they become record-breaking champions, or frustrating aeronautical problem children confounding their engineers, builders, and pilots? Noted author Gerald H. Balzer tells this story using original factory photos and comprehensive information that has never before been published. This fascinating tale of America's first Pusher Fighters highlights the trials and tribulations of innovative designers, dedicated builders, and courageous test pilots, each of whom contributed to bringing the Vultee XP-54 Swoose Goose, Curtiss-Wright XP-55 Ascender, and Northrop XP-56 Black Bullet into reality.…

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.

Paperback. Condition: Good. Many small shallow scratches to cover surfaces, some bumping to corners. Broad crease to bottom corner of front cover, another to top corner of rear cover that continues into pages from rear. Otherwise in swell shape, the binding is square and solid, the pages are clean and smooth featuring b/w and color prints throughout.…

hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority.

hardcover. Condition: Very Good.

Ephemera. Condition: Good with no dust jacket. Stapled binding is sound. Pages clean, age-darkened. Typescript font. Wraps are age-darkened with handling wear. Contents: Robinson, "'Hindenburg' Retrospect." Krauskopf, "National Guard Aviation, 1940-41." Balzer, "World War II Photo Page." Letzter, "Finishes and Markings of USAF Aircraft." Coletta, "The Navy's Air Navigation Charts." Bowers, "World War I Photo Page." Morehouse, "Flying Pioneers of Aviation." Larkins, "A-20 Production List." Parkinson, "Some Origins of Military Aeronautics." Holt and Cannon, "Air Craft and War." Reviews. 11.0" tall; 88 pages. …

Ephemera. Condition: Good with no dust jacket. Stapled binding is sound. Pages clean, age-darkened. Typescript font. Wraps are age-darkened with handling wear. Contents: Sloan, "History of the 88th Observation Squadron (Salmsons)." Opdycke, "American Developments of the Bristol Fighter." Lippincott, "The National Air Museum." Keller, "The Macmechen-Kamp Airship." Smith, "The Airship as an Aircraft Carrier." Flanagan, "An Evening in Berlin." Morehouse, "Flying Pioneers of Aviation." Balzer, "World War II Photo Page." Nowarra, "World War II on Other Fronts." Reviews. Illustrated with black and white photographs. 11.0" tall; 88 pages. …

Ephemera. Condition: Good with no dust jacket. Stapled binding is sound. Pages clean, age-darkened. Typescript font. Wraps are age-darkened with handling wear. Content: Air Knight of the Ozarks: Captain Field E. Kindley. "148th American." The Airplane-Carrying Airship: The First Experiment." Aircraft Armament, The Beginnings. Japanese INternational Flights of the 1930's. World War I Photo Page. B-17 Production List. Flying Pioneers of Aviation. World War II Photo Page. Departments. 11.0" tall; 72 pages. …

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. Clean, crisp hardcover in fine condition. Fine DJ in mylar cover.

Hardback. Condition: Very Good. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

First Edition. A fine copy in a near fine dust jacket. We provide PROTECTIVE packaging. Photos of our books are always available upon request. SELLING USED AND RARE BOOKS ON ABE SINCE 1997 AND IN OUR STORE IN THE BERKSHIRES FROM 1987 TO 2015.

Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. 1st Edition. First Edition / First Print. A4 Paperback copy, no dustjacket as issued. 72pp. Colour and b/w photographs, b/w diagrams. Not library copy, no inscriptions, no creasing to spine. (47/5).

rev. ed. wrappers New Book lge. octavo 72pp., col. & b/w pls., diags., text ills., 4pp. gatefold, The History and Technology of the USAF's extraordinary Stealth Bomber.

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. Some interesting designs! XP- 54/55/56. pp.x.182.Illus. Plans. DW in archival sleeve; slight shelf wear.