Aircraft Design of WWII: A Sketchbook, Paperback/Lockheed Aircraft Corporation

This treasure trove of cutaway views of 1940s aircraft features art from the top magazines of the era: Aeroplane, Flight, Aviation, L'Aeronautique, and others. The majority of the illustrations are American models, described with extensive notes and explanations. Select British and German planes are featured as well. The two-part treatment begins with a look at individual components: wings, empennage, controls, fuselage, landing gear, interior elements, and armament. The second part focuses on complete aircraft, depicting military and commercial single-, twin-, and multi-engine planes. Formed in 1912, Lockheed Aircraft Corporation was a leading WWII aircraft manufacturer and was responsible for the only plane in production throughout the entire war, the P-38 Lightning. Lockheed's Chief Engineer, Hall L. Hibbard, states the book's intention in the Preface: ``to give the designer a collection of ideas, in sketch form, that will stimulate his own creative and inventive mind.`` Model builders, vintage aircraft enthusiasts, and any creative person with an interest in the field will find this volume a valuable resource.