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Dave Windle
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V Bombers: Vulcan, Valiant & Victor (Profiles of Flight) Kindle Edition

by Dave Windle (Author), Martin W. Bowman (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 out of 5 stars 300 ratings
Britain’s desire to stay at the leading edge in the design and development of modern jet powered aircraft was born in the later stages of World War Two. The RAF sent requests to the leading aircraft manufactures for a variety of specifications, amongst which was one for a long-range heavy bomber. Three designs were accepted and eventually went into production – these became the V-Bomber Force. The first to enter service was the Vickers Valliant, a high swept-wing four engine aircraft. This type was used to test-drop Britain’s first H-Bomb in the Christmas Islands and then was tasked with delivering our deterrent during the early years of the Cold War. It saw action in a non-nuclear role during the Suez Crisis and then went on to serve as a flight refueling tanker until withdrawn with metal fatigue problems. The delta-wing Avro Vulcan then carried our latest nuclear weapon until the Royal Navy took over the deterrent task with the Polaris submarine fleet. This aircraft entertained rapt audiences at air displays around the world as its powerful engines, later to power Concorde, allowed this large bomber to fly like a fighter. Its most famous and only wartime service came during the Falklands Conflict for which it is now legendary for bombing Port Stanley, having flown thousands of miles with countless air-to-air refueling link-ups en route. The crescent-winged Handley Page Victor was the most durable of the trio and continued in service as a tanker into the twenty-first century. In practice it was probably the most successful of the three designs. It flew higher and faster than the Vulcan and Valliant and was remarkably robust – even into old age. This book contains the world famous color profiles created by Dave Windle of all three types in different operational modes, configurations and color schemes. Martin Bowman has written detailed descriptions and photographs to create the perfect enthusiasts reference.
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  1. Part of series
    Profiles of Flight
  2. Print length
    102 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Pen & Sword Aviation
  5. Publication date
    June 25, 2009
  6. File size
    2.5 MB
  7. Page Flip
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  8. Word Wise
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  9. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Looking for a handy handbook on Britain’s legendary V-Bombers? Get V-Bombers: Vulcan, Valiant and Victor – seventh installment in Pen & Sword’s growing “Flight Craft” series. Revised and enhanced from the 2009 edition, contents commence with notes on design, development, deployment and disposition of all three RAF designs. Personal anecdotes and remembrances accompany historical summaries. And text recaps combat service and variants – experimental and operational. Thirty-four gorgeous color profiles – terrific project inspiration – by co-author Dave Windle follow. And coverage concludes with a superb section on Vulcan, Valiant and Victor plastic scale models. The build-ups are excellent! Color and B&W photos further season the account. And tables recap V-Bomber production & serial blocks and units. It all ends, appropriately, in elegy. “Never again,” authors lament, will Britain “conceive, design and build not one but … three entirely British manufactured military aircraft powered by British-made engines and armed with British weaponry in any one generation.” Amen. Robustly recommended!"
Cybermodeler

"…very detailed descriptions of the squadrons that flew each aircraft and their missions."
IPMS/USA

About the Author

Martin Bowman is one of Britain's leading aviation authors and has written a great deal of books focussing on aspects of Second World War aviation history. He lives in Norwich in Norfolk. He is the author of many Pen and Sword Aviation titles, including all releases in the exhaustive Air War D-Day and Air War Market Garden series.

Dave Windle has gained the reputation of being Britain’s most skilful creator of aircraft profiles. He draws upon his service with the RAF to maintain complete accuracy. Lives near Aberdeen. Martin Bowman is one of Britain’s foremost aviation historians and has written many books and articles.

He lives in Norwich.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00DN5U5LI
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pen & Sword Aviation; Illustrated edition (June 25, 2009)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 25, 2009
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.5 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 102 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 300 ratings

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Dave Windle

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4 out of 5 stars
300 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book provides very detailed history of the V-Bombers. However, the pacing receives negative feedback, with multiple customers describing it as hopelessly disorganized.

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7 customers mention "Detail"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's detailed history, with one customer noting its comprehensive coverage of the V-Bomber development.

"This book is an extremely informative addition to any collection of aviation history...." Read more

"A very detailed description of the V-Bomber development and deployment. The depth of detail makes it a buy for the serious reader." Read more

"...It is very easy to read and a lot of interesting information about the old Vulcan bombers. For a history buff, I recommend it." Read more

"...little inside-the-cockpit ambiance, but there is a good general description of the bombers and their operational history...." Read more

3 customers mention "Pacing"0 positive3 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book hopelessly disorganized, with one customer noting it follows no logical pattern.

"...The material is totally, hopelessly disorganized. It follows no logical pattern...." Read more

"...The book is brief, and so, necessarily is the tale...." Read more

"Pedantic and repetitious but interesting nonetheless if you are interested in the decline and fall of the British aviation industry." Read more

Good look at Britain's Cold War bombers
4 out of 5 stars
Good look at Britain's Cold War bombers
Evidently the first of a new series, this book focuses on Britain's strategic jet bombers in an interesting fashion. The first 50 pages provide Martin Bowman's running narrative of the history of the Valiant, Vulcan and Victor, both in technical and operational terms. I expected coverage of each aircraft individually, but the author does an effective job of interspersing the service lives of the three aircraft in a manner that almost reads, at times, like a novel! The downside is that anyone looking for particular info about one of the three types has to do a bit of hunting. The text is complimented by a variety of black-&-white photos, some of which are well-known (like the dramatic shot of the prototype Vulcan disintegrating at an airshow!). There are lists of serial numbers and operational squadrons. This is followed by a section of excellent color side view drawings done by Dave Windle, an average of 12 for each type. While the number of base color schemes carried by these aircraft was rather minimal, Windle does a good job of showing small variations, though a selection of Gulf War nose art might have been a welcome addition. If these aircraft interest you, this book is worthy of your time, and I'm curious to see what else Pen & Sword plans to do with this series.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • michael Jowett
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Vulcan , Victor and Valiant engineering marvals.
    Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    This book is an extremely informative addition to any collection of aviation history.
    The Vulcan Valiant and Victor will all ways stand as the last of the great generation of Bombers.
    The fact that something so big as a Vulcan, could be used as was used as a low level attack bomber defies description, it must have been one hell of a ride. I remember seeing the Vulcan in New Zealand as a kid and the image will always be with me. This book tells of the trials and tribulations of the trio their successes and failures and details the last hirrar of the Falklands, Something no other bomber could do, not once but several times, and with the help of their sisters the Victors used as in flight Tankers.
    The only aircraft to come close as a follow on is the Harrier it seams ironical that the V bombers swan song was the Falklands and the Harrier was proving itself in the same location, British aviation engineering for the time at its best.
    Take a look you will not be dissapointed.
    One person found this helpful
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  • James Pernikoff
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good look at Britain's Cold War bombers
    Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    Evidently the first of a new series, this book focuses on Britain's strategic jet bombers in an interesting fashion. The first 50 pages provide Martin Bowman's running narrative of the history of the Valiant, Vulcan and Victor, both in technical and operational terms. I expected coverage of each aircraft individually, but the author does an effective job of interspersing the service lives of the three aircraft in a manner that almost reads, at times, like a novel! The downside is that anyone looking for particular info about one of the three types has to do a bit of hunting. The text is complimented by a variety of black-&-white photos, some of which are well-known (like the dramatic shot of the prototype Vulcan disintegrating at an airshow!). There are lists of serial numbers and operational squadrons. This is followed by a section of excellent color side view drawings done by Dave Windle, an average of 12 for each type. While the number of base color schemes carried by these aircraft was rather minimal, Windle does a good job of showing small variations, though a selection of Gulf War nose art might have been a welcome addition. If these aircraft interest you, this book is worthy of your time, and I'm curious to see what else Pen & Sword plans to do with this series.
    Customer image
    James Pernikoff
    4.0 out of 5 stars
    Good look at Britain's Cold War bombers

    Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2010
    Evidently the first of a new series, this book focuses on Britain's strategic jet bombers in an interesting fashion. The first 50 pages provide Martin Bowman's running narrative of the history of the Valiant, Vulcan and Victor, both in technical and operational terms. I expected coverage of each aircraft individually, but the author does an effective job of interspersing the service lives of the three aircraft in a manner that almost reads, at times, like a novel! The downside is that anyone looking for particular info about one of the three types has to do a bit of hunting. The text is complimented by a variety of black-&-white photos, some of which are well-known (like the dramatic shot of the prototype Vulcan disintegrating at an airshow!). There are lists of serial numbers and operational squadrons. This is followed by a section of excellent color side view drawings done by Dave Windle, an average of 12 for each type. While the number of base color schemes carried by these aircraft was rather minimal, Windle does a good job of showing small variations, though a selection of Gulf War nose art might have been a welcome addition. If these aircraft interest you, this book is worthy of your time, and I'm curious to see what else Pen & Sword plans to do with this series.
    Images in this review
    Customer image
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Montana Man
    3.0 out of 5 stars Very Good but Very Detailed History of the V-Bombers
    Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    A very detailed description of the V-Bomber development and deployment. The depth of detail makes it a buy for the serious reader.
    Helpful
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  • Robert Abel
    5.0 out of 5 stars IT even covers the BLack Buck missions during the Falkland crisis of the early '90s This is a very good book, and I recommend it
    Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    At last, a book about the other strategic force that won the cold war. This book follows the career of the V-Bombers as they were tested and assigned to squadrons. IT even covers the BLack Buck missions during the Falkland crisis of the early '90s This is a very good book, and I recommend it for just that reason
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  • P. Weiser
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good Profile
    Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent profile of an important fleet of aircraft. Might need just a bit more of the politics involved in government bankrupting Handley-Page by delay ("the deadliest form of deinal" - Parkinson), but otherwise very nice. The actual profile paintings showed up well enough but not spectacularly on my monochrome Kindle Keyboard (the exact opposite of "optimized for larger screens," of course).

    Bought this on sale, but probably worth the regular price. Flew a bit with SAC, interesting to learn how the other guys pulled alerts and exercises.
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  • david jacobs
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very good Book
    Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Purchased the book to ready through my Kindle. It is very easy to read and a lot of interesting information about the old Vulcan bombers. For a history buff, I recommend it.
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  • Geoff Arnold
    1.0 out of 5 stars Totally disorganized
    Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I haven't yet finished the first chapter, and I probably won't bother. The material is totally, hopelessly disorganized. It follows no logical pattern. It isn't chronological: it hops forwards and backwards in time, with no obvious motivation. It isn't thematic: it doesn't look at (say) the political context, the military context, the R&D process, production, deployment, and operation. These elements are, once again, completely jumbled. It doesn't even focus on each of the three subjects (Vulcan, Victor, and Valiant) in turn; it hops haphazardly from one to the other, sometimes in the same sentence. It feels as though several different texts were dumped into a randomizer which assembled sentences in random orders. The only prose which has any coherence is the occasional quotation from a designer or RAF crew member, but even these are dropped in almost at random.

    There are some nice pictures. Unfortunately they, too, seem to be placed at random.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book from reliable source of aviation industry and historytt
    Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This is really an excellent book that has expanded my knowledge of the classic V bombers. At times a bit dry, the book has an important place in anyone's library of modeling of airfix and matchbox kits of the V bombers.
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Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • E.J.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gute Luftfahrliteratur
    Reviewed in Germany on September 10, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Wie schon die anderen Bücher dieser Serie ein echtes Sammlerwerk mit Informationen die man so nicht in anderen Büchern über die Militärluftfahrt findet, leider nur in Englisch erhältlich, aber absolute Spitze.
    Wie immer Lieferung und Preis ok.
    Report
  • Montgomery Michaels
    5.0 out of 5 stars Valuable resource
    Reviewed in Australia on August 26, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This is quite a detailed source of information about Britain's Cold War V-Bombers. A valuable resource for those interested in the Cold War, aviation history or flight in general. It is especially useful for scale modellers interested in creating great accuracy and detail in their model making.
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  • Adrian
    5.0 out of 5 stars When the RAF had punch and presence.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 15, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I grew up around the V Bomber era with my late Father being a Crew Chief on Vulcans.
    His a/c XM655 still exists today at Wellsbourne nr Stratford upon Avon.
    For me this is a great little book (non kindle format). More of an overview format of each a/c type with sqdns, bases and service. Illustrations/profiles are very nice as well.
    Can recommend this title for all despite my obvious personal connection and love of the Vulcan.
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  • George Garland
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on August 11, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Nice book, very technical and imformative but an easy to read format. Reccomended.
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  • Cliente Amazon
    1.0 out of 5 stars V-Bombers
    Reviewed in Italy on October 6, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    L'importo mi è stato addebitato ma non l'ho mai ricevuto sul mio kindle.
    Per cortesia se possibile inviatemelo di nuovo
    Report

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