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buy modalert online india From Kettering’s 1920s’ Bug & 1950’s Snark to Today’s Tomahawk

By Bill Yenne

Specialty Press, 2018. 203 pages. $34.95.

Unmanned aircraft are, in general, of little interest for me. It is the man—and now, woman—in the cockpit that brings an aircraft literally to life. The story of aviation is more about people than equipment, so I approached Bill Yenne’s work with a bit of a chip.

I was wrong.

This book is a very worthy addition to anyone’s aviation book collection. It is a very solid basis from which to understand unmanned aerial vehicles. And Yenne does put the humanity in these pilotless craft.

The first chapter, “From Bug to Buzz Bomb,” covers the subject from the earliest days of aviation through the end of World War II. This chapter is packed with information, but had me wanting more, especially about the earliest years. Subsequent chapters, however, flesh out the many early projects from the Matador and Mace, through the two versions of the Regulus, Navaho, Snark, Rascal, and Hound Dog. Most of these garner little comment and many details of inception, production, and deployment are generally unknown to the general reader. Yenne changes all that.

One leaves this book with the sense that they have a firm foundation in the history and evolution of pilotless aviation.

For one, I had always been impressed by the XSM-64 Navaho. As a 12-year-old in the ’50s, I simply thought it was neat and never could figure out why it never went anywhere. Yenne dedicates eight full pages to the subject, including a dozen photographs—most in color—and three sets of illustrations and drawings.

The SM-62 Snark was another favorite. How could anyone not love a bright red missile with white markings? Especially if you could get one for 98 cents at your local hobby shop. Yenne gives it 11 pages, eight photographs—but none showing the red versions in color—and six drawing sets and a map.

Both sections significantly added to the knowledge base and clearly explained each missile’s significance.

Just a few missiles, the modern ones—primarily the Air Force’s air- and ground-launched cruise missiles (ALCM and GLCM) and the Navy’s Tomahawk—consume half the book. Their tales are as much a study of military weapons procurement as they are about the design, engineering, production, and use of the missiles. Yenne successfully navigates the minefield of political and military intrigue that appears to surround every weapon purchase. Everything is put in perspective.

Yenne’s prose and presentation of the subject matter is very easy on the reader. Comprehension of even the most complex issues is easy.  And, of course, in what appears to a standard for the Specialty Press, the book is printed on thick, high-gloss stock, which reproduces photographs almost perfectly. Few spreads are lacking for imagery. Photographs and informative illustrations and charts are placed where needed to buttress points made in the text.

All in all, this book is worthy of being read and adding to your collection.