People, Bottom Line, Book & Video Reviews

Former head of Lockheed’s Advanced Development Company, or Skunk Works, Ben R. Rich, died at the age of 69 in January 1995 after a lengthy illness. Regarded as the “father of stealth,” Rich led the development of the F-117 Nighthawk and contributed to legendary projects including the F-104, U-2, and SR-71 Blackbird.

Bottom Line

The Federal Airports Corporation has reported a record $94 million before-tax profit on earnings of $457.2 million, representing a 5% increase in profit and a 6.4% increase in revenue.

The International Directory Of Civil Aircraft, 1995-96

Gerard Frawley & Jim Thorn

To date, aircraft reference works have tended to deal exclusively with a certain area of aviation. Many deal with new and in-production types, others look at Pipers and Cessnas, others just airliners, and still others have focused entirely on helicopters. For the first time in recent history, the International Directory of Civil Aircraft deals with all types, new and old, fixed and rotary wing, big and small.

The Directory describes in detail 353 civil aircraft that are in service today, with entries on everything from the legendary Douglas DC-3 to the supersonic Concorde, from the ubiquitous Cessna 172 to the long-ranging Canadair Global Express, and from the well-loved Piper Cub to the massive Antonov An-225.

Each individual aircraft entry brings together a wealth of information previously very difficult to find in one source. For each aircraft, the Directory describes its function, country of origin, powerplant(s), performance, weights, dimensions, freight and/or passenger capacity, orders to date, numbers built and in service, and a concise history of each type’s development and service career.

The 212-page International Directory of Civil Aircraft also features a fleet inventory listing of 650 of the world’s jet aircraft equipped airlines, further adding to the value of this useful book. This first edition of the Directory (the International Directory of Military Aircraft will be released in early 1996) is illustrated by over 440 full-colour photos.

At just $22.95, the Directory is perhaps the best value and most informative aircraft reference work available in many years. It is available from Aerospace Publications, PO Box 3105, Weston Creek ACT 2611.

Aopa Visual Pilot’s Guide 1994-1995

AOPA, in collaboration with well-known aviation author John Willis, CFI of the Latrobe Valley Aero Club, has produced a most useful Visual Pilot’s Guide to fill the void left by the demise of the old CAA Visual Flight Guide.

The contrast between the two publications couldn’t be more marked. The old VFG was a hotch-potch of rules and regulations interspersed with guidance to the visual aviator. To overcome the shortfalls of the VFG, the AOPA publication has been written strictly as a revision reference manual for qualified pilots and is intended to simplify flight under Visual Flight Rules (VFR).

It is a very user-friendly publication to read and is well indexed. The sections on Primary Control Zone and General Aviation Aerodrome Procedures operations are particularly good, providing simple guidance for the minimal experience pilot making his first entry into one of these airfields. The use of diagrams and flow charts for radio calls also makes for a more ready understanding of what is required at each point.

The guide is written in seven parts covering background information, basic information, flight preparation, flight procedures, general information, and safety advice. A number of annexes include useful advice on what to expect when flying in the various regions of Australia.

The publication is designed to be a companion to the annual AOPA Airfield Directory and fits readily into a flight bag. AOPA will issue new editions on a regular basis. The AOPA Australia Visual Pilot’s Guide is available for $25 from AOPA, PO Box 1065, Fyshwick, ACT 2609.

Allied Fighters: Command Vision

Allied Fighters is the first in a series titled The Great Fighting Machines of WW2, dealing with the many US, British, and Russian fighters that served in the world’s largest conflict.

The strength of this video is its diversity. While famous legends such as the Spitfire and Mustang are covered in detail, so too are the workhorse Hellcats, Tempests, and Thunderbolts, and the lesser-known Russian types. Often rare footage (including some of Australia’s 3 Squadron in North Africa) is matched by an informative narrative by Bill Gunston. Together, the video provides a very good overview of the major allied fighter types and their use in combat.