50 Aircraft That Changed the World

The flying machines that pushed the boundaries of aerospace development.

Dick and Patterson have made unusually fine choices.... Reasonable affection for aircraft is shown throughout this attractive, literate volume. Recommended. General readers. --Choice

The team's selections are defensible, and the illustrations, sidebars, pilot and aircraft profiles, and human-interest stories are all fresh, appealing, and insightful. Recommended for all aeronautical collections. --Library Journal

A close-up survey of 50 of arguably the most remarkable and influential aircraft in aviation history.... Beautifully presented... this book will grace the coffee table of any aviation aficionado. --Airforce Magazine

In December of 2019, Vancouver-based airline Harbour Air took to the sky in a 1956 Havilland Beaver retrofitted to fly on battery power. Eschewing gasoline and easily able to fly commuter distances, this old new plane took the first steps of 21st-century flight. 50 Aircraft That Changed the World is about exactly this type of flight revolution. Written by the authors of the widely acclaimed Aviation Century series, it profiles 50 of history's most influential aircraft and their pilots and designers.

Now an aviation classic, the book has been reformatted to a smaller size but otherwise remains the same. It begins with the 1905 Wright Flyer III, and moves on to the birth of aerial warfare in World War I, the trailblazers of the interwar years, classic World War II aircraft, the jets of the Korean and Vietnam wars, modern commercial carriers, private jets, experimental designs and new combat fighters featuring stealth technology.

Featured aircraft in 50 Aircraft That Changed the World include:

Hundreds of color and archival photographs enhance the informative and entertaining text making this an ideal choice for aviation buffs.

Ron Dick served with the Royal Air Force for 38 years, retiring in the rank of Air Vice-Marshal. After his retirement, Dick lived in Virginia and wrote and lectured on military and aviation history until his death in May 2008.

Dan Patterson received the first annual Combs Award, honoring his contribution to the photographic preservation of America's air and space heritage. He lives in Dayton, Ohio.