A Mish-Mash of Nice Old Workhorses
As a lover of airplanes, especially old airplanes, I am glad to have this book. The excellent photography is a visual delight. Having said that, though, the book lacks a theme, other than that all the aircraft pictured are propeller driven. Most of the aircraft are workhorses, stalwart survivors soldiering on in the face of ageing technology and difficult economic conditions. However, for some reason, the book opens with several examples of DC-3s that are essentially flying museum pieces; plopped somewhere in the middle of the book are the two beautiful Lockheed Constellations, the L-049 of the Pima Air Museum, and Save a Connie's magnificent L-1049 Super G. Toward the end of the book are several grounded examples, which are followed by some Golden Age examples that, like the planes at the beginning, are flying museum pieces. The problem is that there is no sense of organization. Colin Addison should have included each theme in a separate chapter, e.g., passenger liners, cargo planes, ex-military planes, tankers, restorations, derelict aircraft.
On the positive side, there are several pictures that are rare and noteworthy. One picture I am very glad to have is that of Convair 240 N240BN, the very first Convair twin; not long after this photo was taken, the historic aircraft was scrapped (butcherd would be a more apt description). There is also a picture of Boeing 307 Stratoliner N19903, before she was restored to her former PAA glory. Other uncommon types included are a DH Heron (with Gypsy Major engines) and a Bristol Freighter. Also worthy of mention is Aerochago's magnificent L-1049, one of the last Connies to earn her keep flying cargo. In addition, there are a few shots of a group of Martin 4-0-4s languishing in Florida; sad to say, these aircraft met the same fate as the Convair 240 mentioned earlier, that is the scrap man. One picture I do not like, however, is the burnt-out hulk of a DC-4; even though nobody was hurt in the accident, it is a creepy photo. My other criticism is that this book, like all its Osprey brethren, has several photos crossing the center fold.
My first choice for a photographic record of historic propliners would be either Stephen Piercey's Skytruck or Graham Robson's excellent Prop Perfection and Propliner Renaissance. If, like me, you still hunger for more, then go get this book as well.
