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Secrets of the Spitfire Lance Cole

Secrets of the Spitfire By Lance Cole

Secrets of the Spitfire by Lance Cole


£19.99
Condition - Like New
Out of stock

Secrets of the Spitfire Summary

Secrets of the Spitfire by Lance Cole

This book tells the tale of the brilliant aerodynamicist Beverley Shenstone MASc, HonFRAes, FAIAA,AFIAS, FCASI, HonOSTIV. As R.J. Mitchell's chief aerodynamicist, it was Shenstone who designed the Spitfire's wing - the wing that gave the Spitfire it crucial advantage in the Battle of Britain and beyond. A quiet man, Shenstone never sought glory for his work, yet in recent years he has been credited as the man who persuaded Mitchell to adopt the ellipse - a modified ellipse that was unique in its shape and its combined use of two integrated aerofoil sections. Shenstone's knife-edge shape reached far back into early aeronautics for its inspiration. This book also names the other forgotten Spitfire design contributors who were Mitchell's men - Mr Faddy, Mr Fear, Mr Fenner, Mr Shirvall, a Prof Howland and others. Intriguingly, Shenstone had left his native Canada and early training as an RCAF pilot, to study at Junkers and then under the father of the delta wing - Alexander Lippisch in Germany in the early 1930s. There, he became immersed in delta wings and flying wings. He also became a glider pilot. The story of how Beverley came to be in the right place at the right time is revealed for the first time. So too are the enigmatic tales of his involvement with the military, the intelligence world, Lord Beaverbrook , the USAF, and Canadian aviation. During the war Shenstone worked at the top secret Wright Patterson air force base and was involved with the Air Ministry and the pro-British movement in America when Shenstone worked for Air Chief Marshal Sir Wilfrid Freeman, the unsung hero behind British defence procurement. Shenstone achieved high office - a President of the Royal Aeronautical Society, technical director at BOAC, chief engineer at BEA and a consultant to several aircraft makers. He was courted by Avro, de Havilland and Vickers, and was the force behind the renaissance of human-powered flight. Using exclusive access to his family documents, his unpublished autobiography and many notes and stories, as well as forensic research, this book details for the first time, a new twist to the Spitfire's story and the secrets of its advanced science. A tale of design and military intelligence reveals a story of a man whose name should be more widely known in the UK, Canada and the aviation world.

Secrets of the Spitfire Reviews

In his latest tome, Secrets of the Spitfire (Pen and Sword 19.99) Lance Cole tells the story of the Canadian aerodynamicist Beverley Shenstone. While Shenstone is not a household aviation name like RJ Mitchell or Sir Sydney Camm, the evidence in Cole's fascinating book suggests perhaps he should be. The Canadian, who trained as a pilot with his national air force briefly joined German aircraft manufacturer Junkers during the early 1930s before moving to Supermarine in Southampton where he oversaw design of the Spitfire's elegant elliptical wing. He was later offered the chief designer's role at Supermarine owner Vickers (a job that was ultimately taken by Sir George Edwards) and went on to serve as engineering boss with BOAC and BEA as well as being president of the Royal Aeronautical Society. This superbly written and researched book provides an excellent and entertaining insight to a hugely influential participant in the UK's 20thcentury aviation scene. - Flight International / Flight Global A pleasure to read. This is one of those books that an aviation enthusiast cannot be without. - Firetrench Anyone interested in seeing how talented engineers seek and find solutions toward flight characteristics...should find Secrets of the Spitfire a satisfying read. Aviation history

Additional information

GOR009101972
9781848848962
184884896X
Secrets of the Spitfire by Lance Cole
Used - Like New
Hardback
Pen & Sword Books Ltd
2012-11-01
272
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
The book has been read, but looks new. The book cover has no visible wear, and the dust jacket is included if applicable. No missing or damaged pages, no tears, possible very minimal creasing, no underlining or highlighting of text, and no writing in the margins

Customer Reviews - Secrets of the Spitfire