Commercial Aircraft

More about the book

This book presents a survey of the world’s commercial aircraft, detailing those now in use, from the largest-capacity airliners to small commuter planes. There is useful and interesting background information as well as basic data about passenger and cargo airliners, whether piston-engined, turboprop-engined, or turbojet/turbofan-engined. All the world’s major aircraft-producing countries are represented, and international efforts such as the European Airbus are also described. Particularly fascinating are the eight cutaway drawings of individual aircraft such as Concorde, which help to explain modern techniques in construction. There are chapters on freight carriers and helicopters as well as those aircraft used for business purposes. The role of agricultural aircraft should not be underestimated, and the types used for crop-spraying, see-sowing, and topdressing are illustrated and described. Though the early Eighties brought hard times for manufacturers, some rose to the challenge and produced more economical models. There is a wealth of aircraft illustrated here.