U.S. Naval Air Superiority: Development of Shipborne Jet Fighters 1943-1962

U.S. Naval Air Superiority: Development of Shipborne Jet Fighters 1943-1962 by Thomason, Tommy. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9781580071109.

As World War II came to a close, piston-powered fighter aircraft were at their zenith, and Navy fighters, such as the Grumman F6F Hellcat and Vought Corsair, dominated the skies over the Pacific. As these fighter designs reached their peak, a new propulsion technology was being developed that held great promise. When introduced, the first jet aircraft were underpowered, and in many ways inferior to propeller-driven aircraft of the time. U.S. Naval Air Superiority examines the Navys internal struggle to adapt the jet engine to its style of warfare as well as the development and evolution of carrier-borne fighters and their airframes and engines, from the closing days of World War II through Vietnam. For the first time, U.S. Naval Air Superiority profiles the turbulent design and development stage of the Navys carrier-based jet fighter program. From the successful designs, such as the Fury, Banshee, Crusader, and Phantom II, to the also-rans, like the Fireball, Demon, Pirate, and Cutlass, the Navys needs are measured against contractor and political demands and the limits of the evolving engine and aerodynamic technologies of the day. This book includes engine cut-aways, aircraft comparison diagrams, and details the safety improvements made to aircraft carriers to enable higher speed and high-gross-weight jet operations.