Douglas D-558: D-558-1 Skystreak and D-558-2 Skyrocket (X-Planes)

Everyone remembers Air Force test pilot Chuck Yeager and the X-1, the first aircraft documented to have broken the so-called sound barrier. Much less well known is the U.S. Navy's contribution to supersonic flight, the Douglas D-558. Its two versions would ultimately achieve Mach 2 and some new altitude records.In this Osprey X-Planes Series book, author Peter Davies recounts the Navy's early transonic R&D program, conducted in parallel and often in competition with the U.S. Air Force's X-1. The D-558 was a less exotic design, but ultimately just as capable as the X-1. Perhaps unlike the X-1, the D-558 design work would contribute more directly to the design of the U.S. Navy's first transonic fighter aircraft. The narrative is backed by lots of period photographs and modern illustrations. The author also makes a good point of the hazards of being a test pilot in an earlier era. Well recommended to students of the history of military aviation.

Very informative.

Great book in a great series just such a pity some of the funest illustrations go across the centre pages meaning you have to damn near split the book in two down the soine to see them properly ...why in earth publishers pull this stunt I willl never know .even so this is another in a cracking series.