Classic Jetliners

Though this book is starting to show its age, it still provides a fine overview of the first-generation jetliners, which are become rarer and rarer each day.The pictures are of high quality, but there are several two-page spreads. The authors divide the book into chapters describing the Boeing 707, Douglas DC-8 (both short-body and stretch variants), trijets (Boeing 727 and HS Trident), twinjets (Douglas DC-9, Boeing 737, BAC-111, and Caravelle), and such rarities as the Vickers VC-10, DH106 Comet, and Convair 880. Soviet types, however, are underrepresented, which is a pity. You will find a small selection of pictures of the Tu-104, Tu-134, and Il-62, but no Tu-154 or Yak-40. I do, however, really like the flight deck shot of the Interflug Tu-134 preserved in Augsburg, Germany.The authors include detailed and interesting annotations for each picture, with information on individual aircraft and where it was photographed, making this book a pleasure to read. I would happily recommend it to any civil aviation enthusiast.