Secrets of the Spitfire
The Story of Beverley Shenstone, the Man Who Perfected the Elliptical Wing
Lance Cole
Availability: No Stock on Hand, Supplier Has No Due Date for Supply.
Description - 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 Using exclusive access to his family documents, his unpublished autobiography and many notes and stories, as well as forensic research, this book details for the first time, a new twist to the Spitfire's story and the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. SELLING POINTS: Illustrated throughout Evokes a golden age of aviation design and development Relay's the story of one of History's most overlooked heroes of aviation design ILLUSTRATIONS: 20 mono photos
Buy Secrets of the Spitfire by Lance Cole from Australia's Online Independent Bookstore, Boomerang Books.
Society & social sciences »
Warfare & defence »
Weapons & equipment »
Military vehicles »
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd
Publish Date: 1-Nov-2012
Book Reviews - Secrets of the Spitfire by Lance Cole
» Have you read this book? We'd like to know what you think about it - write a review about Secrets of the Spitfire book by Lance Cole and you'll earn 50c in Boomerang Bucks loyalty dollars (you must be a Boomerang Books Account Holder - it's free to sign up and there are great benefits!)
More Books By Lance Cole
Bugatti T and Its Variants: Type 35 Grand Prix Car and its Variants
Flight Craft 15: Supermarine Spitfire MKV
Secret Wings of WW II
Bugatti Blue: Prescott and the Spirit of Bugatti
Classic Car Museum Guide: Motor Cars, Motorcycles and Machinery
Classic Car Gallery: A Journey Through Motoring History
VC10: An Icon of the Skies
Saab 99 and 900
Secret Wings of World War II: Nazi Technology and the Allied Arms Race
Classic Car Adventure
Flight Craft 20: Vickers VC10
British Leyland: From Triumph to Tragedy. Petrol, Politics and Power
Porsche Model by Model
SAAB Cars
The Jeep: Second World War
Citroen DS: French Design Classic
Monarchs by the Sea: A Rhyming Royal Fable for Children and Adults
Allard: The Complete Story