Classic Warbirds in Color: Musketeers of the Sky

By Patrick Hoeveler

This colorful and informative volume examines in detail the history, design, production, and service of some of the greatest warbirds of all time. Bringing them to life in vivid color, incredible photos capture these high-flying and hardworking machines at the height of action from every combatant in WWI and WWII. Enthusiasts, model builders, and historians will enjoy the detailed air-to-air and close-ups providing insight into the full details of the service life of Mustangs, Spitfires, Messerschmitts, Zeros, Spads, Fokkers, and more. Each entry is accompanied by brief informative histories and vital technical data.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0873498615
• ISBN13: 9780873498616
• Release Date: May 2004
• Publisher: Krause Pubns Inc
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 12.0" x 0.5" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

An Enjoyable Look at a Selection of Warplanes

The term "warbirds" in the US refers to flying examples of military aircraft owned and flown by civilians; most of the aircraft qualify, but the author should have concentrated on showing flying examples, with fewer museum pieces. Aircraft profiled - with ample color photographs - are the Albatros B1, Avro Lancaster, Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, Boeing B-29 Superfortress, Bristol Blenheim, Bristol F.2B Fighter, Consolidated B-24 Liberator, de Havilland Sea Vixen, Douglas A-26 Invader, Etrich Taube, Fairey Swordfish, Gloster Gladiator, Gotha Go 229, Grumman F7F Tigercat, Grumman Avenger, Hawker Fury, Lochkheed C-121 Constellation, Lockheed P-38 Lightning, LVG C VI, Messerschmitt Bf 109, North American B-25 Mitchell, North American F-86 Sabre, North American P-51 Mustang, Superamrine Spitfire, and Westland Lysander. This is a decent sample but not comprehensive, as such aircraft as the Grumman F6 Hellcat, Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, and the Hawker Hurricane are absent, as are any representations of Russian aircraft, especially the beautiful Yakolev series. The text is short but informative; overall, this book is an enjoyable read.

Colorful look at Surviving Warbirds!

CLASSIC WARBIRDS IN COLOR, MUSKETEERS OF THE SKY is the English edition of KLASSISCHE MILITARFLUGZEUGE: MUSKETIERE DES HIMMELS published in Germany in 2003. In it author/photographer Patrick Hoeveler, for many years the editor of FLUG REVUE, Germany's leading aviation magazine, offers up a photographic tribute to 25 surviving warplanes. Hoeveler's book presents an interesting mix of warbirds not always seen in books of this nature. He includes the usual old standards - P-51s, B-17s, B-25s, F-86s, Spits and B-29s - but also includes such rare birds as the Albatros B 1 biplane, de Havilland Sea Vixen, Etrich Taube, Gotha Go 229 and Westland Lysander. (Not all the birds depicted are flyable; some are just museum displays or in storage). Each aircraft gets at least a two-page spread with a short history, specs sidebar and various b & w/color photographs. Some aircraft rate more pages. The Lancaster, for example, gets eight pages; the P-51, ten. Hoeveler is a top-notch photographer. Many of his airborne shots are quite nice. There are a number of books out there like CLASSICS WARBIRDS IN COLOR. What sets Hoeveler's book apart is the interesting variety of aircraft covered and the consistently appealing photography. Long out of print, Hoeveler's book can be acquired for a pittance...so latch on to a copy. Recommended.