| Pvt Snuffy | 30 May 2019 6:38 p.m. PST |
I'd like a good book with lots of pics and diagrams showing me how modern air combat works since I know jack-all about it [unless you count watching Top Gun in the Theater in 1985]. Ideally, it'd be a colorful book that my 10yo son would enjoy also. I'm loving the Trumpet 1/350 Jets I got, and we are going to try out Ostfront Publishing's "Air Strike: Family Air Combat" altho my wife doesn't know it yet… Come to think of it, some videos or shows my son could watch would also be cool! Thanks in advance! |
| stephen m | 31 May 2019 4:15 a.m. PST |
By far the best book out there is; Fighter Combat: Tactics and Maneuvering.
Robert L Shaw Not big on colourful pics but it does have a lot of diagrams of maneuvers. Starts with WWI as all real fighter tactics originated there. Everything since had just added to the syllabus. A real fighter pilot's bible. |
| Prince Alberts Revenge | 31 May 2019 5:51 a.m. PST |
Not exactly what you're looking for but I like Aircraft vs Aircraft by Norman Franks. Lots of diagrams and illustrations showing maneuvers and tactics (and aircraft) from the beginning of air combat to the 1980s although later editions also have the Gulf War. I still enjoy flipping through the pages… |
| Pvt Snuffy | 31 May 2019 6:59 a.m. PST |
well, that's exactly what I'm looking for. Shaw unfortunately is pretty pricey, but Franks was <$4 shipped. I love Abe Books! |
| Walking Sailor | 31 May 2019 8:55 a.m. PST |
Shaw's Fighter Combat is a textbook and is priced accordingly. |
| stephen m | 31 May 2019 9:18 a.m. PST |
Shaw's Fighter Combat is a textbook and is priced accordingly. Yes, that is very true. Perhaps when your son is 12 or 13 and wants to perfect his vertical rolling scissors to get you to spit out in front then Shaw will be the next book order. |
| Trierarch | 31 May 2019 10:44 p.m. PST |
Modern Air Combat by Gunston and Spick is another good option if you can get hold of a copy at a reasonable price (it being a 1980s publication) Cheers
David |
| Lion in the Stars | 01 Jun 2019 2:19 a.m. PST |
Shaw's Fighter Combat is a textbook and is priced accordingly. ? Amazon is showing a new hardback copy for as little as $34 USD, and MSRP is $45.95 USD. ( link ) That's not a textbook price. Textbooks cost a couple hundred these days(!). $46 USD isn't cheap, no, but it isn't out of line for a small-print-run hardback, like wargame rules. |
| David Manley | 01 Jun 2019 2:55 a.m. PST |
Smaller that his "Modern Air Combat", Mike Spick wrote "An Illustrated Guide to Modern Fighter Combat", one of those handy Salamander books that were popular in the 80s. It is quite concise but from memory it gave a good grounding in the subject.
That said, Shaw's book is perfect if you want to get into much more detail! |
| Walking Sailor | 01 Jun 2019 1:26 p.m. PST |
Textbooks cost a couple hundred these days(!). Did I just date myself?  |
has been itching for a small Soviet project!
