Faster, Further, Higher

Book excerpt: This volume concentrates on the key developments that prepared the way for the sophisticated civil and military aeroplanes of the 21st century. The first chapter makes a study of the way transonic and supersonic aerodynamics have shaped aeroplane design. The next essay explains how aerodynamic developments have led to technological developments in the cockpit to keep pace with the faster speeds and higher altitudes possible. The third major step in post-war aircraft technology came with the development of in-flight refuelling technologies, and the next chapter covers this. Succeeding chapters cover such technological developments as the use of new materials, the need to make jet engines more fuel efficient, developments in avionics and the problems of mass-producing high-technology aircraft. The Series Editor Philip Jarrett, is a freelance author, editor and consultant specialiszing in aviation. He has been editor of Aeroplane, the Royal Aeronautical Society's newspaper, assistant editor of Aeroplane Monthly, and production editor of Flight International.