Cockpits of the Cold War - Professional Reading - Brief Article - Book Review

Naval Aviation News, May-June, 2004 by Peter B. Mersky

Nijboer, Donald. Photography by Dan Patterson. Cockpits of the cold War. Boston Mills Press and Firefly Books, Ltd., 132 Main St., Erin, Ontario, Canada N0B 1T0. 2003. 192 pp. Ill. $39.95.

The fourth in a well-produced series, this latest book has a unique collection of subject aircraft, especially for American readers. The first three volumes deal with WW II types--a unique collection describing aircraft gunner positions and aircraft in the collection of the National Air and Space Museum.

Using a large format that permits proper presentation of historic and current photography, these books feature a brief introduction describing each aircraft's career, including notes by pilots with experience in the aircraft alongside a full-page color photo of the cockpit. This is complemented by a black-and-white echo photo with numbers over important instruments and a key giving the designation of the instruments.

Cockpits of the Cold War offers a look at such types as the American SR-71, F-84, A-1, F-4 and F-8; Canadian Avro CF-100; British Gloster Meteor, Hawker Sea Hawk and De Havilland Sea Vixen; French Dassault Mystere; Swedish Saab J 29 and J 32; and Russian MiG-15, MiG-21 and Sukhoi Su-7. The flight characteristics and design of the cockpits of these aircraft are also detailed.

The book could have used an editor to catch typos, particularly in American aircraft and squadron designations, but this unusual and interesting presentation will appeal to historians and modelers alike.