Using the cockpits of approximately sixty military and civil aircraft as examples, this book follows the development of aircraft instruments in Germany from 1911 to about 1970. The standards and developments of each period are described and the instrumentation of each cockpit is identified. There is also a general explanation of the science of aircraft instruments and the function of various items of equipment. The aircraft cockpit represents the interface between man and machine. In the span of a few decades the cockpit underwent an astonishing development, from sparsely equipped, primitive open cockpit, to enclosed cockpits with numerous instruments and systems. The pilots of aviation's pioneering period flew by sight and feel and mistrusted the few instruments that were available. The First World War brought mass production of aircraft and the first standards for instruments and equipment. The 1930s and 1940s represented the apex of German aircraft development, producing distant-reading compass systems, radio navigation aids, electric multiple indicators and autopilots.

This comprehensive volume provides a wealth of information with annotated listings of more than 3,500 titles--a broad sampling of books on the war years 1939-1945. Includes both fiction and nonfiction works about all aspects of the war. Professional resources for educators aligned to the educational standards for social studies; technical references; periodicals and electronic resources; a directory of WWII museums, memorials, and other institutions; and topics for exploration complement this excellent library and classroom resource.

Developed from a 1938 design by Messerschmitt the Me 262 Schwalbe (Swallow) was the world's first operational turbojet aircraft. First seeing combat in July 1944, it proved to be particularly effective against the large Allied bomber formations that were operating over Germany late in the war and more than 1,400 were produced, though less than 300 saw combat. This book showcases six different builds of the Me 262 across the scales from 1/72 to 1/32, across a range of skill levels. It also includes a comprehensive list of all the available kits and aftermarket products.

The Messerschmitt Bf 110 was undoubtedly one of the most significant aircraft of World War II. Despite suffering setbacks in the summer of 1940 at the hands of the RAF, it continued to be used effectively in other theatres and roles until the last days of the war, particularly as a night fighter against RAF Bomber Command's strategic bombing campaign over the Reich. This title shows you how to correct and convert basic 1/48-scale kits of the Bf 110 into many different variants, using a wide selection of aftermarket detail sets, conversions, accessories and decals for both day and night fighter schemes.

While there is no shortage of books on Second World War fighter aircraft, Cockpit is the first book to take us inside so many of the most revered and feared fighters and bombers of the war, including rare shots of Japanese and German aircraft interiors. Built during the crisis of war, the cockpits and aircraft featured in this book were marvels of technology and ingenuity. A candid "pilot's perspective" accompanies the story of each plane. Cockpit offers an unprecedented inside view of these extraordinary airplanes and the men who flew them.