The Royal Australian Air Force’s Heron unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was a critical asset in the fight against terrorism and insurgency in Afghanistan. From 2009 to 2014, the Heron detachment provided intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) support to Australian and Coalition forces on the ground, contributing to the mission’s success and helping to keep our soldiers safe.A Bird’s Eye View provides an in-depth look at the RAAF Heron detachment’s operations in Afghanistan...

A compelling insider's view of the modern RAAF.AIR FORCE tells the action-packed, inside story of the modern Royal Australian Air Force, from East timor and the Bali bombings to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Award-winning journalist and best-selling author Ian McPhedran brings us gripping personal accounts of fighter pilots' bombing raids over Iraq, spy planes over Afghanistan, the operational nerve centre of the Middle East war and the delivery of humanitarian aid in world trou...

`Shimmering in the morning sun, wave upon wave of bombers, driving for London. Stepped above and behind, the serried ranks of Messerschmitts. Covering mile upon mile of sky, as far as the eye could see. It was at once magnificent and terrible. I broke hard into attack, pulling the Spitfire into a climbing, spiralling turn as I did so…`Read about the development of the Spitfire in Taking to the Skies; heroic anecdotes of the pilots in The Battle of Britain; and amazing aerial combat...

The RAF veteran and author of Fast Jets and Other Beasts shares stories from the men and women who have flown the combat aircraft.With the introduction of female pilots to the RAF in 1994, the Tornado was the first aircraft to be flown by both men and women. Another aspect distinguishing this book from the rest of the series is that it covers an aircraft which is still in active service, especially as a key player in current Middle East operations. With foc...

The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight 370 in 2014 is considered the greatest aviation mystery of our time but it does not stand alone. The second volume of Without a Trace begins in 1970, when a military pilot chased a glowing unidentified object only for both to disappear in an instant. How did India manage to misplace five fighter jets? Did the young pilot chasing an inexplicable aircraft over the Australian coast really get abducted by aliens? These questions and more a...

A SAS soldier's journey from trainee to elite warrior fighting Islamic militants in Afghanistan, only to be betrayed by his own senior leaders at home.'I've had more than my share of close calls. Truth is, it's f*cking thrilling. But the fear can hit just as hard, especially when you see mates wounded or killed. Or civilians caught in the crossfire people who had nothing to do with the fight, but still paid the price.'This is the story of Andy Whit...

A detailed history of the Lockheed SR-71, the fastest and highest-flying jet ever built, written by the world's leading expert on the aircraft and packed with first-hand accounts and colour profiles.Even before the first operational flight of the U-2 spy plane, aircraft designers began work on the type's replacement. The result was the SR-71. First deployed on March 9, 1968, this tri-sonic 'hotrod' flew its first operational sortie over North Vietnam just 12 days l...

True Stories of Aircraft and Passengers Who Disappeared Into Thin AirFor many, aviation still brings with it an air of mystery, a century-long magic trick. Though most of us will board an aircraft at some point in our lives, we know little about how they work and the procedures surrounding their operation. It is that mystery that makes these losses, such as the vanishing of Malaysia Airlines flight 370, so terrifying.Without a Trace explores the most interest...

The inside story of the most expensive and controversial military program in history, as told by those who lived it.The F-35 has changed allied combat warfare. But by the time it’s completed, it will cost more than the Manhattan Project and the B-2 Stealth Bomber. It has been subject to the most aggressive cyberattacks in history from China, Russia, North Korea, and others. Its stealth technology required nearly 9 million lines of code; NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover ...

A comprehensive account of the origins, design, and history of the A-10A Warthog: "Highly recommended." — AMPS IndianapolisIncludes photosThe Fairchild-Republic A-10A Close Support aircraft has become a legend over its long front line life. Known as the Warthog due to her unusual appearance, this little aircraft has built up an awesome reputation in the specialized ground-attack role, where her accuracy and deadliness are widely recognized a...

Beginning with the birth of combat aircraft in World War I and the early attempts to rescue warriors trapped behind enemy lines, Leave No Man Behind chronicles in depth nearly one hundred years of combat search and rescue (CSAR). All major U.S. combat operations from World War II to the early years of the Iraq War are covered, including previously classified missions and several Medal-of-Honor-winning operations. Authors George Galdorisi and Tom Phillips (both veteran U.S. Navy he...

Paul McDonald is a former RAF fast-jet pilot whose flying career spanned 34 years. He is not a typical senior RAF officer having been brought up on a council estate in a bleak northern industrial town. He became a pilot by accident and struggled to gain his wings. He spent 14 years on operational tours overseas including 2 tours at the height of the Cold War on a Tornado tactical nuclear squadron in Germany, only 15 minutes from responding to an anticipated Soviet onslaught. Earlier he ser...