F80 Shooting Star: In Detail & Scale: Volume 20 softcover
F-80 Shooting Star: In Detail & Scale: Volume 20 softcover
Designed under great secrecy and in considerable haste by a team led by Clarence L. “Kelly” Johnson during World War II, Lockheed’s P-80 Shooting Star will forever hold a significant place in the history of American military aviation as the first jet fighter to reach operational status with the U. S. Army Air Forces. The USAAF later became the U. S. Air Force in 1947, and with the creation of the U. S. Air Force, the Shooting Star was redesignated the F-80. It would go on to serve as a fighter-bomber in the Korean War. It would become the first USAF jet fighter to score an aerial victory, and one would be credited with the first jet-on-jet aerial kill in history. RF-80s would become the first jet-powered photographic reconnaissance aircraft to serve with the USAF.
F-80 Shooting Star in Detail & Scale provides a comprehensive look at this important and historic jet fighter, beginning with a history chapter that traces its inception during World War II through its use in the Korean War and later service with Air National Guard squadrons. This is followed by a chapter that takes a closer look at each of the different variants of the Shooting Star, from the XP-80 prototype through the QF-80 drones and DF-80 drone directors. Because the P-80/F-80 was the first jet fighter to become operational with the Air Force, quite a few were used for various developmental experiments and tests, and these are also covered in the variants chapter. The Navy’s and Marine’s use of the Shooting Star as the TO-1 and TV-1 is also included in that chapter.
The next chapter takes a look at the Shooting Star’s combat service in the Korean War, both as a fighter-bomber and as a tactical reconnaissance aircraft. But the primary focus of all volumes in the Detail & Scale Series of publications is to illustrate the aircraft in extensive detail, and the Shooting Star Details chapter provides the most detailed look at the F-80 and RF-80 that has ever been published. More than 125 photographs and illustrations show the Shooting Star in incredible detail, both inside and out. Photographs from the files of Lockheed and the U. S. Air Force are included along with dozens taken of existing aircraft by the author and several other aviation photographers.
As with all titles in the Detail & Scale Series, this book concludes with a Modelers Section that reviews the scale model kits that have been produced of the Shooting Star. All kits in the standard modeling scales, from 1/144th scale through 1/32nd scale, are covered. Recommendations are made as to which kit is the best in each scale, and suggestions are made as to how to improve each kit.
F-80 Shooting Star in Detail & Scale provides the most detailed look at this iconic and historic aircraft ever published, with almost 250 photographs, over 180 of which are in color, with a dozen full color profiles and additional artwork.
Published August 2024, 102 pages, 70 black & white and 180 colour photographs, line drawings,12 colour profiles, model kit reviews. softcover, 8 1/2" x 11"
Detail & Scale Series
Created by author Bert Kinzey, the renowned Detail & Scale brand of books for the modeller has been around since 1978. A total of 114 books were produced up to 2004, including 69 in the Detail and Scale Series, and 24 in the Colors & Markings Series.
A brand new series of both the Detail and Scale Series, and Colors & Markings Series are now available in both digital and printed versions. Some of these are brand new titles, and some are completely updated and revised books that cover some of the subject matter of the older titles. More titles are being added regularly, so check back periodically for new releases.
They are very popular with modellers, each providing quality photographic detail of many otherwise hidden parts of the subject aircraft, including cockpits, radars, avionics, armament, powerplants, and landing gear. These books are highly sought after by the aviation enthusiast and modeller alike. These are Print on Demand books so they will never go out of print.
To be advised when an item arrives in stock please use our stock notification tool on the website. When viewing an item on the site, open the green button which says “Send Me An Email When It Arrives” and enter your address. Please Note, this DOES NOT reserve a copy of the item for you. We recommend you order the item As Soon As Possible if you receive a notification, because in some cases very limited stock may be available. Online orders are the fastest way to do this.
You can also contact us at [email protected] or 416-674-5959 to reserve your copy
