From Nighthawk to Spitfire by John Shelton (9780750962223)

Description - From Nighthawk to Spitfire by John Shelton

. The story of R J Mitchell at Supermarine and his complete aircraft design output R. J. Mitchell was virtually self-taught; surprisingly, almost all his other aircraft 24 aircraft were slow-flying seaplanes. How a lad from the land-locked Midlands, apprenticed to a locomotive works, came to be responsible for the Spitfire is a great tale in itself. This detailed book tells us how Mitchell learned his trade from 1916, contributing to the production of the cumbersome Nighthawk, designed to combat the German Zepplin threat, and gradually coming to produce record-breaking racing floatplanes which in 1931 won outright the prestigious international Schneider Trophy. Mitchell was thus well placed to design a high speed aircraft when war began to threaten, but Dr Shelton reveals the production of the famous fighter was by no means a certainty and how, indeed, its vital contribution to winning the Battle of Britain was "a very close run thing". AUTHOR: John Shelton was Head of Humanities at Staffordshire University and taught courses which included industrial archaeology. He produced display material on Mitchell and his aircraft for the Stoke-on-Trent Museum Spitfire Room and wrote Schneider Trophy to Spitfire; the Design Career of R.J. Mitchell (Haynes, 2008). He soloed in motor gliders and light aircraft but did not pursue a pilot's licence owing to other commitments, especially restoring an Elizabethan manor house and converting its stable bock. He also produces oil paintings of (mainly) Supermarine aircraft. He lives in Standon. SELLING POINTS: . A lively and readable account of Mitchell's career and output along the journey to Spitfire . Places his work in its historical context . Provides photographs of every design and 3-view drawings of every design . A full and unvarnished biography of Mitchell 90 b/w illustrations

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