For those of you who love aircraft and their details, Reid Air Publications is the gold standard for reference. This series of books is a glorious full color run through some of the greatest planes in the US armory. The latest book reviewed here covers the A-7 II Corsair, commonly called the SLUF (short little ugly fella or some derivative!). This is an in-depth photo journal of the plane from top to bottom and front to back. It covers variants including A-7 D-H, TA-7C, TA-7H, A-7K as well as all the needed under wing ordnance. Looking at the general chapter headings will give you a good start to the depth this book has:

• Introduction and History
• Forward Fuselage
• Mid Fuselage
• Aft Fuselage
• Fuselage Top
• Cockpit
• Wings
• Horizontal Stabilizers
• Vertical Stabilizer
• Fuselage Bottom
• Landing Gear
• External Ordnance

Each one of these sections has extensive coverage in full color and with great text. For example, the forward fuselage section covers the radar, radome, general pictures, engine intake, right and left side details, gun bay, refueling probe, all avionics bays and RAT turbine. And there are not just one or two pictures of each of these, in some cases, there are several pages of high definition, color pictures with text explaining everything you could want to know about the plane and its parts.

This continues throughout the entire book with each section containing information about each part but also, differences in variants and export versions, details of how parts work and why and general information.

The includes shots for the review are only six of over 1000 photos but you can see the level of detail in the wings folds, the gun pictures and more. And beware, reading the book will also add to your knowledge as this is not just a pretty face. Do you know that the A-7 was a premier bomber and could carry almost anything and with a lot of it? It’s in the book in the details.

This is the best reference for the A-7 and if you want to detail one or have an interest in the plane, this book is one you must have. For $39.95, you get information and over 1000 color pictures and that is a great deal. Most highly recommended. Go get one now!

My thanks to Jake Melampy and Reid Air for the opportunity to review this book. Find it at the web site above. And check out the other books in the series covering the F-16, F-18C and F-15C AND a new version of the A-10 book is due out very soon.