RAF Trainers Volume 2: 1945-2012

Published on
September 28, 2013
Review Author(s)
Book Author(s)
Peter Freeman with Tim Walsh
ISBN
978-0-9569802-9-8
Other Publication Information
Softcover, 80 pages, approximately 8.25 x 11.5 inches, full color side profiles and 4-view drawings
MSRP
$45.00
Cover

I don't know if it's my preference for 1/72 scale models, but I have a lot of RAF subjects in my kit collection. When I look closer, many of these kits are trainers. When I saw this title, then, it immediately grabbed my attention. This particular AIRfile book is the second volume in a series covering RAF training aircraft and starts with the post-war period of 1945, continuing through 2012. I initially expected information on the standard training machines – Provost, Gnat, Hunter T.7,and Hawk – but was pleasantly surprised to find much more.

The author begins with a short history of RAF aircrew training during periods of draw-downs and reduced budgets. He also gives a thorough explanation of the evolution of the colors for these training aircraft. What follows is the meat of the book: 76 pages of full-color profiles and 4-view drawings of just about every fighter type and other aircraft flown by the RAF during this period. Any aircraft employed in a training capacity – initial pilot training, instrument training, towing targets, operational conversion training – is covered. Each aircraft profile is accompanied by a short paragraph about its usage and history. There is even a 4-view of the MQ-9 Reaper, since that machine is required to train UAV crewmembers.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the RAF. It's chock full of information and inspiration for attractive, colorful paint schemes. Most of the aircraft depicted in this volume are available to us modelers. I'm going to unearth my Airfix Chipmunk and look for the new Airfix Vampire T.11 for future builds. Also, I want to check out the first volume of this series.

My thanks go to AIRfile Publishing for providing this book for review and IPMS/USA for the chance to review it.

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