Erich Rieder

The reference for US airborne armament in WW2, 6. Mai 2013

Want to know how the Norden bombsight worked in detail? Want to understand how the Sperry gun turrent functions? Want to learn about pilot training and bomber formations? If you would answer yes to any of these and similar questions, then this book is the right one for you. I did not have the time to read it from cover to cover, this would require to take a week or so off. So it serves rather as a reference to me. But what I did read is really well researched and well presented (lots of descriptive images!) information.

Development of STOL technology up to C-17, 6. Mai 2013

This book gives an insight into STOL aircraft development from its inception up to the well-known C-17. Significant technology concepts such as blown flaps and upper surface blowing (now you know what USB really means!) are explained with their pros and cons. The YC-14 and YC-15 prototypes from the advanced medium STOL transport competition of the 70ies are compared in detail and the technology path to the C-17 is outlined. I had gread fun reading this book.

Want to know what ECM meant in the early days?, 6. Mai 2013

This account is on the history of the RB-66, an electronic warfare aircraft deployed worldwide including Vietnam in the 1960ies. Apart from the rather poor quality of the illustrations I can recommend it, particularly for the aviation buffs. Amazing to learn what can go right and wrong when managing an aircraft system that was conceptually totally new at it's time.