Ken Neubeck – författare

The Lockheed U-2 ‘Dragon Lady’ has long been associated as a symbol of the Cold War due to several news events of that era. Much of this was the result of the news surrounding well-known incident when Gary Powers’ U-2 was brought down by Soviet missiles over Russia in 1960 and his subsequent capture. There was also the events in 1962, when Major Rudolf Anderson Jr. was also shot down, this time over Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis.Though it is commonly characterized as a spy plane, as the author reveals here there is so much more to the U-2 than that. Since the Cold War, and even with the advent of satellite and drone technology, many may not be aware that the U-2 is still flying today, and still performing vital surveillance missions in many of the world’s hot spots of military or political turmoil. These can often be demanding missions, flights which take place at high altitude and lasting for many hours, taxing the endurance of even the very best pilots. There is a demanding and robust selection process for potential U-2 pilots, all of which is detailed in Ken Neubeck’s absorbing commentary.Notably, after the Cold War, the U-2 aircraft proved to be valuable in the Gulf War in 1991, where it provided a significant amount of overhead surveillance of potential Iraqi targets, prior to the start of the war. This book not only examines the unique history of the aircraft but also looks at the extensive pilot training and requirements to fly it, which is unparallel with any other military aircraft training. With a wingspan of over 100 feet, the landing and take-off sequence for the U-2 requires extreme pilot skill, along with the use of removable landing gear pogo devices at the end of each side of the wing. Previous books on the U-2 have touched upon this unique aspect of the type, but usually in narrative fashion as opposed to a pictorial sequence which this book will do in detail.  The story of the U-2 continues, and Ken Neubeck looks at the future prospects of this, the most famous spy plane to ever have taken to the skies in the Cold War.

A thorough photographic history of the US Navy Blue Angels flying-demonstration team. Since 1946, the world-famous US Navy Blue Angels flying-demonstration team has performed in airshows in the United States and around the world. This book details the origins of the team when created by the US Navy, as well as describing the different models of aircraft that the team has flown during its seventy-year history. Propeller-driven F6F-5 Hellcat and F8F BearcatJet-powered F9F-8 Cougar, F11F-1 Tiger, F-4 Phantom, and A-4 SkyhawkPresent-day F/A-18 HornetGraphic and photographic descriptions of some of the team's signature maneuvers that are performed during a Blue Angels airshow, in stunning imagery. Part of the Legends of Warfare series.

The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II—commonly nicknamed the "Warthog" due to its unusual and ungainly appearance—became the most effective close-air-support aircraft that has ever served for the US Air Force and Air National Guard. Designed around the GAU-8/A Avenger autocannon, the aircraft was a highly effective tank killer during Operation Desert Storm. The Warthog continues to serve, from its first appearance in 1976 through subsequent wars up to the present time, and well into the future. This concise, illustrated book covers the construction, development, and combat history of this unusual aircraft and features superb detail and combat photography.

The Boeing F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet is an evolutionary redesign of the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 A/B Hornet. The Legacy F/A-18 Hornet first flew in 1980 and met the requirement for a multirole fighter to complement the larger and more expensive Grumman F-14 Tomcat, serving in fleet defense interceptor and air superiority roles. The Hornet proved to be effective, but it was limited in combat radius due to fuel capacity. This would be corrected with the newer and larger F/A-18 Super Hornet design, which is now the primary fighter/attack aircraft used in the US Navy carrier fleet and has replaced both the legacy Hornet and the F-14 Tomcat. Additionally, the Super Hornet airframe design was used for the design of the EA-18G Growler, which took over the electronic countermeasures (ECM) role of the EA-6B Prowler.

The McDonnell Douglas / Boeing C-17 Globemaster III's design, construction, and operational history are presented in this book. With over 280 aircraft built, the Globemaster III is one of the workhorses for the US Air Force as well as a number of foreign countries such as Britain, Australia, Canada, India, Qatar, and Kuwait. It was designed primarily as both a strategic and tactical airlift aircraft but has also been widely used in added roles such as medical evacuation and airborne troop drops. It saw combat during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom and has also been deployed on humanitarian missions throughout the world since its introduction in 1995.

The McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II—vertical/short takeoff and landing (VSTOL)—is the US Marine Corps’ current frontline close-air-support aircraft. A variant of the famed British Aerospace Harrier II, the AV-8B is noted for its ability to hover in place, ideal for operating on smaller carriers and in less-than-ideal landing zones. This book provides a concise overview of VSTOL capabilities and the development of the Harrier jump jet in the UK, followed by the use of this aircraft by the US Marine Corps. USMC Harrier II units’ first combat missions were during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, followed by extensive deployments in eastern Europe, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

An illustrated guide to the most deadly production fighter aircraft in the world The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor entered service in 2005, and production ended in late 2011. Despite the appearance of many new designs in the interim, an argument can still be made for the Raptor as the most advanced fighter aircraft on active duty today. Primarily due to its stealth capabilities, the F-22 program remains somewhat secretive. Despite a high public profile, under 200 examples were built and some of its systems remain classified. The plane is strictly prohibited from export to allied powers, and the aircraft cannot be exported from the US. The F-22 has seen combat in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan and even shot down the infamous "Chinese spy balloon" off the coast of South Carolina in February 2023.  F-22 Raptor provides a concise pictorial history of the aircraft, from its design and development to its adoption, combat duty, and even use as a exhibition aircraft with the Raptor demo team. Included are many original, previously unpublished photographs from the author's personal collection.

A visual guide to the F-35 Lightning II, which is expected to remain in service with militaries all over the world through 2070. The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a versatile modern jet fighter. It is intended to replace numerous aircraft types including the F-16, A-10, F/A-18, and the Harrier Jump Jet in the air forces and navies of the United States and its allies. The plane entered military service in 2015 and first saw combat in 2018. It is expected to remain in service with militaries all over the world through 2070. Lockheed Martin has already delivered more than a thousand units of the type. This is a pictorial guide to the F-35 and its variants. Readers will see the plane both in appearance and technical detail. Both US and foreign examples are featured. A concise history of the plane in development and operation is included.