Naval Air: Celebrating a Century of Naval Flying

Naval aviation arrived early in the last century in the form of balloons and airships employed by the Royal Navy for reconnaissance, and interest was stirring in naval circles in a greater aeronautical capacity for the service. Since this point of inception, huge leaps have been made in the design, development and performance of naval aircraft. This comprehensive account details the journey from origin through early development into wartime deployment. This is carried forward through post-war innovations and into modern conflicts such as the Falklands campaign. Bringing the history up to date, there is a section dedicated to the Helicopter, its varying uses, current disposition and status of the various types in the US and British navies.