This text tells the story of Bell's Cobras, from their design and introduction, through their use in the Far East and Russia, to their eventual retirement.

Истребитель Р-39 Airacobra был первым серийным самолетом, созданным фирмой Hell Aircraft Corporation. В 1939 году, представляя истребитель военному министерству США. фирма провела широкую маркетинговую акцию. В результате возникло множество мифов, которые долгие годы окружали самолет. Большие надежды, инспирированные фирмой-изготовителем, вылились в представление о необычайных характеристиках машины, имевшей к тому же очень необычную конструкцию.

More than 120 prototypes and X-planes, from the Bell X-1 to the H-35 JSF. Over 2000 photographs and illustrations. Unique graphics, which allow the reader to compare the performance of contemporary aircraft. Full dimensions, weights and performance figures for each type.

Peebles admirably assembles, from a multitude of sources, a compact complete history of U.S. programs to develop so-called black or secret aircraft. Those began with work on the first American jet, the Bell P-59, during World War II, and proceeded to include the construction of such eventual headline-makers as the U-2, the SR-71 Blackbird, and the F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter, which distinguished itself in the Gulf War. Also covered are such lesser-known vehicles as several families of reconnaissance drones, some fast and high, some low and slow. Besides the hardware, Peebles covers the logistics, administration, and politics of keeping multibillion-dollar programs under wraps until they succeed or fail.