9 x 9" 184 pgs. Hdbd. Item # SP084 ISBN: 1580070841

SKYSTREAK, SKYROCKET, & STILETTO: DOUGLAS HIGH-SPEED X PLANES by Scott Libis Gas turbine technology gave birth to the turbojet engine during the 1940s, ushering in the jet age. Paralleling turbojet development, the fledgling rocket engine was ready to make a grandiose debut. But aeronautical advances weren’t limited to propulsion technology — the time was also right for incorporating a swept wing into a full-scale aircraft. The Douglas D-558-1 Skystreak, D-558-2 Skyrocket, and X-3 Stiletto were among the first aircraft to blend airframe to powerplant in ways that would set the standard for many modern-day aircraft designs. These aircraft were at the forefront of a renaissance in aeronautical discovery, the likes of which have not been seen since. Aeronautical history was made with these aircraft as they explored transonic and supersonic flight. One of the D-558-2 Skyrockets even became the first manned aircraft to exceed Mach 2. In this quest for knowledge, records were broken, mysteries solved, and a life was lost. Author Scott Libis brings the story of these beautiful Douglas aircraft to life with more than 300 photos and illustrations. Special attention is paid to the men who flew the planes and the technology that developed along the way.