Allied Rotorcraft of the WW2 Period

Mushroom Model Publications

Reviewed by Mick Evans

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Allied Rotorcraft of the WW2 Period is a new addition to the Mushroom Publications “Red Series” of books.

Rotary wing aviation goes back a long way, to 1916 in fact when the designer Louis Brennan was given an order to build an experimental machine.  His work was however suspended by “other needs” during World War One and it was not until December 1921 that pilot engineer Robert Graham made the first (albeit tethered) flight of Brennan’s machine.

This new book from Mushroom Publications relates the efforts of Brennan as well as other pioneers in rotary wing aviation from the early days up until the end of WW2 and the ‘40s.

The book is divided into five different chapters that cover the efforts of each of the four main allied nations of WW2, the USA, Britain, the USSR and France.

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Each of the chapters is broken down to describe the aircraft that each nation produced.  The chapters and their contents are as follows:

• Chapter 1 – What is the use of it?  Describes the early pioneering days of rotary wing aviation.

• Chapter 2 – The USA.  The sub chapters describe the following machines:

• The Platt-lePage XR-1

• The Sikorsky VS-300 in its various forms.

• The Sikorsky R-4 – arguably the first really practical helicopter.

• The Sikorsky R-5 and R-6.

• The Piasecki XHRP-X

• The Bell Model 30.

• The Firestone OX-1, Pitcairn XR-9B, Firestone XR-9, Kellet XR-10, Hillier XH-44 and X-2235 and the Kellett XR-8.

• Chapter 3 – Britain. 

• Cierva C.30A Rota

• Hafner A.R.111

• Weir W.5

• Hafner/Shorts A.R. IV/V

• Rotachute

• Rotabuggy

• Hoverfly 1 (Sikorsky R-4)

• Hoverfly II (Sikorsky R-6A)

• Cierva W.9

• Chapter 4 – USSR.   

• TsAGI A-7

• AK Autogiro

• Omega

• Chapter 5 – France. 

• LeO C.30

• LeO C.301

• SNCASE C.302/SE 700

• LeO C.34

Following the above chapters you are treated to ten pages of contemporary images full colour showing restored Avro Rotas in museums and flying displays from around the world.  Similar treatment is provided for the Sikorsky R-6, the Sikorsky R-4 Hoverfly, the Kellet XO-60, the Hillier XH-44, the Piasecki PV-2, the Pitcairn PA-39 and the LeO-302.

The final eight pages of the book are taken up with colour side profile illustrations of the various machines discussed above.

The book is paperback, B5 in size and contains 128 glossy pages in all (32 in colour) between thin cardboard covers.

A good read for those who want to gain some knowledge of the development of rotary winged aircraft as well as the pioneering machines of the era.

Thanks to Mushroom Model Publictions  for the sample.

All Mushroom Model Publications books are available direct from the publishers, who now accept credit cards (Visa, MC, Amex, Switch)  

North American distributors are MMD, Australian distributors are Platypus Publications. In Europe, the books are available from any good bookshop (via our UK distributors, Orca). Contact MMP direct in case of difficulties. 

Thanks to Roger at Mushroom Model Magazine  for the sample.

Review Copyright 2009 by Mick Evans
This Page Created on 18 November, 2009
Last updated 16 March, 2010

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