X-Plane Crashes
Exploring Experimental Rocket Plane and Spycraft Incidents, Accidents and Crash Sites

by Peter W. Merlin and Tony Moore

Specialty Press

Reviewed by Mick Evans

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“X-Plane Crashes - Exploring Experimental Rocket Plane and Spy craft Incidents, Accidents and Crash Sites” is a hard cover glossy publication printed in A4 format by Speciality Press of the USA. The book is written by Peter W. Merlin who worked is an archivist and historian at NASA Dryden Flight Research Centre, and Tony Moore who is a museum assistant at the Air Force Flight Test Centre at Edwards Air Force Base.

This title covers more than 100 crash sites of exotic aircraft from Edwards Air Force Base and Area 51. 

The heroes who flew the X-Planes were risking their lives to further advance the study of aviation and space travel.  Often they flew outside the envelope, causing the loss of the aircraft and sometimes the loss of their life.  The text captures the thrill and danger of test flying and the detective work of locating the crash sites of these aircraft.

The book contains 160 pages with over 289 black and white and colour photographs.

Throughout the book there are some great images of many of the prototypes and X planes such as the YB-49, the N9M flying wing, X-1A, X-1D, VB51, XB-70, SR71, YF-12, U-2s and many more.

One of my favourites is the XB-70 Valkyrie and included is the sequential series of colour photographs portraying the mighty bombers demise following a mid air collision with NASA’s F-104N.  The guys even find some pieces of the bomber at the crash site.  This crash put an end to the controversial XB-70 program. What might have been if not for this fatal accident?

Interestingly, a friend of mine loaned me a copy of the movie “Towards the Unknown” in which the Martin XB-51 aircraft is repainted as the fictional Gilbert XF-120. This aircraft and its crashes is featured in one of the final chapters of the book.

This is a very good book detailing the history of X-plane crashes and depicts a wealth of information associated with X-planes that very few people would be aware of.

“X-Plane Crashes - Exploring Experimental Rocket Plane and Spycraft Incidents, Accidents and Crash Sites”  will be a great addition to anyone’s library and in particular readers who are interested in X-Planes and X-Plane Crashes.

The book is available from Specialty Press www.specialtypress.com or (USA) 1-800-895-4585 for US$29.95 and US$6.95 postage and handling (continental USA) international buyers should seek international shipping and handling prior to purchase.

Thanks to Speciality Press for the review sample.