Erik Simonsen

This was a particularly tough review to write. My rating wavered between two and three stars in various sections of the book and mostly an overall disappointment in how the development of the "losing aircraft" was covered. I was pretty much at the point of recommending it "as a good introductory book, but consider it carefully if you have a library covering USN and USAF aircraft from post WWII."
A few things won me over to the "I like it" rating.
1. Read the foot notes - there is a bunch of good stuff in there. I think an interview with John Atwood by the author in 1997 tells the reader this book has been well researched and a long-term labor of love by Mr. Simonsen.
2. The chapters after the YA-9/A-10.
3. Coverage of the "what-ifs" for the F-16/F-18 in particular.
One item that I particularly liked (although not a reason to buy the book.) was the picture of the ANG KC-97 tanking the YF-16/YF-17 prototypes. Although the airplanes are no longer the same as those that tanked 5 decades ago, it's a great picture and speaks volumes about our current procurement.
There are a few errors and typo's interspersed throughout the book, but overall, I don't think they're worth lowering the rating.
I think the best way to say how satisfied I am with the book is to say that I will look favorably at and probably buy future books by Mr. Simonsen.
Recommended for readers interested in aviation history, USAF history and US procurement politics.… (plus d'informations)