Faster Than Sound

This account of aviation looks at the theory and implications of the speed of sound and the concept of the sound barrier, together with examining man's attempts to break this barrier. This book covers all aspects of supersonic aircraft - research, military and transport planes - as well as aerospace machines that can operate from ordinary airfields yet fly to the moon, of which the Space Shuttle is an early example. Bill Gunston is the author of Plane Speaking: A Personal View of Aviation History, Giants of the Sky: The Biggest aeroplanes of all Time and Rolls-Royce Aero Engines.