The Secret Horsepower Race: Western Fighter Engine Development

[FTC_Mephisto]

I came across the author via twitter and he has been sharing some interesting facts collected during the research for the book. Now the topic is very niche and hence it is absolutely paramount for the publisher to achieve sufficient level of pre-orders for the book to be published at scale and be available for many aviation enthusiasts. If you find the topic interesting, please consider pre-ordering. I did so myself and now just trying to help the author further with this post. 

 

The book is about fighter aircraft piston engines from the Second World War, the men who designed them,and the secret intelligence work by Britain and Germany which decided so much.

 

The Second World War, was the first global conflict to be decided primarily through air power – although very advanced jet and rocket engines were developed; the militarily significant battles were all fought by piston engined fighters.

The winner of this war would be whoever could design the most powerful piston engines, and the story of this battle, hidden behind the closed doors of intelligence agencies and design offices has never been told.

The book will focus on primary research material, and seeks to avoid the treadmill of recycled stories about British and German fighter aircraft, and replace them with a comprehensive review of original documents from the Military archives in America, Germany and Britain – together with access to original memoirs -never previously seen- written by German fighter engine designers during the Second World War.

The primary credit for the creation of this book must rest with Doktor -Ing. Karl Kollmann, who`s father Professor Doktor -Ing. Kollmann was chief designer of the Stuttgart Unterturkheim design office, where the engine of the Messerschmitt Me109 was formed and developed until 1945. Dr. Kollmann provided his fathers memoirs to me so that a the story of the race for power between nations could for the first time tell the full story of the most important technical aircraft battle of the Second World War.

 

https://www.calum-douglas.com/current-book-the-secret-horsepower-race/

 

You can order via amazon, e.g.:

 

https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Horsepower-Race-Aircraft-Development/dp/1911658506/

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Horsepower-Race-Western-Development/dp/1911658506/

[Aurora_Stealth]

@Mephisto

 

This looks absolutely brilliant... and meticulously researched from the author - thanks for sharing! no doubt some controversial and curious quotes and findings.

 

Already got my next aviation related book sorted for the lock-down it seems ?

 

Thanks again,

[=420=Syphen]

I've had this one pre-ordered for a while. Very excited for it. 

[Grancesc]

It's pre-ordered. I'm really looking forward to it.

[DB605]

Also pre-ordered, extremely interesting topic.

[Bremspropeller]

I pre-ordered it yesterday, too.

[=420=Syphen]

My copy finally showed up today!! Very excited to get into it.

[cardboard_killer]

Need the ebook version. I don't buy paper books anymore if at all possible.

[Retnek]

23 minutes ago, cardboard_killer said:

Need the ebook version. I don't buy paper books anymore if at all possible.

https://www.calum-douglas.com/pre-order-ww2-engines-book/
cite:
"This is NOT a print-on-demand book, and there will be no e-book; so this is the best chance to obtain a copy and ensure the printing press keeps printing!"

[Yardstick]

$50 on Amazon.com but only £25 on Amazon.co.uk - that's an unexpected surprise.  1 to 1 exchange rate is more common.

[FTC_Mephisto]

Started reading the book, this is really amazing. I can only recommend if you are interested in the topic. Does require some technical background, but having Wikipedia opened on the phone and looking up stuff helps

[=420=Syphen]

1 hour ago, ACG_Mephisto said:

Started reading the book, this is really amazing. I can only recommend if you are interested in the topic. Does require some technical background, but having Wikipedia opened on the phone and looking up stuff helps

 

Totally agree. I'm about half way through now and loving it.  It's a more interesting read then Goodwin's "Japanese Aero Engines 1910-1945" which was the last WW2 engine book I read. 

[FTC_Karaya]

Ordered mine on Amazon.co.uk, looking forward to reading it. Currently says "This title has not yet been released" however.

[FTC_Mephisto]

Check out amazon.de, apparently they have 14 in stock:

 

https://www.amazon.de/Secret-Horsepower-Race-Western-Development/dp/1911658506

[Bremspropeller]

9 hours ago, Karaya said:

Currently says "This title has not yet been released" however.

 

It has. They have issued a second batch.

The book apparently is selling like hot-cakes.

[FTC_Karaya]

9 hours ago, ACG_Mephisto said:

Check out amazon.de, apparently they have 14 in stock:

 

https://www.amazon.de/Secret-Horsepower-Race-Western-Development/dp/1911658506

 

Thanks for the heads up! Now there's only 8 left. I cancelled my UK order and put an order up via the German Amazon page ?

[FTC_Mephisto]

Happy to help. I follow the guy also on twitter and he shares various stuff which he found during his research. Highly recommended!

 

https://twitter.com/CalumDouglas1

 

In any case spread the word so more such books can be funded in the future...

 

 

[MasterBaiter]

Thanks for bringing this up; I will definetely check this one!

[sevenless]

21 hours ago, Bremspropeller said:

 

It has. They have issued a second batch.

The book apparently is selling like hot-cakes.

 

Mine is supposed to arrive tomorrow and Dortenmanns diary on friday. Interesting reading ahead.