The Story of Aircraft Robert J. Hoare
A & C Black Ltd London Fifth Edition

📘 The Story of Aircraft – Robert J. Hoare A & C Black Ltd, London – Fifth Edition (1973)

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A beautifully illustrated and genuinely engaging mid-20th-century aviation history, The Story of Aircraft charts mankind’s journey from the very first aeroplanes to the jet age and the dawn of supersonic travel.

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Written by Robert J. Hoare and published as part of Black’s Junior Reference Books, this fifth, revised and re-illustrated edition (1973) expands and updates earlier versions first published in 1958. Despite being aimed at younger readers, it’s packed with serious historical content and remains a wonderful reference for aviation enthusiasts of all ages.

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📖 What it covers

The Wright Brothers and early pioneers

Historic European and British aviation achievements

Early air mail and commercial airlines

Transatlantic and global air routes

The rise of jet aircraft and jumbo jets

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Airports, air travel, and aviation’s impact on everyday life

The book is richly illustrated with black-and-white photographs, diagrams, and period imagery, including contemporary airline cockpits and aircraft interiors that now feel wonderfully nostalgic.

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🧾 Publication details

Publisher: Adam & Charles Black (A & C Black Ltd)

Edition: Fifth edition, revised and re-illustrated

Date: 1973

First published: 1958

Printed in: Great Britain

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📐 Format

Hardback with original illustrated dust jacket

Approx. 95 pages

Fully illustrated throughout

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🔍 Condition (honest & transparent)

Dust jacket present but well-worn, with visible edge wear, creasing, small tears, and losses (as shown in photographs)

Boards sound and intact

Binding firm

Pages clean overall, with some age-related toning

A few library/ownership markings and stamps visible

A solid, readable copy with great visual appeal, especially for display or reference, though priced to reflect the jacket wear.

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💙 Why we love it

That dust jacket alone – featuring a Boeing 747 in Continental Airlines livery – perfectly captures the optimism of 1970s aviation. It’s a nostalgic slice of design history and a reminder of when air travel still felt like a grand adventure