The aircraft were colourful and their crews were often courageous - but virtually unknown beyond the South American Continent. Throughout the first 70 years of practical flight in Latin America, obscure designs carried the colours and markings of many nationalities and in this book, many photographs of such aircraft are seen for the first time. Accompanied by extraordinary drawings and a detailed text, this volume offers a remarkable historical bonanza for students of aeronautical history and aircraft modellers who are craving something 'new' and 'adventurous'. Following more than 15 years of research, the author traces the use of aircraft in Latin America from the frail Wright Model Bs through the ensuing border skirmishes, revolutions and full-scale warfare to the final aerial engagements between piston-engined fighters. The so-called 'Leticia Incident', the 'Revolt of the Lieutenants' and the 'Soccer War' are all described.
The aircraft enthusiast will discover an astonishing range of aircraft depicted in photographs and information including the Argentine North American SNJs and Gloster Meteors, Bolivian Curtiss Hawk IIs, Curtiss-Wright 14R Ospreys, Brazilian Waco CTOs, Chilean Curtiss Falcons, Colombian Bellanca 77-140s, Costa Rican North American F-51D Mustangs, Cuban Vought Corsairs and exile force Douglas B-26s, Dominican Republic deHavilland Vampires, Guatemala Republic F-47N Thunderbolts, Honduras Stinson Model 'O' Seniors, from the Mexican Martin 'Sonora' to the Vought V-99M Corsair, Nicaragua Douglas C-47s, Paraguayan Flat C.R.20s and Potez 25A-2s, Peruvian Douglas O-38Ps, Uruguayian Waco JHDs and the Venezuelan North American F-86F and deHavilland Venom. This study can be regarded as the most comprehensive reference book for years to come and will be informative and fascinating reading for all aviation enthusiasts.