Curtis Peebles

From the start of the Cold War to the fall of Saigon, from the jungles of Africa and beaches of Cuba to the polar icecap and mountains of Tibet, this book presents a comprehensive overview of U. S. air-supported covert operations against the Soviet bloc. Author Curtis Peebles brings a sense of continuity to the shifting, shadowy battlefronts of the Cold War with one fascinating account after another of American intelligence services fighting against some of the most formidable secret police states the world has ever seen. To provide the big picture he draws on recent scholarship and Soviet-era archives and weaves together the known with the unknown. He describes early attempts to set up spy cells behind the Iron Curtain that were doomed by the infamous British traitor Kim Philby, Operation Mongoose, clandestine airlines, and offers details of the CIA’s secret spy plane that appeared in James Bond’s`Thunderball’. He reminds readers that many of the operations ended in tragedy, with the agents knowing full well that if captured, their government would disavow them. In relating each operation to the others, he illustrates the changes in U. S. Cold War strategy and governmental policy from the late 1940s to the mid 1970s. Those looking for an exciting read won’t be disappointed with this globetrotting account of gutsy spies, nor will those seeking substantive facts about covert operations in the skies. Peebles provides just the right blend of drama and realistic detail to attract a broad audience. CURTIS PEEBLES is the author of The Corona Project and 11 other books on aerospace history. He is with the NASA History Office at the Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards AFB.

This is the first full-length history of the X-43 project, written by the project historian at Dryden Flight Research Center. The project achieved the first in-flight testing of a scramjet engine, at speeds of nearly Mach 7 and Mach 10. The author recorded the history as it was taking place. He received updates and documents, attended the engineering meetings, witnessed the emergency procedure training of the flight controllers, was at the flight readiness review and preflight briefings, and watched the third flight from one of the control rooms. After the third flight, he interviewed many of the X-43A engineers and managers about their still-fresh experiences and recollections. Based on that exclusive access, the book illustrates - with real-world examples - how groundbreaking technology unfolds. It details the development of the scramjet over the last half-century, providing the reader with an understanding of how external factors influence a new technology. The book begins with the invention of the scramjet concept, and then details the projects of the 1960s through the 1980s and why they failed. It describes how the X-43 developed from these events, and follows the transformation from the original idea through hardware development and testing, the loss of the first vehicle, the return to flight, and the success of the second and third flights, and explains what was accomplished. The book is written with the engineering student in mind, to provide an understanding of what they will experience once they join the work force. Flight enthusiasts will love the photos and videos documenting this exciting program. This volume was produced in cooperation with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.