Books by Graham M Simons

The Lockheed TriStar first flew in November 1970, with production continuing until 1984, by when some 250 aircraft had been built.

Britannia Airways Corporation was established in 1961 and went on to become the world's largest holiday airline. It ceased operations on 1 November 2005, when, having been taken over, it was rebranded - today it remains as part of Thomason Airways.

Large and luxurious, it carried only 60-80 passengers, and with a range of 5,000 miles, a 225ft wing span and eight engines buried in the wings with enough fuel to reach New York, the '100-ton bomber' was more impressive and capable than the B-29: the ultimate passenger airliner was born.

After their failure to be the first nation to develop a jet airliner for transatlantic flight or to send spacecraft into space, the US Government was adamant that they would beat other nations to the goal of supersonic flight and so development of the SST began.