I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I did skim a lot of this book but we will be getting a copy for our branch because I can think of a handful on customers who would really enjoy this book.

This book is extremely detailed and informative. The pictures are both clear and beautiful. This was an excellent book to interest students looking at ww1 and expand their knowledge, I would highly recommend this book.

Aircraft of World War I 1914–1918: The Essential Aircraft Identification Guide by Jack Herris is an extensive collection of some of the Great War's most used lanes. Herris is a former US Navy aviator with a degree in aeronautical engineering and noted aviation historian specializing in World War I aircraft. He regularly contributes to Over the Front, the journal of the League of World War I Aviation Historians, as well as other publications.

World War one was perhaps one of the most gruesome wars in that the military did not comprehend or adapt to the new technologies. The machine gun annihilated advancing infantry in unbelievable numbers. The calvary was devastated in the same manner. Trenches were used to hold positions and became a living hell of rats and death. But above the trenches, there was a new type of warfare that became glorified. The airplane was also new to war.  

The rickety machines that flew over the trenches had their own dangers and a separate hell that many did not realize. Initially used for reconnaissance, the planes were slow, clumsy, and unarmed. They then evolved counter reconnaissance planes and moved from hand weapons and bags of bricks to mounted and synchronized machine guns. The aircraft changed as the war continued.  

Herris provides a pictorial history of that evolution. From the early pusher planes to massive bombers are chronicled along with the famous fighters of the war. What Herris also does is give the reader a specification sheet for each aircraft. Although not a detailed history, these specifications show a clear path of development. Furthermore, the illustrations are also reminiscent of military identification cards. The aircraft's markings and colors identify not only nationality but also the units flying the plane. The full-color illustrations throughout the book make this a welcome addition to anyone interested in World War I or military aviation. Very well done.

Extremely detailed look at aircraft from the Great War. Very informative. Love that the different paint jobs are shown for different Countries/Units.

A summary of the most significant aircraft that participated in World War One. Superb illustrations. The accompanying text is excellent as well. Although the text is brief, it is well written and describes the role and impact of aircraft in the war.

A slightly deceptive book. I have come to this publisher for their strong way with pictorial content, and for providing just enough information to appease my casual interest in whatever the subject at hand might be. I thought I'd get something similar here, too – after all, this is not just a history of the air forces of World War One, but a very visual spotter's guide, if you like, to all the different plane models used. And we do get those visuals – every single plane imaginable (and some early French affairs that are quite beyond imagining they'd ever get off the ground) in side profile, with details of insignia if relevant, and a table of statistics where possible. But the deceptiveness comes in that, once we have seen what we think is the balance between images, tables of data for the completist and other things, we actually realise there is a lot more narrative text here than expected. Some of it's not that well designed, unfortunately – one story seems to have finished, but no, there's another paragraph widowed and dumped three pages away, and I don't know why every sub-section needed a newspaper-styled headline précis first.

So the book taught me that the publishers here can do text books, too, and it's not just their visual acuity that is so great. The actual text here taught me a lot, too, but it's much more suited to the military historian. I'd have liked more context from before 1914 – what were all these companies doing in peace-time, where had they come from to end up engineering these craft? So I suspect people coming to this book for the visuals will find too much forensic historical detail, and the specialist will be happiest with the compilation of fabulous artwork. To those people – those who, when asked to speak about the German fighter ace von Richthofen, answer back "which one?" - this will me a manual from heaven. For the general browser, such as I, three and a half stars.

A brief but great history of the infancy and development of the air force, air warfare , and also of the industry itself during the World War I. This has helped me to understand how I view these today, in light of their early days.

Highly recommend it.