Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft was a weekly magazine by Aerospace Publishing/Orbis Publishing that was published in the UK (and sold in other countries too) in the early 1980s. The magazine was intended to eventually make up a multi-volume encyclopedia dedicated to aviation. Starting in 1982 the magazine lasted for 216 issues, each of 20 pages (plus the cover), making up 18 volumes (4280 pages). The first two issues were sold together for the price of one, subsequent issues were sold on their own.

Empty binders for each volume (set of 12 issues) were also sold. These binders were dark blue in colour and contained the imprint of a Panavia Tornado on the front. They held the issues using a metal strip that was threaded through the staples of each issue to hold them in place. Each issue consisted of four separate sections.

The final two issues (215 and 216) gave the index for the encyclopedia. A contents was also given with these final issues that was intended to be put into the start of volume 1. The magazine ceased publication in 1985.

The first few pages of each issue (usually 4 or 5) were dedicated to the history of aviation which also covered commercial aviation and current (as in early 1980s) air power ("Air Power Today").

The "History of Aviation" began in issue 1 with a 7 part series on the Vietnam War. Most of the "History of Aviation" was taken up with warfare especially World War II starting with the Blitzkrieg in issue 8 and ending with defeat of Japan in issue 156. The coverage of World War 2 also included surveys of different combat roles and aircraft types.

World War I was also covered as was the Korean War, Spanish Civil War, post-World War II colonial conflicts and the Arab-Israeli Wars. In later issues the Cold War was covered in depth.

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