I really don't know what to think about this book... it seems to me that the cooperation between Jane's and the Smithsonian isn't working at all.

If I took my old (late '80 and mid '90) recognition guides or the mini-guides published by Harper-Collins in the '90 and compare these with the new revised editions of the 2000, I can't feel anything but disappointment.

The back cover says: "The essential guide to the world's aircraft".
Essential is the word here.

Graphically beautiful - the photos are outstanding nothing to say about it - but it's all.
I found more data and specs in the early pocketbooks than in this all new edition, not to talk about the booklets published by Airlife in their "Vital Guide to" series, maybe less complete in the number of specimens presented, but absolutely more satisfying from the point of view of the data presented per aircraft shown.

Seeing the steep price tag ($ 24,95 for a new copy) I'm really beginning to think about looking elsewhere to find what I need.
For the moment being, I bought also (but I'm still waiting the delivery) the original Jane's All The World Aircraft (unfortunately an old - 1990' vintage - edition `cause the most recently published are absolutely out of discussion with their prices in the $ 250+ for a used copy).
Hope this one - being a pro-guide - will be more useful.
I really don't know what to think about this book... it seems to me that the cooperation between Jane's and the Smithsonian isn't working at all. If I took my old (late '80 and mid '90) recognition guides or the mini-guides published by Harper-Collins in the '90 and compare these with the new revised editions of the 2000, I can't feel anything but disappointment. The back cover says: "The essential guide to the world's aircraft". Essential is the word here. Graphically beautiful - the photos are outstanding nothing to say about it - but it's all. I found more data and specs in the early pocketbooks than in this all new edition, not to talk about the booklets published by Airlife in their "Vital Guide to" series, maybe less complete in the number of specimens presented, but absolutely more satisfying from the point of view of the data presented per aircraft shown. Seeing the steep price tag ($ 24,95 for a new copy) I'm really beginning to think about looking elsewhere to find what I need. For the moment being, I bought also (but I'm still waiting the delivery) the original Jane's All The World Aircraft (unfortunately an old - 1990' vintage - edition `cause the most recently published are absolutely out of discussion with their prices in the $ 250+ for a used copy). Hope this one - being a pro-guide - will be more useful.