This essential book offers a compelling and original interpretation of the rise of military aviation. Jeremy Black, one of the world’s finest scholars of military history, provides a lucid analysis of the use of airpower over land and sea both during the two world wars and the more limited wars of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Considering both the theory and praxis of air power, the author begins with hot air balloons, and then highlights the use of zeppelins, piston engine fighters, jet bombers, and finally the so-called Military Revolution of today. While discussing the growth of American and European military aviation, Black, a pioneer in emphasizing the importance of non-Western military history for understanding global developments, also traces the emergence of air power in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Black breaks new ground by exploring not only to conventional war—both inside and outside Europe—but also to the use of air power in unconventional wars, especially critical given to the spread of insurgencies around the globe. He vividly describes traditional debates over the pros and cons of strategic bombing and aircraft carriers versus battleships and gives equal attention to managerial, doctrinal, and technological innovations. The author shows how better management resulted in increasing lethality of close air support of the RAF during the latter part of World War II and at the same times highlights the limits of air power with case studies of the two Gulf Wars. The author goes beyond our traditional understanding of air power associated with bombing and fighter engagements, adding the important elements associated with naval power, including ground/logistics support, anti-aircraft measures, and political constraints. As he explains, air power has become Western politicians’ weapon of choice, spreading maximum destruction with the minimum of commitment. His current and comprehensive study considers how we got to this point, and what the future has in store. Anyone seeking a balanced, accurate understanding of air power in history will find this book an essential introduction.

"Synthesizing numerous secondary sources and combining them with some primary research, Black offers a synthetic history of air power that emphasizes the post–WW II era, when military aviation matured considerably, then carries his survey all the way to recent air operations and military aircraft acquisitions. Over the course of 13 chapters, this remarkable book shows the context of aerial combat not only through evolving technology but also through economic exigencies, political prestige, and shifting sensibilities on such matters as civilian casualties. By reminding readers that military aviation does not solve matters alone, the author also hints at the considerable intricacies associated with any aerial campaign, from political decision making to the incorporation of naval air power. However, to distill such complexity, Black assumes readers will be familiar with the variety of aircraft named yet neither described nor pictured. Lay audiences with a prior interest will appreciate the wider context offered as well as the brief glossary and supplementary reading list. . . .Summing Up: Recommended. Most levels/libraries." - CHOICE

"[Jeremy Black] is an outstanding scholar. . . . [The] intelligent predictions that Black makes here . . . are much more subtle and nuanced. As a result, they are likely to stand the test of time. . . . To conclude, this is a useful introduction to airpower and it is particularly good in looking at it, not in isolation, but in the larger context. Airpower is not presented here as the silver bullet resolving all problems, but as a game-changer in many respects. It opened the door to city bombing on a scale that has made some think of genocide, but also to precision targeting, with the arrival of smart missiles. All this is ably demonstrated in this volume." - RUSI Journal

"An excellent general history of airpower and an indispensable work for anyone who has anything to do with the employment of air assets. A range of audiences, from policymakers, to military personnel, to students of military history, should read it. . . . Black seeks to look beyond airpower as an asset in armed conflict to its varied and important roles in achieving strategic aims short of war. This is an immensely important and much overlooked aspect of airpower’s enduring strategic utility. . . . This work also diverges from the vast majority of airpower histories in its careful assessment of the air weapon’s utility in smaller air forces and also within larger ones in emerging major powers with rapidly evolving military capabilities, such as China and India. . . . Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Black engages energetically with policymaker failures to use airpower in realistic ways to achieve strategic aims in various armed conflicts. . . . Black’s superb insights regarding the enduring strategic value of airpower across the spectrum of conflict, from humanitarian crises and conflicts short of war to high-intensity conventional or even nuclear wars, are a highlight of his work. . . . Most of all, it reminds us that deemphasizing airpower would be a serious error. Black’s outstanding work warns us about this in no uncertain terms." - U.S. Military History Review

"There are currently many books and accounts about air power available. Dr Peter Gray’s book goes much further than all of them. It accurately describes itself as a textbook. It draws upon an impressively large number of sources and bibliography to offer the student a series of detailed discussions on various aspects of the subject. It covers in some depth air power’s evolution, history, theory and practice. It looks at the political and legal aspects, the ethics and morality of air campaigns over the decades, reviews the huge body of literature on the subject, looks at many of the influential leaders and practitioners over the years, such as Mitchell, Douhet, Trenchard and Portal and discusses how to study and write about it." - Aerospace

"[A] well-written summary of a broad topic.... Air Power: A Global History will be most useful for readers new to the topic who are looking for a beginning overview. More knowledgeable readers will still find much of interest." - Parameters

"Air Power offers new insights about the global reaches and dynamics of air power.... Black offers readers a concise historical context to understand air power scholarship. Air Power serves as a helpful entry point for students, young scholars, or general readers... [I]t is a fine addition to Black’s large and growing oeuvre." - H-Net: Humanities and Social Science Reviews Online

"Readers of military aviation history will find Air Power: A Global History comes from one of the world's leading aviation historians and provides a compelling examination that goes beyond the usual consideration of conventional warfare to consider unconventional wars around the world. Chapters employ a chronological approach in detailing events from the 1920s to modern times, showing how air power was a significant part of conflicts between states, how it ultimately revolutionized military thinking about how warfare was conducted, and how refined organization and evolving doctrines affected military choices. Changing values, perspectives, and strategic operations are documented throughout, creating a powerful survey highly recommended for military history and aviation history collections alike." - Donovan's Bookshelf

"[A] stand out volume in the history of air warfare. Black covers the traditional subjects of the great wars, but he goes into great depth in lesser known conflicts. . . . Black covers the history of air power from balloons to drones and presents often overlooked information in the development of air power as well as its successes and failures. . . . A very detailed look at the history of air power in a surprisingly short book." - Evilcyclist's Blog