“This is a very original book about Cold War competition. In his innovative study, Peter Svik skilfully blends cold war history with the technological revolutions of the last half of the 20^th century. Intense commercial and strategic competition between the US and the Soviet Union and their allies drove the development of new technologies for civilian as well as military aeroplane design. Structures, engines, and even flight routes were all shaped by this rivalry. Svik adds new dimensions to our understanding of these years, for the superpowers’ spirited competition not only generated rapid technological change, but ultimately revealed American technological superiority. At the same time, these policies also opened up civilian access to the wider world and so also contributed to the inexorable globalisation of the Cold War.” (Anne Deighton, Professor of European International Politics, University of Oxford, UK)

“Globally, those knowledgeable about aircraft and aviation will find Peter Svik’s study of Cold War jet transportation riveting. Rarely have the intricate “politics of technology” been so carefully and convincingly detailed and analyzed. In addition to exploring the complexities of USSR-USA competition over civilian air development, this research exposes subtle rivalries within the socialist Bloc and between UK and US corporations and governments.  The final irony is Svik’s revelation that Soviet technological incapacity crippled its aircraft projects just as fully as it undermined the USSR’s computing and spaceflight initiatives. A truly welcome monograph, drawing on remarkably-diverse archival and technical sources.” (Philip Scranton, Professor of the History of Industry and Technology, Rutgers University, USA)

“This is an important and consistently interesting book, its message reaching far beyond the circle of civil aviation enthusiasts. It shows that the Soviet aviation remained stuck in the late fifties and early sixties, at a time when its western competitors experienced great improvements in engineering, design, and use of new materials. The book offers technical details that are certain to satisfy the most discerning expert on the evolution of aircraft engines. However, its main message is political.  Svik shows that from the early sixties onward, the Soviet civilian realm stayed on autopilot, while the state focused primarily on improving its military assets. As the West rushed head on toward a new computer-based economy, the civilian sphere of the Communist bloc was trapped in the past. Svik, a rising star among Cold War historians, demonstrates that the East-West technological gap was one of the reasons for the Soviet bloc collapse from 1989 to 1991.” (Igor Lukes, Professor of History & International Relations, Pardee School of Global Studies, Boston University, USA)

 “Competition in civil aviation was a fundamental aspect of the Cold War conflict over modernity.  This book is an excellent introduction to the most recent research on the topic and a reminder of how technological rivalries can influence international affairs.” (O.A. Westad, Elihu Professor of History and Global Affairs, Yale University, USA)