Tony Holmes has worked as Osprey's aerospace editor since 1989, having previously served as an author/photographer for this publishing house in Australasia. He established the critically acclaimed and hugely popular Aircraft of the Aces series in 1994.

A compact guide to 70 of the most iconic aircraft to have shaped warfare over the last 100 years.

Sopwith Pup
Albatros D III
Nieuport 17
SPAD VII
Sopwith Camel
RAF SE 5/5a
Fokker Dr I
Fokker D VII
Polikarpov 1-16
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Bristol Blenheim
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Messerschmitt Bf 109
Gloster Gladiator
Hawker Hurricane
Junkers Ju 87
Supermarine Spitfire
Short Sunderland
Messerschmitt Bf 110
Fiat CR.42 Falco
Junkers Ju 88
Mitsubishi A6M Zero-sen
Curtiss P-40 Warhawk
North American B-25 Mitchell
Grumman F4F Wildcat
Douglas SBD Dauntless
Bristol Beaufighter
de Havilland Mosquito
Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik
Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa
Martin B-26 Marauder
Lockheed P-38 Lightning
Focke-Wulf Fw 190
Hawker Typhoon
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien
Macchi C.202 Folgore
North American P-51 Mustang
Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
Grumman TBF/TBM Avenger
Vought F4U Corsair
Avro Lancaster
Lavochkin La-5/7
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Grumman F6F Hellcat
Messerschmitt Me 262
Yakovlev Yak-3
Mikoyan MiG-15
North American F-86 Sabre
Grumman F9F Panther
Martin B-57 Canberra
North American F-100 Super Sabre
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
Handley Page Victor
Avro Vulcan
Vought F-8 Crusader
Republic F-105 Thunderchief
Mikoyan MiG-21
McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II
Dassault Mirage III
Lockheed SR-71
Grumman F-14 Tomcat
McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle
Strike Eagle
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet
Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk
McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II
Rockwell B-1B Lancer