A year-by-year history of the Royal Air Force, this text adds to the story the five years from the 75th anniversary in 1993. Each of the 80 years is described with a broad account, followed by a diary of events. A colour painting by a leading aviation artist accompanies each year, illustrating an aircraft in RAF service at the time, or a relevant scenario. This new 1998 edition features five new paintings specially commissioned for the 80th anniversary of the RAF. The subjects of these are as follows: a Tristar tanker refuelling a Jaguar on a mission over Bosnia; British Aerospace 146 of No 32 (The Royal) Squadron visiting the Royal IAT '96; Squirrel & Griffin helicopters of the defence Helicopter Flying School, RAF Shrewsbury; a new generation Hercules - the Lockheed C-130J; and heralding the new millennium, the Eurofighter 2000.