Ewer examines how British politics shaped the development of aviation in the first half of the twentieth century. He challenges narratives of simple technological failure or national decline, showing instead that aviation outcomes were shaped by political institutions, policy traditions, and cultural assumptions about the relationship between the state, industry, and technology.

Drawing on extensive archival research, the book charts the development of British aviation through the policies of successive governments. It examines the application of Liberal rationalism to a new technology before 1914, Conservative approaches to protection and industrial management in the inter-war years, and Labour’s commitment to planning and public ownership during and after the Second World War. Across these political frameworks, it analyses aircraft production, aero-engine development, civil air transport, and military doctrine, alongside the institutions that governed them, including the Air Ministry, the RAF, and civilian departments. Particular attention is paid to procurement practices, industrial organisation, and the management of innovation. Case studies include the Schneider Trophy races, the Empire Air Mail Scheme, Fighter and Bomber Command, gas turbine policy, and the Brabazon programme.

A valuable piece of scholarship for researchers and students of aviation history, political economy, and science and technology studies, as well as readers concerned with industrial policy. By linking technological outcomes to political decision-making, it offers insights for policymakers. which are relevant to contemporary debates about how liberal democracies manage complex, high-technology industries.