ALL PROCEEDS IN AID OF H4H AND RAFBF!

[foldingwings]

Folks,

Here's a late Christmas present to yourself:

Out of the Blue | Halldale (http://halldale.com/shop/out-blue)

The sometimes scary and often funny world of flying in the Royal Air Force - as told by some of those who were there.

Foreword by Air Marshal Cliff Spink CB CBE FCMI FRAeS RAF R’td.

There’s a saying in the Royal Air Force: if you can’t take a joke, you shouldn’t have joined. It’s a perfect example of the wry humour that permeates the mind-set of Service personnel, and it resonates throughout this book. Whether the tale is set in the air or on the ground, it offers a glimpse of what life was, and probably still is, really like in the RAF.

Over a period of two years, three ex-military pilots, who joined the RAF on the same day and have been life-long friends, collected the stories. Sometimes terrifying, occasionally outrageous, and frequently funny, they show that the business of flying military aircraft sporadically throws up challenges that even the most capable of aviators struggle to meet. Without exception, the stories are related with a refreshing candour that acknowledges the failures as well as the triumphs on each author’s part. Equally importantly, they are presented in a way that anyone can enjoy, regardless of whether or not they have any knowledge of flying or military life.

Many of the events recounted here happened during the Cold War, when the surreal world of potential nuclear conflict was the backdrop to day-to-day operations, and nearly all the stories appear in print for the first time. Indeed, it is true to say that, from an aviation perspective, they are frequently more remarkable for the fact that the protagonist got away with it rather than demonstrated great flying skill.

This book appears in print thanks to the generosity of the sponsors CAE and BAE Systems, and all proceeds will be shared between the two charities, Help for Heroes and the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.

Paperback: 248 pages
Publisher: Halldale Media Group (December 2011)
Language: English
ISBN: 978-0-9570928-0-8
Product Dimensions: 210 x 148 x 16 mm
Cost in GBP £7.99 / US$ 12.90

UK orders received before 14th December 2011 should be delivered before Christmas, although we cannot guarantee this service.

Orders for Europe or Rest of the World are now unlikely to arrive before Christmas.

Any orders placed after 21st December 2011 will not be processed until 3rd January 2012.

It actually works out at £7.99 plus postage.

Although a search on Amazon will bring it up, as one of the contributors to the book, I can confirm that Amazon will not get its hands on copies because to do so would diminish the profit to the 2 charities!

You have to purchase it through Halldale's website who have taken nothing for publishing this very readable book of circa 90 short anecdotes from the people who were there.

Some very laugh out loud moments! Some very hairy stories!

Foldie:ok:

PS. If the Mods deem this inappropriate then that would be a shame given that it is all in the aid of charity!

[BEagle]

foldie - that sounds like both astonishingly good value and an excellent boost to very worthwhile charities!

I'll certainly be placing an order, but only once the Christmas postal mayhem is behind us!

'....three ex-military pilots, who joined the RAF on the same day....'

Clues as to whom and when?

[Courtney Mil]

Sounds like my perfect read. Yes, Beags, after Christmas, I think. Thanks Foldie. If Spinkie's involved, it must be good.

Just one thing. Does it have pictures? My mother told me never to read stories that don't have pictures.

[foldingwings]

CourtneyMil,

Just for you, but we navigators don't need 'em!

Beags: Ian Cowie, Dim Jones and Chris Long! (mid-60s, I suspect, at Sleaford Tech!)

Foldie:\

[johnfairr]

Ordered, but I can wait . . . .

Be a decent start to 2012 :)

Thanks for the info, Foldie!!

[cargosales]

Although a search on Amazon will bring it up, as one of the contributors to the book, I can confirm that Amazon will not get its hands on copies because to do so would diminish the profit to the 2 charities!



Good!.. Well done you lot for standing your ground ... and for ensuring max profits to the charities :ok:

I'm looking forward to annoying the other half no end with random dissolving into hysterical laughter and rambling about the good old days for no apparant reason whatsoever :p

[camlobe]

Done, paid, waiting...

Two of the most worthy of causes supported as well. Feel-good factor is now high.

Ah, the Cold War. Lots of personnel, lots of bases, lots of aircraft, lots of flying, work hard play hard. More good memories than bad.

Thanks for the heads-up foldie.

camlobe

[Dunky]

Just ordered this as well, something to look forward to in the new year. It was also recommended in my thread on reading material by Dimmer Switch, so thanks to both of you :ok: Very useful in clarifying the situation with Amazon, as I had seen it on their site and had considered ordering it through them.

[wokkamate]

Ordered! Hopefully a great read and, as ever, 2 very worthy causes. Good effort to those who put it together!

[noprobs]

My copy has arrived, and it's well worth the money. I have ordered more, which I hope will arrive in time for giving as Christmas presents. There are pictures, just small black and white illustrations of the featured aircraft types. :ok:

[noprobs]

Just as a taster, the first story includes the phrases: "Mach 1.7 (some 1400 mph)", "convert speed to height", "over 70,000ft" and "both engines had flamed out."

Buy the book to fill the gaps. And there are 89 more stories after that!

[Al R]

Foldie,

I might have known you contributed.


Many of the events recounted here happened during the Hundred Years War


As long as the words are short and nice and big, I'll deffo buy a copy.

Good effort, nice one. :ok:

[foldingwings]

Sorry, had to bring it back to the top!

Foldie:confused:

[treadigraph]

Thanks foldie, that's made two useful Crimbo presents, one for me and one for a mate who I know will enjoy it! And beneficial too...

[foldingwings]

Sorry, had to bring it back to the top!

Foldie:confused:

[noprobs]

Among other gems, the book includes such classics as the pilot's own account of the Tower Bridge Hunter excursion, and the inadvertent Lightning flight by an engineer.

[jindabyne]

Ordered - anticipation high :)

[foldingwings]

Jindabyne,

I hope that your copy doesn't arrive before January 3rd as, knowing you as I do, I know you won't be able to focus straight until then!

How many Black Grouse have you got in for Hogmanay?

Foldie:O

[Old-Duffer]

I gave up trying to order since the signup procedure seemed to find fault with every attempt to input the 'magic letters'!!!

Too bad

[foldingwings]

O-D, That is very disappointing to hear. I would keep trying to register if I were you as it's well worth overcoming any difficulties to get your hands on a copy of the book.

I have just ordered 4 more for my kids!

Foldie;)

[foldingwings]

Folks,

I have been informed that, in accordance with PPRuNe policy, this thread will be closed tomorrow.

I was aware when I started the thread that there were issues with 'advertising wares', hence my:

PS. If the Mods deem this inappropriate then that would be a shame given that it is all in the aid of charity!

However, it is also the case that actually raising charity funds (indirectly this thread is) is also against the SOPs. The thread has run its course and I imagine that those who will, have already ordered a copy of Out of the Blue. Well done, if you have - you will find my 4 offerings on Pages 33, 85, 89 and 210. Hope you enjoy them and all the other tales therein.

May I also offer my grateful thanks to the Mods for allowing the thread to run for what will be, in the end, 5 days.

Foldie:zzz:

[chopd95]

Couldn't resist yet another volume to wind-up the memsahib's book club!
(IIRC Cliff Spink et al were 94 entry - graduation '68? )

[fltlt]

Slightly awkward sign up procedure, but that could be due to the verizon issues of the last day or so. Anyway, one copy finally ordered. Thanks Foldie.

[BEagle]

I don't trust that non-https Halldale site - it is obviously rather more than an Internet book shop and notices such as... Please note that you may only order one item at a time. If you require more tickets, please complete this registration, then register again for each delegate....fill me with little confidence. Particularly with a price quoted in lard-ar$e money.

Rather than register and risk follow-up spam, I think I'll wait until a rather better-known Internet seller advertises the book.

Foldie, if you have contacts at Halldale, please pass the message on. Incidentally, why isn't it for sale at the H4H webshop?

[Old-Duffer]

Re my earlier post, I'm still unable to log in and buy the book from Halldane.

If they are unable to provide a user friendly website, then they will lose loads of business and in this specific case, a commendable charity opportunity will be lost.

The problem stems from the rejection of perfectly valid information and there are just so many times one can keep going round the loop before becoming exasperated.

Old Duffer - in grumpy mode.

PS If anybody with access wants to buy the book for me, I'll donate the price of a further copy to the charity.

[noprobs]

The system for ordering online from Halldale does not seem to be great. Having received my free copy, for which I thank them, I ordered 3 more last Saturday. My credit card was immediately debited for the transaction; after $/£ conversion, the charge was £32.50. This means a delivery charge of £8.53 for 3 paperback books, for which I hoped to get a pretty snappy service, even though I had missed the Christmas deadline. Sadly, they haven't arrived yet, but I still live in a state of hopeful anticipation.

[foldingwings]

BEagle, as per my previous post. It's all something to do with the taxman and the fact that the 3 people who set the book up would have to register as a charity and then fall foul of taxation re sales etc.

This from the 'organisers':

Ian has forwarded your mail to me. Just to give you a little of the background, it seemed obvious initially that Amazon and ebook (Kindle) would have been the way to go right from the start. The prime attraction was that, in theory, it would not cost anything to get it out there!

I tried over many attempts to speak to someone in Amazon, but none of them understood the concept of charity/H4H/RAF Ben Fund. What they did understand was that they would have to take their cut (nominally 30%) and then copy details of any transaction to the IRS in the US and any local tax authority in the UK so that tax could be levied on any monies received from Amazon. To do that and keep it separate from extra charges on our private tax bill we would have had to set up, register and maintain a tax-free status as a charity to get the relevant tax exemption.

In the basic principles of KISS we managed to persuade Halldale to accept and channel the monies from the sale on their site to go directly to the charities. Because there was no handling charge and profit taken by Halldale, the Tax folk have no profit or charge on which to levy any form of taxation. So, we opted for a paperback version to start with.The next thing was to get the sponsors to pay for the first print run, the which BAe Systems and CAE, bless 'em.

Here's the really interesting bit - within 24 hours of the exclusive launch on the Halldale website, Amazon had a link. They have at no time contacted us about it, but we can only surmise that at some point they will contact us to negotiate a purchase, and logic says that for them to make a profit out of it we will be asked to sell it at a discount to them!

So Amazon haven't got it ( I have myself ordered a copy from them, as have others, to see what happens), but we have got the only supply, and our process gets all the money to the Charities. If eventually we do get Amazon to buy in, then I expect we will have to accept less for it, but, given that it all goes into the coffers, then maybe we will bite that bullet. If that's the way it goes then the cost to the buyers is less, but the yield to the charities (per book) falls.


Halldale Media Group is a company that is based in the USA, hence the pricing in dollars. However, the books are dispatched from their office in Farnborough! They are well-known in the aviation publishing business and, if you take the time to check out their website you will find that they produce a number of eminent volumes and magazines on aviation topics general.

I know it's a pain having to register an account but I can assure you that many have already done so and secured copies of the book. Last I heard 200 had been sold by word of mouth and that was before I advertised it here and to the 500 members of the Buccaneer Aircrew Association.

Don't be a sceptic, stick with it and help 2 worthwhile charities at the same time.

IT WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE THROUGH OTHER OUTLETS UNTIL THE FIRST PRINTING RUN HAS SOLD OUT - that from the nag's head (horse's mouth)!

Foldie:\

[foldingwings]

O-D,

Check your PMs! It's a deal if you agree to the terms!

Foldie:cool:

[Old-Duffer]

Foldie,

Thank you. PM confirms agreement - cheque and details in the post asap

Old Duffer