Hi All,
Agree regarding St Ex, although some might find his proto-existentialist musings a little off putting if they're simply looking for a flying yarn.
The early Richard Back, i.e. pre-JLS toss, are simply fantastic. Bach decided to change the direction of his writing subsequently and blew it, IMHO. Too much Acid in the sixties? Probably.
Final point: I wish some of you lot would stop trashing young TIGER_MOTH.
This kid is obviously fascinated with all things flying, although he's being a wee bit tardy about actually climbing into an aircraft. That's probably due to money, isn't it? We can put him in the same bracket as those snot-nosed kids we see peering through the wire fencing at airports, who dream of the day when they can themselves take to the air. Such kids are to be encouraged, not humiliated. I was one of 'em.
TIGER_MOTH, stick around, save up a little money, go flying, join us. It really is the blast that you think it is.
TW