So far as pen-names are concerned, I've not yet published any books, but you've probably read some of my stuff in various flying / engineering periodicals published in the UK and US. None of the editors have ever relayed any letters of complaint about any of it, so I assume people like my writing.
The book is actually an attempt to replicate the "ATA blue book" which was a series of "type-cards" used by wartime ferry pilots giving them enough data to operate each type safely. I've in draft two versions, one for microlights and one for light aircraft - the first is pretty much ready to go in first edition form, the second probably needs another 6-12 months work. Bob Pooley seemed fairly keen when I talked over the drafts with him in December and I need to go and see him about it again sometime soon. If he changes his mind, I'll hawk it around the bazaars and see if there are any other takers.
I did have an early draft of some of my cards that I showed a few people at the Sywell fly-in last year so others may like to comment on it as they saw it then.
Re: the Hunter, the thing is an ergonomic nightmare, whoever designed that cockpit so far as I could tell took a box of instruments, emptied them onto his drawing board at random and said "we'll do it in that order". To make life even harder, all the dials are the same size, shape and colouring. Add in to that that as a shortarse I couldn't see over the coaming of the ones we had at ETPS which had extra flight-test instrumentation. I'm told the single seaters are much nicer but I'm not a jet pilot and only ever flew right-hand-seat as an observer so can only take that as hearsay. Handling was very crisp and light but I prefer the slightly heavier controls of the Hawk which personally I find easier to fly precisely and gives you better natural warning of the risk of overstress.
G