Observers Book of Aircraft 1963

[Tableview]

Having a clearout at home, or to be honest, looking for something, which always results in a clearout, I found this, and I thought some aviation buff might have a good home for it. The front cover is missing but other than that it's complete.

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w497/pprunemike/Observersbook02.jpghttp://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w497/pprunemike/Observersbook01.jpg

[Noyade]

good home for it

Space is limited here as well mate, but I promise to love it and make room for it...if you'll let me. :ok:

[A37575]

Memories. I have the Observer's Book of Aircraft 1958. That book reminds me of the time back around 1943 (I was 11) and living in Tonbridge, Kent, during the war.

I was an avid bird watcher and had an edition of the Observer's Book of Birds. In those days my old uncle was a member of the local Royal Observer Corps at Cranbrook and I used to help him by spotting for German aircraft from his sand-bagged outpost after school. There was an old Oak tree near the spot and that is where I started my hobby of bird spotting.

Now it's a long time ago and at age 80, the memory is not all that accurate but I recall writing to some dowager whose name was near the front of the book and asked if I could join her society of bird-watchers (or whatever).

I received a polite reply to the effect the old biddy had passed away many years earlier. My ambition to join that august society was shattered from then on. I soon recovered however, and switched from bird watching to reading the exploits of Rockfist Rogan RAF Pilot in The Champion comic series. From then I decided being a pilot was surely more exciting than being a bird-watcher.
My family migrated to Australia in 1947 and after joining the RAAF flew my first Mustang in 1953:ok:

[xtypeman]

I am lucky to have my late fathers edition from the second world war or just after.

[brakedwell]

Just looked at my copy, which I knew from cover to cover when I was 16 and it is dated 1953.

[GOLF_BRAVO_ZULU]

Interesting that you picked the Lightning page. That's page of my '63 edition that I usually gravitated to.

[merlinxx]

Still got my 1953, and NO it's mine, led me into playing with airlines/bizav from 1963 to 2010:ok:

[India Four Two]

Tableview,

I love the ticks against the other books in the series. Still interested in Mosses? ;)

Quite a contrast from the F3!

[bobward]

Being an avid spotter, and a bit of a hoarder too, I've got most of these books from 1951 up to when they ended in the later 1970's / early 80's.

It's fun to read the early ones, where performance details are 'secret' then see the later one's as these machines became second generaion etc. The sad part is, of course, that in the 1950's there were dozens of British / UK entries, now you'd not find one.....:8

[Noyade]

I wonder why they went Oz/NZ? Did they do this for other countries?

(Silhouettes only for the jet entries)

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/7023/img586t.jpg (http://img190.imageshack.us/i/img586t.jpg/)

Observers Books - the pocket series (http://www.collectingbooksandmagazines.com/observer.html#AUSTRALIAN)

[Lightning Mate]

Interesting that you picked the Lightning page

Are there any others?

[Noyade]

Just tear the non-Lightning ones out mate. You can then fit it in your wallet and when in the nursing home the orderly asks what a Lightning is...no need to flick though 149 types looking for it. :)

[Tankertrashnav]

Are there any others?


Just one, LM ;)

http://www.wingweb.co.uk/wingweb/img/Handley_page_victor_b1_hp.jpg

[Herod]

TTN, would that be as in "win without Conservative meets high point"? ;)

[Tableview]

I'm glad this has aroused some memories and interest.

First come first served so it goes to Noyade - thanks for the PM and I'll reply likewise. I'm happy to send it to someone who'll appreciate it.

Why the Lightning? Well, it was a choice between


Bristol 188 which I believe was the a/c which screamed overhead when I was about 12, on holiday in Cornwall, maybe someone knows if they operated from ssmewhere near there?
Vulcan for obvious reasons
Viscount, for sentimental reasons (CAA and Air Rhodesia)

[Noyade]

Thanks Tableview! :ok: Appreciated.

I've informed 'my little friends' of the forthcoming arrival. Mr '64 is non-plussed, but Mr '62 is very excited!

I usually gravitated to.I usually kept an eye on Russian developments. Dumb kid that I was, I had this fantasy of being the first to ring the RAAF informing them EXACTLY what the Russian bombers were that were attacking us. I would be a hero, picture in the paper and the RAAF would employ me as their Chief Identification Expert.

[Noyade]

It was a difficult job, as the Ruskies seem to change as years went by?

Backfire, for example, lost a lot of weight around the middle...

http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/6730/img588.jpg (http://img638.imageshack.us/i/img588.jpg/)

[kluge]

Tableview

That brought back memories - thanks for posting.

I inherited mine from my older brother and ultimately it was given to the local kids after I want to University - together with an extensive model aircraft collection. :{

That little book is one of my earliest 'triggers' as a young boy for everything aviation. It also served to develop a keen eye for detail. :8

What a great little book. :)

[Lightning Mate]

Just tear the non-Lightning ones out mate. You can then fit it in your wallet and when in the nursing home the orderly asks what a Lightning is...no need to flick though 149 types looking for it. http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/smile.gif

:D:D

Nice pic ttn. :ok:

[Tankertrashnav]

Yes, LM, obviously taken by a highly skilled photographer, like another that appears elsewhere in this section ;)

Nice one, Herod, do you think we could slip an illicit cryptic challenge thread in here - maybe the mods wont notice!


Vulcan for obvious reasons


Hmmmmm :*

[GOLF_BRAVO_ZULU]

That's a point; I was wondering if that was a picture of a Victor MK1 at its Service Ceiling photograped from a Vulcan MK1. http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/icons/mpangel.gif

[Fishtailed]

Not really a thread drift, but who remembers this little book I saved from my school days-

.http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f280/fishtailed/Scan_Pic0004.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f280/fishtailed/Scan_Pic0007.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f280/fishtailed/Scan_Pic0006.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f280/fishtailed/Scan_Pic0005.jpg

[Noyade]

but who remembers this little book Yes, I have a Dumpy!

Speaking of small, anyone ever buy the Collins/Janes '"miniature series" of aircraft books from the early 90's?...

110mm X 80mm

http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/8424/img609r.jpg (http://img109.imageshack.us/i/img609r.jpg/)

[Mike Echo]

Still got my Dumpy Book but both my Obsever's books are fairly modern;
Observer's book of basic Aircraft is 1967, and The Observer's Book of Aircraft 1970. Treasured and well thumbed through!

As an aside I noticed on post 22 the Fairey Rotodyne. I've just finished trasferring to DVD a Friends VHS tape that was about building a model of the Rotodyne by Jim Morley but it included a facinating documentry, about 20 min, on the building and flying of the Rotodyne most of which I'd never seen. Amazing for the time just wish development had continued.

M.E.

[Old Photo.Fanatic]

I have 43 Observers books of Aircraft.
My ex wife bought one each year for me from 1962 upto the final 40th 1992 edition.
All in pristine condition, looked at once then into the book case.

I then added missing ones prior to 1962 to complete the series, 1949 Fair condition, no D/J. then 1952 reissue start -1961 Including in 1952/3/4 the multiple reissues through the years in question, most with D/J.
The one I covert, as do many others, is the Wartime isssue.
On ebay now and again but costs a small fortune, £200-£300+

Also have Basic military and basic civil issues, and "Airliners".
I also have , via E-Bay 3 Dumpy books in good condition for their age
Dumpy book of Aircraft and the Air
Dumpy book of Aircraft and Flight
Dumpy book of Air Forces of the world. (I am told this is rare one)

All treasured and cared for.

OPF

[Load Toad]

I have a 1959 Edition of the Observers Book of Aircraft - actually I'd be happy for it to go to a good home if someone wants to make an offer (keeping books in HK is difficult; small flat, humidity..).

[Noyade]

G'day Tableview.

Location: Cape Town / UK / EuropePackage arrived....from France (are you a secret agent?). Very much appreciated. I mean that. Thank you so much. A very generous gesture.

Was it your book? Cover-less and well thumbed...and loved? I promise to look after it. :)

Fills a nice gap....Mr '64 on the left, your book, and Mr '62. Fabulous books and very sentimental to me for a number of reasons. God bless you Mr Green...

http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/4605/img610z.jpg (http://img824.imageshack.us/i/img610z.jpg/)

Thanks again,
Graeme.

[Tableview]

Hi Graeme :
Glad it's found a new happy home and has some company!
It was indeed mine, I would have been 10 in 1963 and it was probably given to me by my grandpa who use to take me 'plane spotting and sit smoking his pipe and reading the paper in the comfort of his Rover 3-litre while I ran around in the rain with binoculars and my Observer's book.
Posted from France as I am slowly clearing out the contents of the flat here with a view to giving it up as it won't be needed for much longer.
Best wishes!