Fruitless book search...so far!

[threestable]

Just wondering if any one out there (of a certain age) can help me with a search for a book from my youth!
40 odd years ago mum brought a book home which set me on my journey...
Cannot remember title, author, and memory fails me on all but the following:

-UK children's fiction.(Possibly a series)
-About a boy who had a job helping out at a local airfield.
-GA airtaxi freight outfit, who rewarded his efforts with flights, which inevitably led to adventure.
-Seem to remember a kidnap at some point.
-Chief Pilots name was Peregrine (Perry).
Thats about it I'm afraid.

Stirring stuff for a young mind and would love to try to get a fix on author/title.
Any help much appreciated.

[redsnail]

No luck either but try this source.
https://www.nypl.org/blog/2017/11/22/finding-book-forgotten-title?page=6

[threestable]

Redsnail - Haven't been on PPrune for years but I remember the handle! Unless of course your an imitation ..but I think not 🤔
Thanks for getting back. Tried some of those but no joy. This started as a vague thought a 2 years ago but the itch gets worse as time ticks on!! Shame the memory doesn't! I'll try again...
Plenty of time on hands at the moment... 😏.

[redsnail]

No imitation :)
Still here :)
Good luck with your search.

[mgahan]

Nowhere near the one you are looking for but some of the links are also in "Round the Bend" by Neville Shute. One of many good aviation reads from that author.

[BirdmanBerry]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spider-2-3-Robert-Vallier/dp/0990881148

There's a Peregrine in this and a kidnapping but doesn't sound like a children's book!!

[primreamer]

threestable,

I remember those books, I had them too. Unfortunately my memory is also blank with regard to authors and titles. Agree with the descriptive points you've made and the kidnapping storyline. A couple of other things that are lodged in my head for some reason are that the aircraft was a twin piston engine type and the airfields at Lydd and/or Lympne (when it was still there) were mentioned regularly in the stories.

[threestable]

Primreamer...yes! Dun and distant bells are ringing. Set up an enquiry with goodreader so we will see if anything comes back. Thanks for taking the time.

[tubby linton]

Have you asked the chaps here?
https://www.aviation-bookshop.com

[threestable]

Tubby,
Thanks for taking the time, and sorry its taken so long to get back.
I will give them a shout. Still nothing...

[civic]

The Author was Alexander Barrie and our hero was a boy called Jonathan Kane.
I remember two books:
Fly for three lives
Let them all starve
I think there were more but I don’t recall the titles.I read them over and over again I’m sure I could have flown an Aztec single handed as a 10 year old had the need arisen.Fond memories of these books.

(also too much time on my hands)

[BirdmanBerry]

https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/alexander-barrie/jonathan-kane-adventure/

[primreamer]

civic,
Thats great. Definitely the ones I was thinking of that I was trying to describe earlier in the thread. Thank you.

[threestable]

I had given up! Just thought have a look at Pprune in a rare idle moment...and lo and behold!
Civic and Birdman Berry, thankyou for your time. Perhaps they'll inspire my two as they did indeed I..... then perhaps I'll regret it!!😆
All the best.. 👍