Must have / read Books
'by the seat of my pants' the memoirs of an airmail pilot [gotta rememer the author's name
HABU---stories from an SR-71 pilot
I agree--with all books by EKG
Black Wings
and Jane's all the world's aircraft
sorry about not listing all authors but I'm not near my books
PA
HABU---stories from an SR-71 pilot
I agree--with all books by EKG
Black Wings
and Jane's all the world's aircraft
sorry about not listing all authors but I'm not near my books
PA
A few of my favourites,
Sled Driver by Brian Shul,
Vulcan 607 by Rowland White,
The Big Show by Pierre Closterman,
Gatty Prince of Navigators by Bruce Brown,
Spitfire A Test Pilots Story by Jeffery Quill,
Forever Flying by R A "Bob" Hoover,
We Landed by Moonlight by Hugh Verity,
The Long Way Home by Ed Dover,
The Flying Business The Life of Arthur Schutt by Wal Davies,
I Flew For MMA by Captain Reg Adkins,
Sigh For a Merlin by Alex Henshaw,
The Flight of the Mew Gull by Alex Henshaw,
The Dam Busters by Paul Brickhill,
Enemy Coast Ahead by Guy Gibson,
Battle of Britain The Movie by Robert J Rudhall,
Luftwaffe Secret Projects,
Piper aircraft by Roger W Peperell,
Bushies A History of Bush Pilots?Air Queensland by Ron Ensch,
Corsairville by Graham Coster,
The Shepherd by Frederick Forysth,
Cessna Wings for the World by William D Thompson.
Sled Driver by Brian Shul,
Vulcan 607 by Rowland White,
The Big Show by Pierre Closterman,
Gatty Prince of Navigators by Bruce Brown,
Spitfire A Test Pilots Story by Jeffery Quill,
Forever Flying by R A "Bob" Hoover,
We Landed by Moonlight by Hugh Verity,
The Long Way Home by Ed Dover,
The Flying Business The Life of Arthur Schutt by Wal Davies,
I Flew For MMA by Captain Reg Adkins,
Sigh For a Merlin by Alex Henshaw,
The Flight of the Mew Gull by Alex Henshaw,
The Dam Busters by Paul Brickhill,
Enemy Coast Ahead by Guy Gibson,
Battle of Britain The Movie by Robert J Rudhall,
Luftwaffe Secret Projects,
Piper aircraft by Roger W Peperell,
Bushies A History of Bush Pilots?Air Queensland by Ron Ensch,
Corsairville by Graham Coster,
The Shepherd by Frederick Forysth,
Cessna Wings for the World by William D Thompson.
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
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Not sure if it just called "Skunk Works" but it is a book all about the U2 and the SR71 and their development, very interesting read.
I second "Beyond The Blue Horizon" by Alexander Frater.
I second "Beyond The Blue Horizon" by Alexander Frater.
Skunkworks is the story of Kelly Johnson, Lockheed and the U2 and SR71 and a fantastic read.
Another series of books that is worthy read is the Air Disaster books written by Australian safety guru Macarther Job.
Another series of books that is worthy read is the Air Disaster books written by Australian safety guru Macarther Job.
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'Wings of Destiny - Wing Commander Charles Learmonth DFC and Bar and the Air War in New Guinea' by Charles Page. Also his earlier 'Vengeance of the Outback', both books meticulously researched Australian aviation histories.
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Already listed, but one of the books I decided to bring with me for my summer sojourn here in Cuckooclockland-
Delta Papa - Derek Piggott Amazing man, who did so much for gliding and film work.
Also:
Free as a bird and On being a bird, both by Philip Wills. Oh, and anything by Anne Welch. They all inspired me to a life of flying...even if I'm only driving bloons now
By the way the wave bars look spectacular out of my window as I write this
Delta Papa - Derek Piggott Amazing man, who did so much for gliding and film work.
Also:
Free as a bird and On being a bird, both by Philip Wills. Oh, and anything by Anne Welch. They all inspired me to a life of flying...even if I'm only driving bloons now
By the way the wave bars look spectacular out of my window as I write this
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Aviation Books
Some books about Civil Air Transport:
Beyond The Blue Horizon, Alexander Frater: A great tale about replicating the Imperial Airways Australia route.
Beyond Lion Rock, Gavin Young: A tale on how two pioneers created Cathay Pacific.
High Risk, Adam Thompson: The story of B-Cal, and good advice on how to avoid being stuffed by British Airways.
Beyond The Blue Horizon, Alexander Frater: A great tale about replicating the Imperial Airways Australia route.
Beyond Lion Rock, Gavin Young: A tale on how two pioneers created Cathay Pacific.
High Risk, Adam Thompson: The story of B-Cal, and good advice on how to avoid being stuffed by British Airways.
Typhoon Pilot by Desmond Scott
Am I the only one to have read this superb account of Typhoon flying.? It's a book I've read and re-read.
Listen to the great man himself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZbYT-qAgEQ
and there's an extract here:
http://www.nzfpm.co.nz/article.asp?id=fot_com
Listen to the great man himself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZbYT-qAgEQ
and there's an extract here:
http://www.nzfpm.co.nz/article.asp?id=fot_com
Last edited by PPRuNeUser0139; 25th May 2008 at 08:26.
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"Flight of Passage" by Rinker Buck, great story of two young guys flying a Piper Cub across the USA with their flying father's blessing. Some great adventures described including some unfriendly crop-duster's.
"Flights of Passage" by Samuel Hynes, good read on wartime Avenger operations.
"Flights of Passage" by Samuel Hynes, good read on wartime Avenger operations.
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Cs said
"I think "Slide Rule" by Neville Norway is a good read."
pjac replied...
I think you'll find that "Slide Rule" was by Neville Shute
Wikipedia says....
"Nevil Shute Norway (17 January 1899 - 12 January 1960) was, as Nevil Shute, a popular novelist, as well as a successful aeronautical engineer."
So there you have it.......
PS "Flying from my mind" by David G. Cook is worth a read.
"I think "Slide Rule" by Neville Norway is a good read."
pjac replied...
I think you'll find that "Slide Rule" was by Neville Shute
Wikipedia says....
"Nevil Shute Norway (17 January 1899 - 12 January 1960) was, as Nevil Shute, a popular novelist, as well as a successful aeronautical engineer."
So there you have it.......
PS "Flying from my mind" by David G. Cook is worth a read.
Last edited by aviate1138; 25th May 2008 at 07:04. Reason: a PS
China Pilot by Felix Smith.
A true account of the author's flying with CAT (Civil Air Transport) which was started by Claire Chennault of Flying Tigers fame flying relief for the UN in China post WW2, flew in support of the Nationalist forces in during the Communist uprising, flew in Korea during the war there, also in the first and second Indochina wars, eventually became Air America and was the most shot at airline in history.
A true account of the author's flying with CAT (Civil Air Transport) which was started by Claire Chennault of Flying Tigers fame flying relief for the UN in China post WW2, flew in support of the Nationalist forces in during the Communist uprising, flew in Korea during the war there, also in the first and second Indochina wars, eventually became Air America and was the most shot at airline in history.
Ernest K. Gann's 'FATE IS THE HUNTER', originally published in 1961, is mentioned five (5) times on this thread.
The Accidental Airline by Jim Spillsbury, the story of Queen Charlotte Airlines.
Permission Granted by Wes McIntosh. Wes is an old bugger, into his 90's and he's still going strong. The story spans his 60 year career in aviation.
My Life In The North by Jack Lamb. Jack once ferried a DC-3 from Kabul to Thompson MB. No big problem, but he'd never flown one before and his wife was co-pilot for part of the trip.
There are two often overlooked Ernest Gann books, The High And The Mighty and The Island In The Sky. Sadly, they have been out of print for years, although they both occasionally pop up on eBay. Both books have also been made into very creditable movies, starring John Wayne. They were available on DVD a couple of years ago. The first novel is about a DC-4 from HNL to SFO who loses a prop just past the point of no return. A great story, and the movie is the better of the two, I believe. The second book is based on the incident in FITH where the C-87 runs into ice and is force landed on a lake in northern Quebec. The book is the best and the movie the lesser of the two, in my opinion. As an aside the first aircraft into the lake in IITS was a Barkley Grow on skis, from Canadian, later Canadian Pacific, Airlines. I forget the name of the Captain, but his mechanic later went on to become the chief engineer for the corporate aviation department I worked for for 27 years.
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What about "Verdict on Erebus" by Peter Mahon (former New Zealand QC and High Court Judge, and Royal Commissioner for the Erebus crash).
As for aviation fiction books, I seem to recall enjoying "Airport" by Arthur Hailey.
As for aviation fiction books, I seem to recall enjoying "Airport" by Arthur Hailey.
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Erebus
I know some people disagree with the findings of the Royal Commission into the Erebus accident however 'Verdict on Erebus' should be on every safety managers or investigators bookshelf if only to give a first class understanding on how a judicial investigator reaches a finding. A good read.
Safe flying.
Safe flying.
