Have you seen the price of that book??

Amazon - Sled Driver

Sled Driver Website

Right, where's my wifes credit card?

I've got a copy. Its well worth it. Beautiful photos. Very much so an elite group of pilots.

Read Richard Hillary's book "The Last Enemy" 40 odd years ago when I was a budding private pilot and thought it was the greatest thing ever!

Read it again the other day and thought is was the greatest load of nonsence I had ever come across!!

I guess times and perceptions change! :sad:

Sagitarius Rising by Cecil Lewis stand out for me.

(From http://oldpoetry.com/authors/Cecil%20Lewis)

He lied about his age in order to join the Royal Flying Corps in 1915 and served as a successful fighter pilot during the First World War. He is credited with victories over eight German planes, and he survived an encounter with the infamous "Red Baron" von Richtofen. He was awarded the Military Cross for his numerous actions performed at the Battle of the Somme in 1916. His memoirs of the air war, Sagitarius Rising (1936) are considered to be one of the finest of that era. Sequels documenting his later life included Sagittarius Surviving, All My Yesterdays, Farewell to Wings and Gemini to Joburg.


LP

Some rather sad news to this thread.

The author and decorated french WW2 fighter pilot, Pierre Closterman, died recently. As reported here he was the author of two best sellers on the airwar of WW2. 'The Big Show' and 'Flames in the Sky'.

For those interested 'The Big Show' was apparently reprinted in 2004 and should be available again. It is the only book of that time that describes in detail the activities of the Tempest fighter up against the FW90, the ME262 and of course the V1, from my knowledge.

This was a cracker

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/...CLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

"The Big Show" For any Kiwi's out there that are interested and didn't know, NZ has a strong link to the RAF's 486 Squadron and we were at the forefront flying Tempests against the V1.
Jim McCaw was and remains a legend for his flying with 486 Squadron.
He used to run a gliding club off his farm strip in the Hakataramea Valley near Kurow in North Otago and he would keep a captive audience with 'war stories' after a day's gliding.

http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2-2RAF-c11.html

Troppo I flew with and knew a lot of WW2 Kiwi aces when they were "old men" in their late 40's and 50's
They were sure able to hold their own in the Aero club bar.

http://www.augk18.dsl.pipex.com/Smileys/draft.gif

It was a privilege.:ok:

Gumaaaaaaaaaark,
I was thinking exactly the same as you re Richard Bach. Just rummaged through my bookshelves for a paperbook by him that I had years back but can't find it. Had wonderful short stories about flying light classic aircraft around the US post war. Anyone recall the title?

I find that most aviation-related novels lean heavily towards military flying which is not my thing at all.

My favourite non-military novel is a book called "Propellerhead" written by an English pilot name Antony Woodward and is an autobiography.

It's wonderfully written with pleny of humour and really captures all the joys and frustrations of learning to fly.

The synopsis is:

"Antony Woodward hated flying. It was, quite simply, not his thing. But when his flatmate Richard returned from Africa with a pilot's licence - and instant sex appeal - there was only one option....

Eccentric characters, recalcitrant lawnmower engines, lousy weather, unhappy landings - can these really be the things to get a relationship off the ground! As Woodwards passage from man to airman hits ever-increasing turbulence, he finds himself embarked on a jaunt of self-discovery that will strike a chord with many a disaffected urbanite".

Highly recommended.
:D

Couldn't agree more! Just loved that one, and one of the few books I've read more than once; it's a 'keeper'. Reminiscent of some of my early flying.:ok:

I doubt you will find this anywhere, but my Dad has a copy of "History of Aeronautics" printed in 1913, foreword by Orville Wright. Fascinating book of all the latest stuff in flying, including a photograph of a Curtiss biplane setting a new altitude record, at 300+ feet! Dad rescued it from the Defence library as it was about to be thrown out!! (That's the book, not the Curtiss)

Nine minutes twenty seconds
 

Hi guys , this book "Nine minutes twenty seconds" is a great true story . im not a big reader , infact i hate reading though this is the first book iv'e not put down . it was recently on Air crash invesigations though the book is well laid out and full credit to the author .. A must read guys if not already done so . not sure where you would find it though im willing to lend my copy...

cheers

Good Read...
 

A recent book published by an Aussie pilot - 'Sock it to 'Em Baby' by Garry Cooper. Damn good read; I've read most of the Vietnam War non-fiction titles dealing with the Australian Air War in Vietnam and this one would be one of the best.

Garry Cooper was an Aussie Fighter Pilot seconded to the USAF as an FAC in an 01 Birddog. His exploits make gripping reading. The administrative bungling of the RAAF is cringeworthy. The Australian Government approach to Awards and Honours is infuriating (I've just recieved a military service award 20 years after leaving the green machine).

Nice pic of a well-known Ppruner in there too.....:)

Good Read?
 

Recently celebrated my birthday and recieved a book of flying stories on the RFDS. Got me thinking if there are a lot of good books out there people might recommend?

A few I've found good recently;
- the 'Proficient Pilot' series (three) by Barry Schiff
- Flying Doctor Stories by Bill 'Swampy' Marsh


Thoughts??

#1: Low Level Hell - loach flying in nam.

#2: Chickenhawk - slick flying in nam.

Chickenhawk by Robert Mason is possibly the best Vietnam/helo's in war book ever written. Would also recommend 'Night Dogs' by Kent Anderson - another Vietnam classic. The follow up is also excellent - 'Sympathy for the Devil'.

I've just finished 'Eight Lives Down' by Major Chris Hunter. The true story of a British bomb disposal expert in Iraq. Superb book and one very brave man.

It has recently been released in paperback too.

Eagle402

"North Star Over My Shoulder" by Bob Buck (who also wrote "Weather Flying") is a great first hand account of flying from the 1930's into the 70's.
Funnily enough I also received Swampy's book for my birthday last year - a compilation of people's experience of the RFDS.
Can anyone recommend a good read (preferably autobiography) involving Australian/PNG/NZ flying that is in print/readily available?

Have got to add my endorsement for "Chickenhawk" - have yet to meet a helipilot who hasn't read it!

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=326589

There's already a good thread on this elsewhere here.

And yeah, gotta mention "Fate is the hunter" yet again.

Nicky Barr, An Australian Air Ace.

Brilliant and humbling, an amazing story of determination and courage.


And an all time favourite.

Fly for your life, a biography by Larry Forrester on Robert Stanford Tuck.

WW2 English ace with an uncanny shooting skill, a never say die attitude, a quirky sense of luck and unassuming bravery. 5 stars.