Anyone read any good books ?
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Behind the cockpit door, written & illustrated by Arthur Whitlock. From his early days flying the tiger moth & DC3 in India to relocating to the UK in the early fifties & progressing onto flying Elizabethans, Bristol "frighteners", Britannias, Tridents & Tristars as the Years passed 
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I'm re-reading 'Ironclaw' by Sherman Baldwin. I got it from the library yesterday & read it in one hit, so I'm re-reading it to enjoy the bits I missed the first time round.
The author was a US Navy pilot, flying Prowlers from USS Midway in the Gulf War, on ESM missions. He was a inexperienced first tour pilot so everything was new and exciting. The first chapter describes a night tanking followed by a landing.
Other chapters include first combat mission and the pressures of maintaining curency and alertness while flying daily.
I finished the book with an even greater admiration for navy pilots, but couldn't help being reminded of the Sea Harrier motto 'Its easier to stop & land, rather than land & stop'
Anyway, its a very good read - Ironclaw, Sherman Baldwin, ISBN 0-688-14303-2.
The author was a US Navy pilot, flying Prowlers from USS Midway in the Gulf War, on ESM missions. He was a inexperienced first tour pilot so everything was new and exciting. The first chapter describes a night tanking followed by a landing.
Other chapters include first combat mission and the pressures of maintaining curency and alertness while flying daily.
I finished the book with an even greater admiration for navy pilots, but couldn't help being reminded of the Sea Harrier motto 'Its easier to stop & land, rather than land & stop'
Anyway, its a very good read - Ironclaw, Sherman Baldwin, ISBN 0-688-14303-2.
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I don't think anyone's mentioned Ann Morrow Lindbergh yet. Her achievements were notable, too.
To avoid the more writerly writing*, you might do worse than read Listen, The Wind.
*I think that's a euphemism for (light) purple, which is unfair. You just have to be in the mood for some of the more pensive output, IMHO.
To avoid the more writerly writing*, you might do worse than read Listen, The Wind.
*I think that's a euphemism for (light) purple, which is unfair. You just have to be in the mood for some of the more pensive output, IMHO.
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I've been comparing my collection with the above and can't disagree with anyone about the classics, but I've just found another one that only gets lent out to trusted souls:
Flight of the Ginn Fizz - Henry Kisor
I'd also add several more Ganns...Flying Circus particularly. None but F.I.T.H. is in print, but can be tracked down. My copy, and a (signed) copy of Band of Brothers were found in a second-hand aviation bookstore in Virginia. Deep joy.....
Serendipity is the reward of persistence.
Flight of the Ginn Fizz - Henry Kisor
I'd also add several more Ganns...Flying Circus particularly. None but F.I.T.H. is in print, but can be tracked down. My copy, and a (signed) copy of Band of Brothers were found in a second-hand aviation bookstore in Virginia. Deep joy.....
Serendipity is the reward of persistence.
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The [fairly] recent Amy Johnson biography is a surprising page-turner. Read it on a reunion tour with my amateur wind ensemble from the uni days a couple of years ago and they couldn't get a word out of me for 3 days except 'not another bl00dy rehearsal already - I'm on a good bit'!
Definitely Faith is the hunter. He used to write articles for the American "Flying" magazine- if you can find any old (60's) copies, well worth a read. Others, Chickenhawk/Bob Mason, TangoNovember/John Howlett.
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Seconding
I second those who suggested "The Killing Zone - How and why pilots die". I'm 3/4 way through it and the overwhelming feeling I have is why isn't a book like this given to all new drivers (it'd make the roads a lot safer)?
Last edited by HiFranc; 15th Mar 2006 at 23:41.
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I must add my recommendation to Geoffrey Wellum's First Light. In similar vein, though from a Bomber Command point of view, is Jack Currie's Lancaster Target. It's a classic - very evocative of day-to-day life as a bomber pilot alternately in the skies over Germany or the pubs of Lincoln. Funny at times.
My Part of the Sky, by Roly Beamont details his wartime life from the Battle of France right through to 1944 & his capture by the Germans. A great Hawker advocate; so read this if you're tired of only hearing about how wonderful the Spitfire was!
Kev
In similar vein, though from a Bomber Command point of view, is Jack Currie's Lancaster Target. It's a classic - very evocative of day-to-day life as a bomber pilot alternately in the skies over Germany or the pubs of Lincoln. Funny at times.My Part of the Sky, by Roly Beamont details his wartime life from the Battle of France right through to 1944 & his capture by the Germans. A great Hawker advocate; so read this if you're tired of only hearing about how wonderful the Spitfire was!
Kev
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I have read "The Killing Zone - How and why pilots die" and it's given a great insight as to what can and does go wrong when poor judgement gets in the way. No one can ever say that they will not become a statistic, but a foresight as given in this book may help in situations that you encounter.
Dave
Dave
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I'll second "you want to build & fly a WHAT?" FlyingFemme- Absolutely hilarious - NOT recommended if you get embarrassed about laughing out loud without helping/ realising when everyone else in the room (workplace) is quiet...
Well it was MY lunch break
Well it was MY lunch break
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Illusions - the adventures of a reluctant Messiah (Richard Bach) is very good & will make you think.
For those who have read his first book "Jonathon Livingston Seagull" and are into surrealism then "Jonathon Livingston Trafalgar Square Pigeon" might tickle you. Wont reveal too much, but a pigeon tries to persuade his mates that it's easier to take the tube!
ap
For those who have read his first book "Jonathon Livingston Seagull" and are into surrealism then "Jonathon Livingston Trafalgar Square Pigeon" might tickle you. Wont reveal too much, but a pigeon tries to persuade his mates that it's easier to take the tube!
ap
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Good reads
To the illustrious listing above, I would add the following:-
1. 'For Your Freedom and Ours', the story of the Polish participation in the war, told through the medium of 303 (Polish) Squadron RAF. Poland alone was our ally from day one of the war, to the very last day. I think every Brit ought to read this one. (Make sure you have a box of paper tissues to hand; it's a very sad story).
2. 'Amy Johnson, Queen of the Skies', the story of Amy from the time she learned to fly a DH Moth and then flew to Australia with only 45 hours experience total time to her death during WWII.
Broomstick.
1. 'For Your Freedom and Ours', the story of the Polish participation in the war, told through the medium of 303 (Polish) Squadron RAF. Poland alone was our ally from day one of the war, to the very last day. I think every Brit ought to read this one. (Make sure you have a box of paper tissues to hand; it's a very sad story).
2. 'Amy Johnson, Queen of the Skies', the story of Amy from the time she learned to fly a DH Moth and then flew to Australia with only 45 hours experience total time to her death during WWII.
Broomstick.
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My 2 pence worth:
Stick & Rudder : I did not quite get why and how the aeroplane flew until I read it. Easy going..... for main part of the book, and a delight to read. The later analysis section was not quite as good, but still useful.
The killing Zone. Also an important read, but the stats give a bit of a skewed view of reality. The concept of the book is good, although imperfectly executed. Most will be safer after reading it, perhaps by being scared out of the sky for a small minority.
Redefining Airmanship by Tony Kern.
The book that the Killing Zone should have been.
This book examines in great detail the nebulous concept of good airmanship. What makes a good pilot. Whilst there is a little on physical skill, it explodes the concept that good stick & rudder pilots are good airmen, and rebuilds the model from the ground up. It is not however, a theoretical exersize. A model is put forward for personal, step by step development.
I lent my copy to a friend, who ended up not letting me have it back, he thought so highly of it!!!! I remarked it should be required reading for all pilots, but he disagreed. His argument was that many pilots are not ready for it.........now there is a challenge if ever I saw one
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0070...21#reader-link
My flying has changed forever
Stick & Rudder : I did not quite get why and how the aeroplane flew until I read it. Easy going..... for main part of the book, and a delight to read. The later analysis section was not quite as good, but still useful.
The killing Zone. Also an important read, but the stats give a bit of a skewed view of reality. The concept of the book is good, although imperfectly executed. Most will be safer after reading it, perhaps by being scared out of the sky for a small minority.
Redefining Airmanship by Tony Kern.
The book that the Killing Zone should have been.
This book examines in great detail the nebulous concept of good airmanship. What makes a good pilot. Whilst there is a little on physical skill, it explodes the concept that good stick & rudder pilots are good airmen, and rebuilds the model from the ground up. It is not however, a theoretical exersize. A model is put forward for personal, step by step development.
I lent my copy to a friend, who ended up not letting me have it back, he thought so highly of it!!!! I remarked it should be required reading for all pilots, but he disagreed. His argument was that many pilots are not ready for it.........now there is a challenge if ever I saw one
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0070...21#reader-link
My flying has changed forever
Two that don't seem to have been mentioned so far:
Flying Without Wings by Milton Thompson & Curtis Peebles - Pub. Crecy (no ISBN)
Test flying the lifting body vehicles for the NASA programme. Hair raising stuff!
Pilot's Summer - Frank D. Tredrey - ISBN 1 902914 12 0
A diary of the author's CFS course at Wittering in the 1930s. Evocative account of the RAF in the last days of peace.
I endorse the recommendations for "Chickenhawk". An old friend of mine served two tours with 1st Air Cavalry and he avers that it is pretty close to the truth.
"Ironclaw" mentioned above is also one of those books which has the ring of veracity. The author has obviously been there and conveys his experiences well, a great read.
YS
Flying Without Wings by Milton Thompson & Curtis Peebles - Pub. Crecy (no ISBN)
Test flying the lifting body vehicles for the NASA programme. Hair raising stuff!
Pilot's Summer - Frank D. Tredrey - ISBN 1 902914 12 0
A diary of the author's CFS course at Wittering in the 1930s. Evocative account of the RAF in the last days of peace.
I endorse the recommendations for "Chickenhawk". An old friend of mine served two tours with 1st Air Cavalry and he avers that it is pretty close to the truth.
"Ironclaw" mentioned above is also one of those books which has the ring of veracity. The author has obviously been there and conveys his experiences well, a great read.
YS
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"falling for icarus" by rory maclean.
more about living than flying although the aviation theme is very much at the forefront of this book. Anyone who has spent time in Greece will appreciate this book.
more about living than flying although the aviation theme is very much at the forefront of this book. Anyone who has spent time in Greece will appreciate this book.