Good books for pilots
Good books for pilots
Guest
Posts: n/a
I believe Nevil Shute wrote a similar book at least 30 years ago, vaguely resembling the Comet fiasco. Metal Fatigue engineer discovers that after approx 6000 hrs part X on airplane Y breaks, finds himself on airplane Y as it flies on past that number. Never read it, can't vouch for it, but he does get literary respect.
Books of that sort, however, cannot compare to more genuine authors, like Ernest K. Gann. Fate is the Hunter is his legendary work. Worth reading twice.
[This message has been edited by Cardinal (edited 09 September 2000).]
Books of that sort, however, cannot compare to more genuine authors, like Ernest K. Gann. Fate is the Hunter is his legendary work. Worth reading twice.
[This message has been edited by Cardinal (edited 09 September 2000).]
Guest
Posts: n/a
Cardinal, the book was "No Highway", made in to a film also known as "No Highway in The Sky" (20th Century Fox 1951) - directed by Henry Koster, starring James Stewart, Glynis Johns & Marlene Dietrich. I found it an enjoyable film . . .
------------------
Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death.
------------------
Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Also by Neville Shute:
'In the wet' - set 30 years in the future (ie 1980's) about an Australian Aboriginal pilot flying for the Royal Flight.
'An Old Captivity' - flight expedition to Greenland
If you're into the touchy-feely side of life and flying, anything by Richard Bach
'In the wet' - set 30 years in the future (ie 1980's) about an Australian Aboriginal pilot flying for the Royal Flight.
'An Old Captivity' - flight expedition to Greenland
If you're into the touchy-feely side of life and flying, anything by Richard Bach
Guest
Posts: n/a
Cardinal,
I think you'll find that Neville Shute (Norway - his last name) is one of the "more genuine authors" as you put it. A quick perusal of his cv will satisfy you that he was a real aviation person - designer at Airspeed, chief calculator on the R100 airship as well as an accomplished pilot.
I think you'll find that Neville Shute (Norway - his last name) is one of the "more genuine authors" as you put it. A quick perusal of his cv will satisfy you that he was a real aviation person - designer at Airspeed, chief calculator on the R100 airship as well as an accomplished pilot.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Neville Shute's autobiography is called Slide Rule.
Try also Carrier Pilot by Norman Hanson. An immensely readable autobiography of a naval pilot trained in Pensacola who ended up flying Chance Vought Corsairs off the carrier Illustrious in south east Asia during the latter part of the war.
Try also Carrier Pilot by Norman Hanson. An immensely readable autobiography of a naval pilot trained in Pensacola who ended up flying Chance Vought Corsairs off the carrier Illustrious in south east Asia during the latter part of the war.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Yes, PP - a great book about 'The Cranked Wing Bastard From Connecticut'... took real men to fly 
Also, try http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/For...ML/001129.html
or do a search - lots of chat on this subject in the last couple of years
Also, try http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/For...ML/001129.html
or do a search - lots of chat on this subject in the last couple of years
Guest
Posts: n/a
Brand new book just published on behalf of the Fleet Air Arm Officers' Association and edited by Lt Cdr Charles Manning AFC,RN. It's called "Fly Navy - The View from the Cockpit, 1945 -2000".
It consists of 95 first hand experiences and narrow escapes written by aircrew of that period. I was a bystander (or "goofer" in naval parlance)in five of the incidents from the 60's and can vouch for their accuracy. Some of the escapes are truly amazing and will make the hair on the back of your head prickle!
An excellent read for aviators from all backgrounds, but especially poignant for those who have been involved in Naval Aviation.
Price £19.95 hardback. 224 pages with many incident photos.
Available from Pen & Sword Books. Tel 01226-734555 with credit card details or
email [email protected]
ISBN 085052 732 5
.......and no, I don't have any connection with the publishers - it's just a damn good read!!
------------------
Quickly; bring me a beaker of wine, so that I may wet my mind and say something clever. (Aristophanes)
It consists of 95 first hand experiences and narrow escapes written by aircrew of that period. I was a bystander (or "goofer" in naval parlance)in five of the incidents from the 60's and can vouch for their accuracy. Some of the escapes are truly amazing and will make the hair on the back of your head prickle!
An excellent read for aviators from all backgrounds, but especially poignant for those who have been involved in Naval Aviation.
Price £19.95 hardback. 224 pages with many incident photos.
Available from Pen & Sword Books. Tel 01226-734555 with credit card details or
email [email protected]
ISBN 085052 732 5
.......and no, I don't have any connection with the publishers - it's just a damn good read!!
------------------
Quickly; bring me a beaker of wine, so that I may wet my mind and say something clever. (Aristophanes)
Guest
Posts: n/a
Concur on "Fate is the Hunter", "Slide Rule".
A rarer Neville Shute, also well worth reading, is "Stanley Morris" which is semi-autobiographical.
"A gift of Wings" by Richard Bach
Roland Beaumont's various books about his test flying experiences are well worth reading, as is "Spitfire" by Geoffrey Quill, who did much of the test flying of the beast.
A real antique, well worth reading, is "Enemy Coast Ahead" by Guy Gibson.
G
A rarer Neville Shute, also well worth reading, is "Stanley Morris" which is semi-autobiographical.
"A gift of Wings" by Richard Bach
Roland Beaumont's various books about his test flying experiences are well worth reading, as is "Spitfire" by Geoffrey Quill, who did much of the test flying of the beast.
A real antique, well worth reading, is "Enemy Coast Ahead" by Guy Gibson.
G
Guest
Posts: n/a
Anyone have read the book "My secret war" from Richard Drury? I'm interested , I read his column in "Airways" mag and he really know how to write (in terms of a good story/facts).
I personally like the books from Bach and the best biography I think is still "Yeager".
I haven't read "The Right Stuff" but has seen many times the movie based on the book. Great stuff and never boring...like "das Boot" for the sub lovers....an authentic classic!
------------------
Reporte través de XAREO
I personally like the books from Bach and the best biography I think is still "Yeager".
I haven't read "The Right Stuff" but has seen many times the movie based on the book. Great stuff and never boring...like "das Boot" for the sub lovers....an authentic classic!
------------------
Reporte través de XAREO
Guest
Posts: n/a
Hi Cardinal. Mustafagander and others are right about Nevil Shute. He was there not at the beginning but early on in aviation. His Slide Rule is a truly interesting study of getting started in aircraft manufacture, the problems of building a company on a shoestring, business ethics and the pressures to bend them, the effect of an unexpected sale on the compoany's survival. Not least is his comparison of the construction and pre-flight preparation of the dirigible airship R 100, which did not crash, and the R 101, which did. That last must have been in his mind when he wrote No Highway.