FighterControl

Dear All,

So - firstly an apologies to the administrators if I have posted this in the wrong section (I know this is for photos - please move it if it needs to be elsewhere).

Several days ago, one of our fellow posters started a thread on Air Fete memorabilia and suggested a calendar be produced. I (perhaps foolishly) suggested that I have always fancied having a crack at a book on the history of Air Fete. Subsequently, several people posted encouraging remarks and one or two have sent me messages offering help / photos.

Since then I have thought a lot about this idea (mostly whether I was utterly insane to even suggest it) and I have decided that I would like to give this a go. I've written articles and contributed to magazines before, but never have I written a book, but someone once said "everyone has at least one book in them". Next year is the 20th anniversary of the last Air Fete, so if (and it is a big iff) I could get something done by then it might be a nice tribute to what was -possibly - the best airshow of them all.

My idea is a softback book, in colour. Each show will have a 'chapter' and this will consist of some text about the show, a list of the aircraft present and plenty of photos. I have some ideas about people to contact asking for assistance / memories and I'm hoping that my fellow 'controllers' will come up trumps for the photos.

Obviously I will have to sort out how to get the book published....I wonder whether one of the specialist Aviation publishers like Crecy might be interested...if not, there's always blurb. The bottom line is that, apart from covering my costs, I will not seek to make any money out of the book (if it does get to sales) - my plan is to donate any money I receive for the book to suitable charities.

If anyone fancies helping or contributing in any way then please send me a PM. I'm sure photos won't be a problem, but if anyone has any logs for the shows (I have the ones scramble produced on their website) and especially if anyone has any memories, anecdotes or magazine reports on the show they would be wonderful

Mods / admin....any chance this could be given a 'sticky' for a while? I will try to post updates on a fairly regular basis.

It might be a good idea , to join forces with F3, AKA Mick,on this forum. He mooted a similar idea a good few days ago, he was asking people to get involved
and it sounds like a good idea, to make the thing a "joint effort"...just a thought

Have sent him a PM already

Good luck with it all...if I have anything that might be rare, I'll send it along. I've got a feeling you might be spoiled for choice...

Was there not a similar book published about Waddington Airshow? This would be a fantastic idea if it happened would be some fantastic photo material.

So then, an update..........

Mick (F3) and I have spoken and it looks like a book on Air Fete will be a collaborative effort by us both

We will be looking ofr people to contribute photos and memories of all of the air fetes from 76 to 2001.....I suspect there will be more photos of the later shows than the earlier ones.

And if anyone does have any crowd shots...or ESPECIALLY one of the famed Burger 'tents' we would be very interested in seeing them. They are part of the legend that was Air Fete !

watch this space !!!

Waddington book available here - https://www.blurb.co.uk/b/6861894-raf-w ... -1995-2014

Did think about an Air Fete book but only have images from 1988. I know Mick will give it 100%!

Wishing you both the very best of luck with this project and will be clearing a space for it on my bookshelf!

best

Darren

pmd you

John

I actually have a Norfolk Aviation Society publication that details Mildenhall Airshows 1956-1987, 56 pages with b/w photos. Would that be of help to you?

Nigel

Certainly would ! Any chance you might be able to scan it and send me a soft copy? Or if you are happy to send it to me I can PM you my address - promise I will take care of it and return it asap

Could someone please point me at where I might get a copy of the book please?

Vulture 01 wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 04, 2021 6:56 pm

Could someone please point me at where I might get a copy of the book please?

As co-author of this book (with John Wickenden) I can advise that it has not as yet been published due to circumstances beyond our control. The publisher with whom we had contracted to produce the book reneged on the contract at the 11th hour leaving us up s--t creek. I have since approached another publisher and am awaiting a decision from them on whether they will proceed. What I can promise is that I intend to see it published one way or another. If necessary I will fund a limited print run and market copies myself.

A couple of suggestions in case you get stuck further on, try Amberly books who are a publishers. Also if you put money up front and its a last resort, these publishers will consider your
manuscript, Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd...good luck with it all...

jaybee wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 05, 2021 9:53 am

A couple of suggestions in case you get stuck further on, try Amberly books who are a publishers. Also if you put money up front and its a last resort, these publishers will consider your
manuscript, Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd...good luck with it all...

Thanks very much for this info John. May come in useful if we get knocked back again.

Very good luck with the book, as others have said there is space for one in my collection.

Thanks very much for this info John. May come in useful if we get knocked back again.
[/quote]

You are welcome Mick, let me know what happens eventually...

a thousand apologies to the mods for what is now going to be a blatant plug....but a quick update on the book.

After what seems like ages Mick and I are very excited to announce that the book is now at the printers and should be available by the end of the month. As we have had to fund the costs of publishing and printing ourselves, we have restricted an initial print run to 100 copies, but hopefully we can get some outlets to show interest in the book and justify printing more. I have now put together a twitter site - check out twitter.com @air_fete to see some examples of the pages (trust me they look much better in real life than my distinctly ropey screen shots !!!

Hi John

Not on twitter , sorry , how much per copy are you looking at ??

Thanks

Paul

johnwickenden wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 02, 2021 11:27 am

a thousand apologies to the mods for what is now going to be a blatant plug....but a quick update on the book.

After what seems like ages Mick and I are very excited to announce that the book is now at the printers and should be available by the end of the month. As we have had to fund the costs of publishing and printing ourselves, we have restricted an initial print run to 100 copies, but hopefully we can get some outlets to show interest in the book and justify printing more. I have now put together a twitter site - check out twitter.com @air_fete to see some examples of the pages (trust me they look much better in real life than my distinctly ropey screen shots !!!

Tried to msg you on twitter, it says unable to msg? I would like to order a copy please?