Aviation Books to read

[SKW100]

Thank you for the recommendation, I have a book voucher to use so will make this a priority.

[moonstone_laura]

To be published on March 30th 2023 by 'Air World':

A Royal Navy Cold War Buccaneer Pilot: Flying the Famous Maritime Strike Aircraft

by Simon Kershaw

"This is a vivid and powerful story of life on board the last of our great Second World War-era aircraft carriers, modernised to serve beyond its time. It is a story of the Cold War which conveys the trials and tribulations of flying one of the best-loved military aircraft in history. Steve Kershaw joined the Royal Navy in 1963. He began flying training in 1968 and progressed to the Blackburn Buccaneer - a world-class naval strike jet that was designed to fly very fast at ultra-low altitudes...In this book, Steve's story is revealed by his son, Simon, through the words of his father, drawn from a mass of letters sent by him, and the recollections of those who served alongside him."

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Royal-Navy-Col ... 39904012X/

[tm74sqn]

Published during 2022 by Yale University Press (New Haven and London)
Spymaster - the man who saved MI6
by Helen Fry
Mainly about spying from early 1900s to after WW2, but includes aviation and rocket stuff too. Very well researched and written. Shows just how important spies and spying can be, especially in this case just one man - Thomas Kendrick.
A very good read, although perhaps slightly hard going for the early stuff.

[Youdy71]

Military Low-Level Flying from F-4 to F-35

‘A pictorial display of low flying in Cumbria and beyond’

A new book by Scott Rathbone featuring over 300 colour images of over 70 types of aircraft from 20 air arms between 1986 and 2022.

Much more than just images, this book contains an outline of low-level flying within the UK with details of events, eye witness accounts and examples of traffic levels throughout the period covered. The image captions provide varying details, but were known give details of exercises or other reasons why a particular aircraft was photographed at that time.

https://sites.google.com/airfighters.c ... mbria/home

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1399092782 ... 5063a98c67

[BwlchAwyren]

Thanks for the recommendation on the low level flying from f4 to f35

[monkeypuzzle11]

Low Level Flying From F-4 to F-35 is an excellent book, worth a read.

[Jason Grant]

I am thoroughly enjoying Experimental Test Pilot: Military Aircraft Research Flying by Chris Taylor.

Chris Taylor has, over nigh on 40 years of aviating, amassed 8500 flying hours and logged pilot time in over 400 aircraft types of virtually all classes. His first book, “Test Pilot; An Extraordinary Career Testing Civil Aircraft”, which was published a couple of years ago, was about his time as a civilian test pilot. However, that book did not focus on his military service, during which he became an operational helicopter pilot, top-rated instructor, experimental test pilot and flight test tutor with the Empire Test Pilots’ School (ETPS).

Link to amazon: https://amzn.eu/d/6YxG3YA

[moonstone_laura]

Due to be published by Key in the next week or so:

Israeli Air Force

Air Forces Series, Vol. 10

Celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2023, the Israeli Air Force has become a sophisticated and formidable power supported by highly trained personnel and a vast array of contemporary weaponry. Continually on alert in a regional hotspot, the Israeli Air Force has evolved to become the main pillar of defence for the nation.

The force currently has 402 aircraft at its disposal, including 290 fighter-bombers, 136 helicopters and 80 unmanned aerial vehicles for reconnaissance, surveillance and attack. Each year, the Air Force carries out hundreds of combat sorties and training missions to keep its personnel trained to a state of readiness and to protect its borders. The history of the force and its aircraft are detailed alongside the significant wars that have shaped the current Air Force.

Author: Babak Taghvaee

https://shop.keypublishing.com/products ... 7e8f&_ss=r

[Bobling]

Great thread, and suprised how many I have read!

Currently "First Light" is book at bedtime for my 12 year old and I. It's amazing how accessible it is, we're only just out of training though so things are about to get a bit heavy.

[Malcolm H]

Great Thread!!
I read a lot and recommend "F4 Phantom: A Pilot's Story" by Robert Prest; "Shattered Sword" by Anthony P. Tully and Jonathan Parshall about The Battle of Midway and "Red Eagles" by Steve Davies the story of Tonopah and the exposure of pilots to Migs.

[raptor9]

Robert Prest's book is excellent. Have had it for years, and it is often re-read. I have a good friend who is an ex F.4 Driver, and he has a copy also.

[FraserP]

I reconmend HAZARD SPECTRUM by Nathan Gray, Fleet Air Arm pilot who flew Harrier missions in Afghanistan then beame a test pilot on the F35 B and C models doing the first landind an ski launch on HMS QE2...

[moonstone_laura]

To be published by Key at the end of June:

A-10 Thunderbolt II: The Complete Guide to the Warthog [Bookazine]

https://shop.keypublishing.com/collecti ... hunderbolt

[F3]

After my short break on the Lincolnshire coast I've just acquired two interesting books which are about subjects other than Bomber Command with which the County is usually associated. These are: To Force the Enemy off the Seas by John Vimpany & David Boyd which tells the story of the North Coates Strike Wing, an extract from which appeared in a recent FlyPast and School of Aces by Alastair Goodrum which seemed like a 'must read' after visiting the churchyard and memorial @ Sutton Bridge. I'm looking forward to getting into these as soon as I finish my holiday reading which, altho' not an Aviation Book, I am going to recommend anyway as it is w/out doubt the best book I've read on the war in Afghanistan:- Red Platoon by Clinton Romesha. I'll post again after reading the two aviation books mentioned with on update on how I rated them.

[teeonefixer]

Following a recommendations (and discussion) on another well-known aviation forum, I picked up Don Pederson's "Top Gun, the Real Story" in Duxford bookshop.
I can't put it down !

[Bobling]

I'm about half way through f-4 Phantom: A pilot's story, and it is very good so thanks forum. I wonder though is there a memoir from a Vietnam Phantom pilot that anyone can recommend?

[moonstone_laura]

I'm about half way through f-4 Phantom: A pilot's story, and it is very good so thanks forum. I wonder though is there a memoir from a Vietnam Phantom pilot that anyone can recommend?

These two are both pretty good:

The Phantom Vietnam War: An F-4 Pilot's Combat over Laos (David R. 'Buff' Honodel)

War for the Hell of It: A Fighter Pilot's View of Vietnam (Ed Cobleigh)

[Fibrous Freddie]

Nimrod: Rise and Fall
Authored by Tony Blackman.

I've hundreds (yep, really!) of aviation books, but this one had somehow escaped me.
It's not 'kick the tyres, light the fires... a bit of dogfighting... home for tea and medals'; however it is thorough, detailed and full of accounts and explanation on the aeroplane, its development, its roles, and ultimately the demise of a fine machine.
For those of a certain generation who regularly saw the aeroplane (and those who want to know more about what the RAF was really doing in the maritime role) I very highly recommend.

Toodle pip
Freddie

[raptor9]

Eject! Eject! By John Nicol, A very well written book, a very good read, and a wonderful history of Ejector Seats, and the stories [good and bad] surrounding them. Pleased to have been strapped to one for some jet aerobatics donkey's years ago.

[MADWOP]

Raptor9:-
Just finished Eject! Eject!
Agree with everything you said about the book.
On a personal note found myself quite emotional with the latter chapters about reunions.
A gripping read.