FighterControl

Just picked up James Hamilton-Patterson Empire of the Clouds a very interesting read Aircraft covered Meteor DH.108 Swallow Vampire DH.106 Comet EE Canberra Canada CF-100 Swift Sea Vixen Javelin Hunter Fairy Delta Valiant Victor Vulcan Lightning Buccaneer TSR. 2

Just finished that myself! A truly great read!!

I too am in the middle of reading this, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it, as the first chapter dealt with events leading up to John Derrys crash.
I thought perhaps it was going to be just a sensationalist view of aircraft industry practices of the time, but I'm glad I persevered as it is more level headed than that.

sjnovis wrote:I too am in the middle of reading this, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it, as the first chapter dealt with events leading up to John Derrys crash.
I thought perhaps it was going to be just a sensationalist view of aircraft industry practices of the time, but I'm glad I persevered as it is more level headed than that.

That was my thought exactly but I learnt a hell of a lot! I have just started Bill Watertons The Quick and the Dead

Jem completely agree with you there!! Enemy Coat Ahead by Guy Gibson is also a great read as well as Pierre Clostermans Big Show

First Light is a stunning read as is the Last Enemy by Richard Hillary

John - I might have been at the same event as you, as I've got the same book and signed. North Weald, for the Vampire run?

Lockheed Blackbird, by Paul Crickmore is fantastic. Does get a bit technical sometimes (but that's the best part! ), but a very interesting read!

This is the one:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lockheed-Blackb ... 115&sr=8-1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Design for Air Combat? Hmm, sounds like a book for me! Thanks

Ben Montgomery wrote:Design for Air Combat? Hmm, sounds like a book for me! Thanks

That book would be RIGHT up your street Ben, very in depth at all formulae etc, reasons behind certain design choices, pitfalls, you name it. Highly recommend!
I picked it up for £20 in 1988!!

Topic moved to The Mess as it's aviation-related after all !

EDIT :- I've stickified it too !

Theres a bunch of second hand copies on Amazon...


"Add to Cart"

My favourite is Sea Harrier over the Falklands, Amazon here http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sea-Harrier-Ove ... 400&sr=8-1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

All really enjoyed Vulcan 607 and if you have read both books they intercross slightly, particularly one event "morning", if you have read them you will understand.

Sea Harrier is great, deals with more than just the falklands, a true insight

Cheers

Steve

Just finished "pressing the metal" by Alex Duncan DFC

Chinooks in Afghanistan a very good read


Also "Armed action" by LC James Newton DFC

Lynx in Iraq



Gary

Another fascinating read is "Dark Eagles" by Curtis Peebles.

Anything by Bill Gunston, an unbeatable combination of technical information and readability! Have just finished re-reading his "Early Supersonic Fighters of the West". A bit dated now, but still fascinating. Also, if fiction is to be included in this thread, I must mention "The Hunters" by James Salter, IMHO the best novel ever written about combat flying. If you've seen the Hollywood film version on the telly, erase it from your memory. It's a travesty of the novel.

a previously mentions one on here called Armed Actio nabout Lynx in Iraq, theres also 2 about Apache's ive read, one is called Apache by Ed Macy which covers the Jugroom Fort mission to rescue LCpl Matthew Ford and i cant remember the other one, i think one is about 656 sqn and other is 665 sqn

I have just been given a box of books given to me in my Grandfathers will. There is some cracking stuff in there from glancing at the titles. It includes a First Edition of Piere Clostermans Big Show signed by the man himself!!

A couple I have just finished are Yeager by Chuck Yheager and Leo Janos, Splash One by Ivan Rendall and also the Hardest day by Alfred Price - all great reads!

Read these 2 amazing books recently:-

Night Witches by Bruce Myles - about the female PO-2/PE-2/Yak pilots from WWII.

Over Fields of Fire by Anna Timofeeva-Egorova - accounts from her career as an IL-2 Sturmovik pilot.

Remarkable ladies. Still have a few books to read on them too.

Sagittarius Rising has been mentioned a few times above, is there a follow on detailing his WWII career ?

"Once a fighter pilot" by Jerry Cook is a splendid read,charting his flight training years to combat missions in the early days of Vietnam flying F-4's with the USAF.