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Aviation books

  • 01-11-2012 5:46pm
    #1
    Tenger
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 10,005 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    I meant to post this in a previous thread but cannot find it. A few weeks back there was a discussion about post WWII UK aviation industry.


    Empire of The Clouds; James Hamilton-Peterson
    http://www.amazon.com/Empire-Clouds-Britains-Aircraft-Ruled/dp/0571283772/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1351790925&sr=8-2&keywords=empires+of+the+clouds

    I am 2/3 though this book and its a really good read. It charts the downward (and often tragic) of the British aircraft manufacturing industry in the years after WWII. Through stubbornness, Govt dithering, refusal to modernise, Govt indifference, lack of funds and just bad luck the country that was leading in 1945 became a second rate aviation power in the 60's and 70's. Not too full of jargon but no 'dummy's guide to planes' either.
    It has tales from the top test pilots and details the V Bomber program, Meteor/Hunter/Comet/Javelin/Lightening/Harrier development, as well as the controversial cancellations on the Miles M.52, TSR.2, SR.177. Not sure how it finishes I would wholeheartedly recommend it to other aviation readers.


Comments

  • #2
    2011abc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,738 ✭✭✭2011abc


    Yeah its a great book .I got the original hardback version as a Christmas gift a couple of years ago and loved it .It was later released in paperback and a version with a lot more pictures spread throughout the text rather than the standard few in the middle in a bunch .Id imagine THIS is the one to buy if you can .It really charts the decline and fall of the british ( aviation ) empire .AFAIK basically the americans borrowed/stole all their secrets after WW2 which allowed them to break Mach 1 first and it went downhill from there.I wonder will we look back on the americans in the same way in 30 years time ...Chinese gonna be new big boys?


  • #3
    bluecode
    Closed Accounts Posts: 794 ✭✭✭bluecode


    The British blew it, Geoffery de Havilland probably exceeded the speed of sound when he died. Eric Brown is easily the best ever pilot that ever lived and he is still alive. If the Miles M52 was continued it would have blown Chuck Yeager into the desert. Yet Chuck was one of the best test pilots we have ever seen. Eric Brown is better though. I simply cannot understand why why Eric Brown is not Sir Eric Brown by now.

    The Americans didn't steal it. The Brits gave it away.

    Still though, I cannot believe that two of the most amazing pilots that ever lived are still alive. Eric Brown and Chuck Yeager.

    They do say that there are no old bold pilots alive. Eric Brown and Chuck Yeager are not old bold pilots.

    We are lucky that those people are still with us.


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