M31 0 Posted February 28, 2012 Report Share Posted February 28, 2012 As part of my pursuit and love of all things aviation I like to read on the subject as often as I can and have read many good aviation (mostly military related) books over the years. I'm currently reading ... Nimrod rise and fall by Tony Blackman. My late Dads last RAF posting was at RAF Kinloss here in NE Scotland with the Nimrods and I got to see the mighty Hunter up close a few times, if you like this aircraft or are building the 1/72 Airfix kit (I know there are other scale modellers here besides me) or intend to and wanted to know more about the real subject matter, give this book a read. I'm pleasantly surprised by the technical info in the book, I know the Aircraft is de-commissioned now, but it normally takes decades for this sort of detail to come out ... I'm also surprised at how competent an aircraft (not without some faults though) it really was, much more than we all imagine it to be ... based as it was on the old Comet airliner, the MRA4 variant that was scrapped just as it was finished was going to be quite special I feel ... I don't want to get political here, but how crazy was that? Case in point, recently during the very stormy weather up here we had Russia's Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier and support vessels shelter in the Moray Firth where I live, it took HMS York about a day to steam up to say ... oy, we're watching you, the nearby RAF Kinloss Nimrods would have been on them within 10 minutes or long before they arrived here ... it really was a very understated maritime aircraft. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2011/12/15/russian-aircraft-carrier-caught-dumping-rubbish-into-sea-off-scottish-coast-86908-23635986/ I'm up to the chapter on how a Kinloss Nimrod was scrambled to the north sea for the Piper Alpha oil rig disaster, intense reading and a bit personal for me as I worked at the local oil yard here until it closed down helping build these massive rigs, our yard went on to build the Piper B rig that replaced the ill fated Piper Alpha, but what an asset the Nimrod was in coordinating the rescue that day. The book apparently goes on to describe the various Nimrod accidents, including the one that ditched with no loss of life in the Moray Firth here just off Lossiemouth after an engine fire. I'm looking forward to finishing the book and soaking up the detail. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nimrod-Rise-Fall-Tony-Blackman/dp/1908117796 Or maybe your local library has it? Any other good aviation or related recommended reads here, would love to hear Link to post Share on other sites
hurricanemk1c 195 Posted February 28, 2012 Report Share Posted February 28, 2012 Well, the 633 Squadron series of books is excellent, if not real! Currently reading 'The Avro Vuclan' by Tim McLelland, after reading Tony Blackman's 'Testing the Avro Vuclan' (or something similar!) And, of course, Chicken Wings! Link to post Share on other sites
M31 0 Posted February 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2012 Hi Hurricane. I've seen 663 squadron the film many times, never knew there were books on it, something to check out, thanks. Tony Blackman has mentioned in the Nimrod book his experience with the Vulcan, he's a very good writer, thanks again I'd definitely recommend Rowland White's book Vulcan 607 if you are interested in this Aircraft, I've read it twice now and I'm overdue another read ... amazing sortie, I've often thought of trying to replicate this mission in stages as it happened in flight sim (without dropping any bombs of course) maybe one day. I recently read Tornado Down again as a refresher, its a different sort of read, broke down in individual accounts by the two Johns and a wife of their experiences of an RAF Tornado shoot down in the first Gulf conflict, but fascinating reading of their times while imprisoned especially. Sea Harrier over the Falklands: A Maverick at War by Sharkey Ward is a great account too of the Sea Harrier in that conflict, Sharkey is a bit opinionated and his views towards the RAF or crabs as we are known (I'm an RAF brat) are hilarious, but there was a divide between the forces then in conflict that must have been counter productive and I still think this negative inter UK force attitude exists today, its amazing really, but apparently that's the way of it. But yeah, his account of putting the Sea Harrier (SHAR) up against the best the US could offer in the real Top Gun training grounds against state of the art F-15 Eagles and besting them in combat was fantastic reading, the American Squadrons to their credit acknowledged the ability's of the SHAR and its pilots tactics too. I'm not sure what Chicken Wings is apart from tasty food Link to post Share on other sites
hurricanemk1c 195 Posted February 28, 2012 Report Share Posted February 28, 2012 I forgot about Vuclan 607 - read that many, many times Colin! Chicken Wings is a chicken-based aviation comics - http://www.chickenwingscomics.com/ And I didn't know about the 633 books until I got one for Christmas and now have 3 - they are quite hard to get actually! Link to post Share on other sites
rob16584 42 Posted February 28, 2012 Report Share Posted February 28, 2012 Another book I read recently and enjoyed was 'Empire of the Clouds'. It took a bit to get used to the guys style of writing but was very enjoyable Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,495 Posted February 28, 2012 Report Share Posted February 28, 2012 I enjoyed that too Rob and Vulcan 607 Link to post Share on other sites
hurricanemk1c 195 Posted February 28, 2012 Report Share Posted February 28, 2012 Just thought of a few more - 'Bomber Boys' and 'Men of Air' by Kevin Wilson and 'Tail End Charlies' by John Nichol and Tony Rennell Link to post Share on other sites
Tim_A 997 Posted February 28, 2012 Report Share Posted February 28, 2012 Not particularly aviation, but I've just picked up a copy of "Listening to Britain: Home Intelligence reports on Britain's Finest Hour--May to September 1940", Ed. Paul Addison and Jeremy A. Crang From May to September 1940, a period that saw some of the most dramatic events in British history -- including the evacuation of Dunkirk, the Battle of Britain and the opening stages of the Blitz -- the Ministry of Information eavesdropped on the conversations of ordinary people in all parts of the United Kingdom and compiled secret daily reports on the state of popular morale. Edited and introduced by two leading historians of the period, the complete and unabridged series of reports provides a unique insight into the mindset of the British as the fate of the nation hung in the balance. Link to post Share on other sites
M31 0 Posted February 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2012 Thanks folks, great food for thought Link to post Share on other sites
simmerhead 0 Posted March 2, 2012 Report Share Posted March 2, 2012 Best aviation book I've read is "So You Want To Be a Ferry Pilot". Just got the right balance of excellent writing, good stories and tecnical info. Link to post Share on other sites
stu7708 244 Posted March 5, 2012 Report Share Posted March 5, 2012 The Biggles series But more seriously I've got a book called "The greatest adventure" lined up as the next book to read. It's written by Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones and tells the story of their Round the world voyage in a hot air balloon. Only flipped through it so far, but there's some stunning photos in it. (null) Link to post Share on other sites
hurricanemk1c 195 Posted March 5, 2012 Report Share Posted March 5, 2012 Actually, I found a book called 'Men In The Air' - a collection of short stories from the Anicent Greeks to space flight. Some of them are rather excellent! As you probably tell, I'm a big reader! Link to post Share on other sites
britfrog 180 Posted March 5, 2012 Report Share Posted March 5, 2012 As part of my pursuit and love of all things aviation I like to read on the subject as often as I can and have read many good aviation (mostly military related) books over the years. I'm currently reading ... Nimrod rise and fall by Tony Blackman. My late Dads last RAF posting was at RAF Kinloss here in NE Scotland with the Nimrods and I got to see the mighty Hunter up close a few times, if you like this aircraft or are building the 1/72 Airfix kit (I know there are other scale modellers here besides me) or intend to and wanted to know more about the real subject matter, give this book a read. I'm pleasantly surprised by the technical info in the book, I know the Aircraft is de-commissioned now, but it normally takes decades for this sort of detail to come out ... I'm also surprised at how competent an aircraft (not without some faults though) it really was, much more than we all imagine it to be ... based as it was on the old Comet airliner, the MRA4 variant that was scrapped just as it was finished was going to be quite special I feel ... I don't want to get political here, but how crazy was that? Case in point, recently during the very stormy weather up here we had Russia's Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier and support vessels shelter in the Moray Firth where I live, it took HMS York about a day to steam up to say ... oy, we're watching you, the nearby RAF Kinloss Nimrods would have been on them within 10 minutes or long before they arrived here ... it really was a very understated maritime aircraft. http://www.dailyreco...86908-23635986/ I'm up to the chapter on how a Kinloss Nimrod was scrambled to the north sea for the Piper Alpha oil rig disaster, intense reading and a bit personal for me as I worked at the local oil yard here until it closed down helping build these massive rigs, our yard went on to build the Piper B rig that replaced the ill fated Piper Alpha, but what an asset the Nimrod was in coordinating the rescue that day. The book apparently goes on to describe the various Nimrod accidents, including the one that ditched with no loss of life in the Moray Firth here just off Lossiemouth after an engine fire. I'm looking forward to finishing the book and soaking up the detail. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nimrod-Rise-Fall-Tony-Blackman/dp/1908117796 Or maybe your local library has it? Any other good aviation or related recommended reads here, would love to hear i could not agree more the cancellation of the latest nimrod was more important to the uk than TSR2 i have friends who were working on it , it was a major step foward and the envy of the world as it was singularly good, although it looked much like the earlier a/c which were a development of the old comet airframe this wa s something completely new with no similar components to the original design yet another government c-ck up. Link to post Share on other sites
Sabre 28 Posted March 5, 2012 Report Share Posted March 5, 2012 Not strictly an aviation book but I can highly recommend it as a fantastic read. What the Glider Pilots achieved in this audacious attack is quite remarkable. Pegasus Bridge by Stephen E Ambrose D-Day before dawn. Minute by minute, hour by hour the danger grows...In the early morning hours of June 6, 1944, a small detachment of British airborne troops stormed the German defence forces and paved the way for the Allied invasion of Europe. Pegasus Bridge was the first engagement of D-Day, the turning point of World War II. This gripping account by acclaimed author Stephen E. Ambrose brings to life a daring mission so crucial that, had it been unsuccessful, the entire Normandy invasion might have failed. Ambrose traces each step of the preparations over many months to the minute-by-minute excitement of the hand-to-hand confrontations on the bridge. This is a story of heroism and cowardice, kindness and brutality - the stuff of all great adventures. Link to post Share on other sites
hurricanemk1c 195 Posted March 6, 2012 Report Share Posted March 6, 2012 A very much forgotten part of D-Day Graeme! Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now