Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #35089 in Books
• Published on: 2005-10-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Customer Reviews

Good in Parts
This book tells the story of a twenty year period in the author's career as a test pilot mainly. It is an interesting account on the whole, primarily because the years it covers were a period of very rapid development in military aircraft technology, yet it is written in the style of an English gentleman officer and this can make it hard to read in parts where excessive detail (people's names often) is included even though it gives nothing to the narative. Also, in parts, it appears to be a text written twenty years ago, or possibly at the time it is set, with minor additions made very recently to bring a more modern perspective to the book. This is obvious and seems un-natural, breaking the flow, while still being not totally up to date (it still talks about the Sea Harriar as being operational, and makes no mention of the new aircraft carriers supposedly being laid down at present for the Royal Navy nor the F-35 Lightning II that are planned to be purchased by the UK from the USA to fly off these carriers). Having said all this it is a unique tale shedding new light on the development of the Buccaneer, the Wyvern and the Attacker, so for the avid reader of and fan of Military Naval Aviation it is a must, despite these faults.

Why we should have real carriers today!
Another fine book from the author of Vulcan 607.
This book, although about an event in the 70's, shows why we need real aircraft carriers today!
Before the Falklands the naval air arm showed it was still a top striking power who's worst enemy was and is our own Government. A long range show of strength that put a stop to the invasion of British Honduras, (Belize) and for once, was left to the front liners, air crews and sailors of the great Ark Royal, to plan and execute.
Ten years later, four years after the Old Ark was decommissioned, the Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher asked the Chief of the Navy, "What about Ark Royal and the Phantoms and Buccaneers?".
All politicians should be forced to read this book. Not only is it the factual account, it is also a truly gripping read, well written and presented, and thoroughly researched.
READ IT!