book briefs
page
turners
May 2018 FLYPAST 117Legendary spyplane
http://www.crecy.co.uk
Shady Lady, Lt Col Rick Bishop, Crecy, hbk, illus, 277pp, £18.95
Having logged over 1,500 hours in Lockheed’s fabled U-2
spyplane, Rick Bishop is well qualifi ed to write about fl ying this
famous reconnaissance aircraft. Often referred to as the Dragon
Lady, the U-2 has been in continuous military service for over 50
years. Very much written from the pilot’s perspective, the reader
is soon left in no doubt that the U-2 is a very demanding aircraft
to fl y, although also very rewarding. Bishop’s descriptions
of his fi rst fl ight to 70,000ft and his fi rst-high altitude night mission give a good
indication of just how incredible – and beautiful – it is to fl y at such astonishing
height. Bishop fl ew ‘The Lady’ from 1979 to 1991, eventually became the commanding
offi cer of the 99th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (the only U-2 unit in the US),
and his recollections of both fl ying the type and commanding a squadron make for
fascinating reading. It’s also apparent that he had a real love affair with ‘The Lady’, as
his lyrical descriptions clearly demonstrate. An excellent book, highly recommended.
DAVE UNWINJavelin memoir
http://www.grubstreet.co.uk
Javelin Boys, Steve Bond, Grub Street, hbk, illus, 204pp, £20
Readers already acquainted with Grub Street’s popular ‘...Boys’
series will be familiar with the format of this newest entry, and
if they’re not, well – perhaps they should be! Author Steve Bond
recounts the history of the Gloster Javelin, along with a liberal
use of fascinating, funny and at times tragic anecdotes from
former ground and aircrew personnel. From the initial deliveries
in 1956 until the type’s retirement from RAF squadron service
in 1968 (a solitary FAW.9 soldiered on at Boscombe Down until 1975), the story of the
Javelin’s ‘career’ at home and in Cyprus, Singapore and Zambia is well told. Although
perhaps not as well known a type as its Hawker Hunter and English Electric Lightning
contemporaries, over 430 of these powerful, distinctive jets were built. A true Cold
War warrior, the ‘Dragmaster’ (just one of its many nicknames) seems to have been
well liked by all those who fl ew and maintained it. DAVE UNWINSkyraider guide
http://www.haynes.com
Douglas A-1 Skyraider 1945-85 (all marks and variants), Tony
Hoskins, Haynes, hbk, illus, 180pp, £25
The Skyraider arrived too late to see service in World War Two,
but later found fame in both Korea and Vietnam. Written by
one of the engineers who maintains Britain’s only airworthy
Skyraider, Kennet Aviation’s G-RADR, Tony Hoskins is well
qualifi ed to author this excellent Haynes Owners’ Workshop
Manual. Designed by Ed Heinemann, who also created the A-26 Invader and A-4
Skyhawk, the Skyraider is powered by an 18-cylinder 2,700hp (2,013kW) Pratt &
Whitney R3350 air-cooled radial driving an enormous four-bladed propeller. It could
carry a phenomenal amount of fuel and weapons, had a ten-hour endurance and
could even drop a nuclear bomb. Well illustrated with photos, drawings and extracts
from maintenance manuals, the book provides an excellent overview of what it’s like
to operate the type today. Reports from combat crews are pleasingly balanced with
contemporary observations from Christophe Bruneliere (who owns F-AZHK) and John
Beattie, who fl ies G-RADR. It’s a publication that will delight enthusiasts, historians
and pilots equally. DAVE UNWINFlying To The Edge, Matthew Willis, Amberley, sbk, illus, 128pp, £12.99 – this concise and
brilliantly researched biography charts the career of pilot Duncan Menzies. It covers his
relatively humble beginnings as a sheep farmer in Scotland to fl ying frontier patrols in
Egypt and Sudan. It then examines his crucial role as a test pilot, helping to develop many
of the aircraft that proved important in World War Two. A modest family man, Menzies also
set a speed record in Africa in the 1930s, survived an engine failure in a snowstorm and the
terrifying mid-fl ight break-up of a Fairey Fulmar.
http://www.amberley-books.comAerial Photography
http://www.newriders.com
Takeoff – The Alpha to Zulu of Aviation
Photography, by Moose Peterson, New
Riders, sbk, illus, 220pp, $44.99 (£32)
Frequent FlyPast contributor
Moose Peterson is the man behind
this colourful and well-presented
guide to improving your aviation
photography skills. The well-known
US-based lensman takes you through
everything you need to know about
camera equipment and settings,
shows you what he travels with and
the techniques he uses to get those
pin-sharp pictures. He covers one of the most important and misunderstood
aspects of the art – light – providing several examples of how to adapt to different
conditions. He also shares the expertise you’ll need to create the illusion of speed
in a still image – such as getting the type of ‘prop blur’ that’s appealing to the eye.
Moose covers photography at airshows and fl y-ins, discussing how best to capture
a subject aircraft both in the sky and on the ground. He also examines the fi ne art
of air-to-air camera work – and the book naturally includes many samples of his
own masterful imagery.DVD examines
Wattisham history
http://www.wattishamstationheritage.org
Wattisham Both Sides of the Fence
Wattisham Station Heritage has
released this informative 99-minute
documentary covering the history
of the Suffolk airfi eld from its
construction in 1938 until now.
The production has been three years
in the making and includes many
interviews with local residents giving
a detailed account of life around
the base throughout its history.
Comprising two discs, it was launched
last October with a private showing
in the Offi cers Mess at Wattisham
for all of those who contributed. The
screening received great reviews
leading to the fi rst batch of DVDs
selling out within an hour.
Wattisham has a unique place in British aviation history, as it was from here that
the RAF made its fi rst bombing raid of World War Two. It was home to USAAF units
in 1943 and played a vital role in the defence of the west during the Cold War era.
The RAF Black Arrows display team was also based at the airfi eld.
Today, Wattisham remains one of the largest operational fl ying stations in
Europe and is host to Britain’s Apache helicopter squadrons. The documentary
contains original interviews from people who helped shape history across the
decades, together with fascinating archive footage, presenting the story of
Wattisham from both sides of ‘the fence’. The DVD is priced £14.95.