WHAT’S NEW NEW PRODUCT REVIEWS
book briefs
Station XI – Call Up Carnaby, Gayna Wallis, Nu-Age, sbk, illus, 178pp, £9 – this story of RAF
Carnaby (in Yorkshire) is based around numerous accounts of aircrews that needed the
assistance of this small emergency landing ground. It also recounts the details of those who
did not quite make it. Some had to ditch into the North Sea, while others had to bale out. The
daily dramas and history of this important airfi eld have been captured by the author, partly
to ensure that its contribution and sacrifi ces are not forgotten. The work of the ground
crews and medics, so often overlooked, is also described here.
http://www.carnabyairfi eldmemorial.orgWK275 – The Restoration and Preservation of the last Supermarine Swift F4, Guy Ellis, Grub
Street, hbk, illus, 160pp, £20 – this excellent account has clearly been a labour of love for
all involved, and the fruits have been worth the considerable endeavour. Swift WK275,
previously covered in FlyPast, is a unique survivor. Guy Ellis traces the heritage of this jet
from its operational life through to its restoration by Je t Art Aviation, which is described
in great detail with a plethora of images and drawings. The Swift is now on show with the
Vulcan to the Sky Trust at Doncaster, a fi ne achievement by all involved in its preservation.
http://www.grubstreet.co.uk92 FLYPAST January 2018Fur-lined leather
jackets
http://www.meanandgreen.com
Midlands-based company Mean And Green has
recently launched an excellent new range of fur-lined
fl ying jackets. Available in both adults and children’s
sizes, the leather jackets are modelled on the famous
World War Two versions worn by aircrew. The Mean
And Green items comprise a soft, dark brown leather
outer with a comfy acrylic fur lining. They not only
provide plenty of warmth but have an authentic
‘period’ look to them. All sizes feature synthetic fur
trim around the waist, cuffs and collar and come with
two front pockets, one inner zipped pocket and a full-
length metal zip with vintage ‘brass effect’ pull. They
also come supplied with two belt buckle adjustment
straps at the waist and two on the collar. Adult jackets
are available for £99, with sizes ranging from Small
to 3XL, while smaller versions for children can be
purchased for £75. Both practical and easy on the eye,
these are a great addition to any aviation enthusiast’s
winter wardrobe. Tel: 01902 423868Essential museum guide
http://www.crecy.co.uk
Local Collections of Britain, Ken Ellis, Crécy, hbk, illus, 416pp, £18.95
In a follow up to 2013’s Great Aviation Collections of Britain in which the author – FlyPast’s legendary Ken Ellis- analysed the country’s ‘national’ aviation museums, he now turns his attention to all the other signifi cant
aeronautical attractions in the UK. It is a quite astonishing undertaking, Ken somehow performing the work of
ten and bringing together a wealth of information – much of it supported by superb photography.
This exhaustive, comprehensive volume focuses on pure aviation museums – those dedicated entirely to
aeronautical themes, excepting those such as IWM Duxford which have ‘national’ status. All the attractions
covered are open regularly to the public, with no need to book, and are listed county by county, ideal if you are
planning a visit to a certain area.
The author examines the history of each entry, telling the story of its origins, background and aims. He also
lists all exhibits and focuses on one or two of the more signifi cant airframes. Some of the smaller collections
have amazing stories to tell, such as the Martlesham Heath Control Tower Museum in Suffolk – the home of
British fl ight testing – and Norfolk’s RAF Air Defence Radar Museum, devoted to the ‘magic eye’ of the Battle of
Britain. Detailed and informative while being very easy to read and use, Local Collections of Britain is a don’t-
leave-home-without-it essential to anyone with a serious interest in visiting aircraft museums.
Towering
achievement
http://www.controltowers.eu
All Along The Control Tower- A Photobook Volume
Three, Theo and Frans
Barten, Narwal, hbk, illus,
232pp, €37.50
Continuing their
remarkable tour of surviving UK airfi eld control
towers, the Dutch authors now present their third
volume. This well illustrated book features another 56
towers, taking the overall tally to 174 across all three
publications. The objective is to show the buildings
in the state they are in today. Nearly all the airfi elds
have gone but many towers remain, some still being
used in various capacities, with others completely
derelict. Some of them are listed buildings while
others have been largely forgotten. This photographic
survey is supported by the stories of how each was
discovered (some require permission to visit), along
with geographical co-ordinates to make them easy for
enthusiasts to locate.
Out Of The Blue:
The Final Landing
https://shop.rafbf.org/products
Ian Cowie, Dim Jones and Chris Long, RAFBF, sbk, illus,
£9.99
The third and fi nal instalment of the Out Of The Blue
series, like its predecessors, doesn’t disappoint, and is
recommended for anyone who enjoys the lighter side
of military history. It consists of the recollections of
RAF pilots and ground crew, and is often suffi ciently
hilarious to make the reader laugh out loud. The
incident involving a faulty handbrake on a BAe
Jetstream is particularly
amusing. Fittingly, all
profi ts from the sale of
this and the other books
in the series go to the
RAF Benevolent Fund, so
every purchase supports
a worthwhile cause.
This highly enjoyable
read should be in your
Christmas stocking.Handmade aircraft models
http://www.bravodeltamodels.com
Bravo Delta Models specialises in hand-carved, kiln dried mahogany aircraft
models. All are carefully hand-painted, receiving up to 35 coats each.
These desktop models are museum quality works of art, designed to make a statement in any
enthusiast’s home. The company can make any aircraft or ship, in any scale, to order.
Among their current products is a 1:42 scale Eurofi ghter Typhoon (£465), as fl own by 3 Squadron
at Coningsby. Also being produced is a 1:40 scale BAe Harrier GR.3 (£485; illustrated), painted in the
markings of XZ133, part of the HMS Hermes Air Group in the 1982 Falkland Islands confl ict. They will
soon be offering a 1:28 representation of North American P-51D Mustang Glamorous Glen III, as fl own by Maj ‘Chuck’
Yeager, serving in the USAAF’s Eighth Air Force at Leiston, Suffolk, in November 1944. The aircraft was named after the
fi ghter ace’s fi ancée, Glennis Faye Dickhouse.winter wardrobe. Tel: 01902 423868