A must-have A-Z guide with fascinating facts, figures, quotes and statistics from the high-flying world of aviation, From Airbus to Zeppelin has it all. D is for Desert Island Discs: just what would Dambuster Guy Gibson have liked while marooned on his desert island? E is for Everest: did you know that two Scotsmen were the first to fly over the magnificent mountain? F is for Faster than the sun: which aircraft was the first to fly faster than the Earth's rotation? A must-read for anyone interested in the world of aviation - and may win the reader a pub quiz or two!

This remarkable book pictures the growth of British civil air transport from its inception in 1910 through to the formation of Imperial Airways in 1934 and then the beginnings of British Overseas Airways Corporation. The author shows the impetus given to aircraft production by the First World War, and presents a careful account of the operational and financial fortunes of each of the four principal British airlines which began operations shortly thereafter. The fight against official apathy and lack of foresight on the part of the government, the campaign for subsidies and the struggle with foreign competition are interestingly presented.The development of the chosen-instrument concept in Great Britain is interestingly covered and the use of subsidies in this connection justified in order to place civil aviation on a firm financial base for the establishment of a great British airline to serve the Empire. The result was Imperial Airways, which soon found itself in the awkward position of being expected to be both a successful commercial company and the chosen instrument of imperial policy.The final emergence of British Overseas Airways was the result, and its organization marks the close of the period covered in this volume. Included in the book are comprehensive statistical appendices and a complete bibliography.

Ethiopian Airlines was founded in 1945 by the Ethiopian government with the assistance of Western airlines. With a fleet of war-surplus Dakotas, the airline took to the sky. At first, only domestic and regional destinations were served, forcing the airline to build makeshift airstrips. However, in 1957, Douglas DC-6s and a Lockheed Constellation were obtained and flights to Europe commenced. In the 1960s, Ethiopian entered the jet age with the purchase of Boeing 720s, later supplemented with 707s. Despite various political, economic, and social obstacles, Ethiopian Airlines continued to invest and grow, expanding to other African countries and further abroad. As passenger transport has declined, as a result of the global pandemic, it currently utilizes its cargo business to transport medical supplies. Illustrated with over 100 images, this book shows how Ethiopian Airlines has remained the powerhouse of African aviation.

A unique contemporary account of the epic air battle of Malta as related by fighter pilots of No. 185 Squadron, among them Flight Lieutenant H.W. 'Chubby' Eliot, Sergeant Garth E. Horricks and Sergeant J.W. 'Slim' Yarra. For nearly eighteen months the squadron saw continual action, finally helping to win the air war over Malta before taking the fight to the enemy by bombing and strafing targets in support of Allied ground forces during the Italian campaign. From the first day of squadron operations on 1 May 1941 until the squadron was disbanded on 14 August 1945 pilots recorded events in an unofficial squadron diary. Supplemented with rare combat and intelligence reports, 185: The Malta Squadron is a humorous and often poignant account, with explanatory notes by Anthony Rogers that provide a clear and authoritative overview of events.

The Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engine, long range medium bomber, universally known as the 'Wimpy'. The only bomber in construction throughout the Second World War, the Wellington played a pivotal role in training and combat from its conception in the 1930s, through active service in the Far Eastern, Mediterranean and German arenas of conflict, until its final use by the RAF in 1953. This book follows the fascinating story of the much-loved and innovatively designed Wellington throughout its life, including many tales from the aircraft's years with Bomber Command. Illustrated with a wide selection of images, both colour and black and white, this book is a fitting tribute to a wonderful servant of the RAF.