Jeff Gray won the Distinguished Flying Medal in command of a Lancaster bomber. After the war he flew the York, Hermes, Stratocruiser, Comet 4, and VC10. In this beautifully written memoir he takes the reader from agricultural work in rural Scotland to a Lancaster over Berlin, and on to the challenges of airline flying in the post-war years.

No airforce in the Second World War would make more use of captured planes than the Luftwaffe. With this in mind, Jean-Louis Roba has undergone a considerable amount of work in tracking down hundreds of aircraft used by the Luftwaffe and illustrating their uses, careers and eventual fates. The book examines the full history of foreign planes in the Luftwaffe, from its inception in the prewar years to the end of the Second World War. More than just an account of the Luftwaffes use of captured aircraft, the book debunks myths about how prepared the Germans were for war in 1939, and shows how important even such an unreliable source of supplies as captured planes would become to the Luftwaffe. Translated into English for the first time, Robas investigative work is supported by over a hundred pictures of the planes themselves, and gives a rare opportunity to see British and American planes repainted in German colours and symbols.

Air-route development in Africa was a result of Sir Alan Cobham's 1929 flight through and round Africa in a flying-boat. Lady Cobham accompanied her husband throughout the journey. This work features Sir Alan Cobham's account of his journey. First published in 1930, it is illustrated with over 50 photographs from the trip, from the family archive.

In 1926 Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (author of the classic The Little Prince) began flying for the pioneering airline Latécoère - later known as Aéropostale - opening up the first mail routes across the Sahara and the Andes. Wind, Sand and Stars (1939) is drawn from this experience. Interweaving stories of encounters with nomadic Arabs and other adventures into a rich autobiographical narrative it has its climax in the extraordinary story of Saint-Exupéry's crash in the Libyan Desert in 1936, and his miraculous survival.

A decorated fighter pilot and PGA professional tells the story of his life and service-to both his nation and others-in this remarkable memoir that is a stirring record of faith, patriotism, family, philanthropy, and golf. What does it mean to be a patriot? For Oklahoma native Dan Rooney, it is someone who not only puts his life on the line for country, but who opens his heart and mind and seeks to build a life that embodies the purest and most concentrated essence of himself. For many, Rooney is the model of a patriot: as an Air Force pilot who deployed to Iraq, serving three tours of duty; as a professional golfer who established a nonprofit foundation awarding thousands of scholarships to the children of fallen and disabled veterans; as the father of five daughters; as a man of faith, whose copilot, both in the skies and on the ground, has always been God. A Patriot's Calling is his autobiographical journey through some of the most character-defining moments of his awe-inducing life and career. "On my third tour of duty in Iraq as F -16 fighter pilot, I felt a powerful calling from God to share the miraculous fusion of people and experiences uniquely placed along my journey. During my reflection, I began to understand how the forces of synchronicity had shaped my life. Synchronicity, or, as I like to call it, 'chance with a purpose,' is all around us. These encounters with God's messengers are the sign-posts along the road of life guiding us toward our essence." A Patriot's Calling illuminates Rooney's true essence-and offers guidance and inspiration for us all. A Patriot's Calling includes 40 photos and 3 maps.

As the official manual of the world famous British Gliding Association, this book is recommended reading for all pilots and instructors. Highly illustrated and designed to be user-friendly, it takes the user through the key theories of flight. 'Must-have' scientific information is highlighted which, together with the less critical material, provides an authoritative resource which can be studied or dipped into as required. Making complex topics comprehensible and including 400 illustrations to enhance the explanatory material, Gliding explains how and why gliders work.

Twelve essays by leading researchers provide a clear introduction to the basic principles, design, and applications of flight simulators. Among the topics covered are basic principles of flight dynamics, the simulation of aircraft systems, structures and cockpit systems, visual and motion systems, and instructor facilities. Other subjects discussed include the integration, testing, and acceptance of simulators and their use as a research and training tool.

REDUCE THE TERROR OF PILOT ERROR

The most effective aviation safety tools ever, Controlling Pilot Error guides give you expert protection against the causes of up to 80% of aviation accidents—pilot mistakes. Each title provides:

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Controlling Pilot Error
CULTURE, ENVIRONMENT, AND CRM

Pilot decision making is impacted by many influences.

A knowledge of recent discoveries on aviators’ decisions and crew cockpit interactions during crisis is important to all pilots. Tony Kern’s Culture, Environment, and CRM confronts the human factors behind most aviation mishaps. Applying scientific explanations to allow you to:

• Recognize the psychological booby traps that imperil lives

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BEST FOR PILOTS

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Tony Kern is Editor of the Controlling Pilot Error Series and a former lieutenant colonel who created the United States Air Force’s human-factors training program. He also wrote three best-selling books on aviation for McGraw-Hill.

A series of books that provide, for the first time, the detailed information every pilot needs to know about the aircraft they are flying. Each book in the series covers all aspects of a popular aircraft type and is illustrated throughout with photographs and diagrams.

Alarmstart South completes Patrick Eriksson's Alarmstart trilogy on Second World War German fighter pilots, detailing their experiences in the Mediterranean theatre (1941-1944), and during the closing stages of the war over Normandy, Norway and Germany (1944-1945). He utilises extensive personal reminiscences of veterans and original documents, set within a brief factual framework of campaigns, equipment and the progress of the war. Veterans who flew in Me 109, Fw 190 and Me 110/410 aircraft provide their stories in their own words. They range from junior NCOs to Colonels, including a senior fighter controller and even one of the Luftwaffe's psychologists. The Mediterranean theatre provided the top scoring aces on both sides for the entire war (excluding the Russian front battles): Hans-Joachim Marseille (158 victory claims) on the German side and South African 'Pat' Pattle (an estimated 41+), on the Allied side. In the air battles over the Mediterranean region, many aircrew ended up 'in the drink' with little chance of being found. Occasionally, a miracle would happen, as with Dr Felix Sauer of JG 53, a pre-war biology teacher, who used his knowledge of chemistry and a calm demeanour to survive eight days in a dinghy at sea without water, apart from rain or dew. For many pilots the war would end only in death, for others in imprisonment. Oberfeldwebel Horst Petzschler endured forced labour in southern Russia: 'On 22 September 1949 I arrived in Berlin, my home town, weighing 118 pounds, half dead but having survived!'

An engaging coverage of Air France 447, the Airbus A330 that crashed in the ocean north of Brazil on June 1, 2009, killing all 228 persons on board. Written by A330 Captain, Bill Palmer, this book opens to understanding the actions of the crew, how they failed to understand and control the problem, and how the airplane works and the part it played. All in easy to understand terms. Addressed are the many contributing aspects of weather, human factors, and airplane system operation and design that the crew could not recover from. How each contributed is covered in detail along with what has been done, and needs to be done in the future to prevent this from happening again.

Robert Wilton Bungey was unquestionably an RAF hero. From the very beginning of the Second World War he was patrolling Germany's border with the AASF. In the retreat from France he survived frantic day and night bombing missions flying obsolete, outclassed Fairey Battles against overwhelming odds. Many others didn't survive. When Fighter Command desperately needed pilots in the Battle of Britain, he volunteered. He survived again when his Hurricane was shot down near the Isle of Wight. Converting to Spitfires, he commanded such aces as Jean 'Pyker' Offenberg, Paddy Finucane and Bluey Truscott, his leadership from-the-front gaining their trust and respect. While he was CO of 452 (RAAF) Squadron, it topped Fighter Command's monthly tallies three times in a row. Later, commanding RAF Hawkinge, he was linked with air-sea rescue and Combined Operations Command. After more than three years of active war service, he returned to Australia for Sybil, his English bride waiting with a son he had never seen. But this story of triumph against all the odds has an extraordinary ending: at once a terrible tragedy and something of a miracle... Spitfire Leader is illustrated with many photographs never before published.