Edwards Richard and Peter J. Heroes and Landmarks of British Aviation. Pen and Sword Books Limited 2012. 257 Pages, 32 Photographs, 6 Maps.. 1SBN. 978-89884-645-6. Price £19-99.
(reviewed by Nick Kerr) in May 2013 Fly Navy News Sheet.
This is a delightfully interesting book with each of its 18 chapters describing the foundation, growth, products, e.g. balloons, airships, prototype aircraft, fighters, bombers, passenger aircraft etc’ of the various embryo companies usually stemming from one determined person, engineer, draughtsman, pilot or just an individual interested in aviation.
The author points out that despite common knowledge the first crossing of the Channel was done in 1785 by a Frenchman and many other little known facts emerge throughout the book. The early pioneer days are fully covered making it clear it was a very dangerous period with many crashes and fatalities.
The stimulus given to aviation by The Royal Naval Air Service, established in 1908 is well documented as is the extraordinary expansion of aircraft types and production in World War One.
After WW1 many of these embryo companies went under or in many cases combined with other companies making stronger and more versatile units. The main requirement in the1920’s andl 930’s was for passenger aircraft and one of the most successful was the flying boat which despite or because of the lack of airports opened up routes not only to the Far East but to S.Africa and S.America
In line with Government policy in the 1930’s little effort was made to enhance either the R.N.A.S or the R.A.F who therefore were woefully poorly equipped at the beginning of World War Two. However the great surge in aircraft production in the early 1940’s over 7,000 Lancasters and 14,000 Hurricanes including 3,000 sent to Russia produced with hundreds of other types eventually won the War in the Air both over Europe and the Far East. Post war production quickly turned to commercial aircraft with the Concorde being the greatest achievement, as yet not surpassed.
Accompanying the technical aspects the book provides mini biographies of the people involved, from the very first innovators at the turn of the century, be they engineers, designers, pilots or just people interested in aviation to the major players of today.
Throughout the book the influence of the Government interfering at regular intervals is noted, never it appears to any great effect. The most ridiculous episode is the almost complete nationalisation of the industry by the Wilson government in 1977 followed by its privatisation in 1981 by Thatcher governmant. What a wasteful bureaucratic exercise that must have been!
This book is a mini encyclopaedia of British Aviation containing enough information on aircraft, designers, and companies to satisfy all but the most fervent of researchers and is a thoroughly good read.