This is quite a rarity, being a contemporary novel based around the world of warbirds and display flying. It has just appeared in my local library, but was first published in 2000.
The central character is Ellie Bruce and ”her (late) husband’s pride and joy, a P51D Mustang is the key to what remains of her life. Ellie must fight to keep the plane, and to keep it, she must learn to fly it”.
From impressions so far, it is very well researched, and the author Graham Hurley clearly has a very good grounding in vintage aircraft and the airshow scene. The character of Harald Meyler soon appears, and he has ‘ one of the neatest collections of fighter planes in the free world. The planes included a Thunderbolt, two Hellcats, a Lightning. three Mustangs, a Trojan, a Tigercat and a collection of early jet fighters’. His desire to acquire the Mustang, and her wish to keep it, is the central theme of the novel. The tale begins with a suspicious fatal accident, and moves swiftly and convincingly.
It is almost impossible for the knowledgable reader not to draw paralells with the fictional characters, and the well-known individuals in real life, though this need not impair the enjoyment of the story.
Nick Bloom (Editor of Pilot) wrote a novel based around a restored Stampe, and ‘Iron Eagles’ (1985) was the tale of some wealthy loon who secretly restored a fleet of BF109’s to shoot the hell out of the Confederate Air Force,
but overall, vintage aircraft do not seemed to have figured much in literature.
According to the blurb in the book, Hurley has also written a non-fiction book called ‘Airshow’.
By: Eric Mc - 9th March 2006 at 08:28
The TV movie “Family Flight” is very similar in aspects to talk down. NOt a bad film either – once you get past the usual Hollywood “personal angst” mush.
By: J Boyle - 9th March 2006 at 06:05
‘Iron Eagles’ (1985) was the tale of some wealthy loon who secretly restored a fleet of BF109’s to shoot the hell out of the Confederate Air Force
If it’s the bookj I recall, a ex-Luftwaffe pilot shoots up a USAF pilot training base in Arizona (Williams?). The book’s “hero” is a pot-smoking aviation-history obsessed AF Office of Special Investigations agent who somehow talks the AF into letting him go after them with a squadron of P-51s the USAF happens to have (remember this is set in the 80s). Then it gets silly.
IMHO: It would have been more fun…and believable…if he had gone after the CAF…a man-to-man duel where graying pilots shoot it out over west Texas.
By: DazDaMan - 8th March 2006 at 23:36
Iron Eagles’ (1985) was the tale of some wealthy loon who secretly restored a fleet of BF109’s to shoot the hell out of the Confederate Air Force
—————————————————————————-
Talk Down. Pilot of PA28 Archer dies in-flight. Flying instructor chases the ‘runaway’ and tries to talk young female pax to a safe landing, with just 1.5 hours daylight remaining. No shooting.
All really great books, and well worth seeking out. Talk Down is an obvious choice for a film, can’t think why it hasn’t been done yet.
“Iron Eagles” was, I think Gray Eagles. I have the book here on my “to-read” list!!
“Talk Down” has a similar storyline to a film I Can’t recall just now – one of the “Airport” series, perhaps??
By: Propstrike - 8th March 2006 at 23:26
Brian Lecomber wrote –
Turn Killer – 1970’s air circus (Tiger Moths, SV-4’s etc) tangles with mafia over priceless stamp collection hidden in an old Auster 20 years ago, leading to climactic showdown in Antigua. Lots of shooting and crashing.
Dead Weight- Washed up boozer ex-con, flying instructor starts shoe-string freight company with a Beech 18 in Caribbean. Gets blackmailed into smuggling. Lots more shooting and crashing.
Talk Down. Pilot of PA28 Archer dies in-flight. Flying instructor chases the ‘runaway’ and tries to talk young female pax to a safe landing, with just 1.5 hours daylight remaining. No shooting.
All really great books, and well worth seeking out. Talk Down is an obvious choice for a film, can’t think why it hasn’t been done yet.
By: old eagle - 8th March 2006 at 22:25
Yes, cannot remember any other Lecomber titles but they’re all good reads !
The books paid for the Pitts G-BOOK, as I recall
By: Eric Mc - 8th March 2006 at 22:19
Brian Lecomber also wrote a novel. Was it called “Talk Down”? I seem to remember it was pretty good. Has he written any more?
By: alanl - 8th March 2006 at 21:53
Sparky I think you have got it right there, okay I was a little off but I had the jist of it!
Thanks for filling in the gaps!
Alan.
By: sparky - 8th March 2006 at 21:09
F86 Warbird
There is a book called ‘Ground Zero’ by Richard Cox, I read it a long time ago and as I recall the general story line is about A group of Arabs that are trying to stop Libya getting a nuclear bomb from Pakistan.
To do this they employ an out of work ExRAF airline pilot who creates a false ID and buys and restores, at Duxford I think, a F86 Sabre
Then he flies it to Malta with cover of breaking an old speed record and then…you will have to find the book!!! :dev2:
By: alanl - 8th March 2006 at 20:54
Grahame Hurley has indeed writent a book Called ‘Airshow’ it is a behind the seens look at RIAT at Fairford and I though it was a good read, it certainly gives a good insight into what it takes to put on an airshow!
I remember reading another aviation book although I don’t recall the autor or title I am afraid, but it was about a chap who owned an F86 and kept it at Duxford and used it for displays (parallels of O.A.H.B and his T33) and if I remember correctly someone stole it and fitted missiles to it and then tried to attack…… something or somebody (sorry failing memory!) and was then shot down or the pilot changed his mind!
Alan.
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March 8, 2006 at 8:11 pm