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  • mekon

newbie hello – and obligatory help request!

Good morning all,

First time caller/long term listener etc..

I’m Andrew. Interested in aviation all of my life. I guess my particular passion would be Soviet cold war stuff, and I’m consuming a lot of pre WWII stuff at the moment.

A recent trip to Duxford has reignited my interest in British experimental aircraft/projects/prototypes of the 50s and 60s – the BAC TSR-2, EE P1-A, Fairey Delta, etc.

My question/request is if anyone has any recommendations with regards to books and websites etc – good sources of information that you know about?

Online searches by individual aircraft result in a lot of good stuff. I’m particularly interested in finding photos and stories of the aircraft from the pilot and groundcrew’s perspective. I guess the ‘jackpot’ would be if there was something like NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Centre online archives, but for Boscombe Down and the A&AEE!

Thanks in advance

AB

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By: mekon - 17th December 2008 at 11:23

Thanks all for your recommendations

Bruce, you are absolutely 100% right. I havent been to Cosford for 15 years or so..

Cranswick, I got into Dan Dare/The Eagle during the 1980’s reboot, and then sought out the originals..

I love the Secret Projects series of books – aviation pornography!

cheers

AB

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By: CADman - 16th December 2008 at 15:21

Another excellent book is British Experiment Turbojet Aircraft by Barry Jones published by Crowood.

Although some might disagree about their accuracy , Wikipedia , can be a usefull starting point for further reading.

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By: Bograt - 16th December 2008 at 15:09

You might also want to read ‘Project Cancelled’ by Derek Wood (ISBN 0710604416) although it could drive you to tears of despair…if you thought today’s politicians are inept 😡

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By: Bluebird Mike - 16th December 2008 at 14:52

Greetings! Welcome, and happy hunting with your interests.

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By: Cranswick - 16th December 2008 at 14:50

Books

With a callsign like ‘Mekon’ you must be about my vintage!

British Experimental Jet Aircraft, 1941-1986, by Barrie Hygate, Argus Books, 1990. ISBN 1 85486 010 0

42 types from Gloster ‘Whittle’ to EAP. Development histories and scale plans.

British Secret Projects – Jet Fighters Since 1950, by Tony Buttler, Midland Counties, 2000. ISBN 85780 095 8

Fascinating stuff, includes paper-only projects.

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By: Bruce - 16th December 2008 at 11:54

Andrew,

Welcome to the forum.

First thing to say – you need to get to Cosford, where most of these aircraft actually are!

Bruce

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