2 or 3 years ago he also released another book about modern combat pilots’ stories. Including one about the Falkland war, where there is a controversial story about how argentian A-4s would actually have severely damaged the “Invincible” carrier (this story has never been very clear, in fact, both sides claiming very different versions of what happened).

I haven’t bought it, having no money in this time, and now that I have money I can’t find it any more, nor remember the title or publisher… does somebody know that book ?

This one is “Histoire Vécue”, released in 1998.
Last one, “Une vie pas comme les autres” released in 2005.

I met Pierre Clostermann in 1997 at Strasbourg, he was on his own in the terminal waiting for a commercial flight.
He was tall, very impressive.
We must have talked for about an hour or so. In fact, he talked more than I did despite the many questions I was preparing in my mind, you couldn’t stop him no more.
We obviously talked about the Tempest, it’s incredible performances, it’s fantastic power and smooth ailerons in combat… you should have seen the light in his eyes.

Thanks so much Pierre for all these fantastics things you did and shared.

The Big Show is the best WWII book ever. I didn’t say that, William Faulkner did !

Boeing did some test landings on a grass field with a B737. I saw the video few weeks ago, pffffeeew !!

Fantastic shots Franck, looking for the next ones !
You can almost see Jacques’ nose glued on the wind screen in order to avoid air/air collision 😀

I usualy don’t like to comment what a pilot should have done or not done in case of accidents/incidents, so easy to explain the right procedure in a warm, stresless athmosphere.

If I would only dare, maybe just because I fly and juge a lot of aerobatics these days…: to my opinion, the only sign of ‘loosing control’ is when the pilot don’t (can’t ?) stop its descent to a normal 45deg dive but goes further to -at least- a 55deg descent.
I personnaly was really surprised by the Me109 tremandous acceleration. I guess the pilot had the same feeling and must have seen the ground suddenly running towards his face.
He’s obviously realised his dive was too deep and tried to correct it, this resulted in an over-reaction on the rudder (pulling) – unfortunately the a/c stalled in rotation but, no drama, it’s a known Aresti figure (at least the first 1/2 of it…) you can easily control, and he obviously did !

I didn’t spot any sign of spin nor inverted one.

We all make mistakes.
Wish I would get Ray Hanna’s flying skills !

🙂 I obviously don’t mind Mark and I read your posts for quite a long time to know how accurate you are. Thanks a lot !

Hi BlueNoser,

Nooky Booky IV is based at La Ferte-Alais, France.