Under this title the RAF Historical Society has published the
proceedings of their Harrier seminar held at Filton in March 2005. The
papers read are reproduced in its 130 hard bound illustrated pages, the
whole being a definitive, concise and accurate account of the
development of the vectored thrust concept and RAF Harrier operations
from the first pilot conversions to today's 'Joint Force Harrier'.
Accuracy is guaranteed because each author writes from first hand
experience in his field. These expert contributors are John Coplin,
Gordon Lewis, Ralph Hooper, John Farley, Air Cdre David Scrimgeour, Air
Vice Marshal Peter Dodworth, Gp Capt Jock Heron, Air Vice Marshal Pat
O'Reilly, Air Chief Marshal Sir Patrick Hine, Air Chief Marshal Sir
Peter Squire, Gp Capt Andy Colledge, Commander Bill Covington and Air
Marshal Sir Reginald Harland.
The Association has purchased some copies and if you would like one,
very reasonably priced at £10 plus post and packing, please
call Ralph Hooper on 020 8948 2581.
NOT BORING AT ALL
Cliff Bore has written a short memoir about his life and his time at
Hawkers. This personal, perhaps even idiosyncratic, view of his part in
Kingston events gives an insight into one of Hawkers' outstanding
research and project engineers and covers in some detail his pioneering
work on fatigue life calculation, the application of the area rule, and
wing design.
I hope Cliff's example will prompt others to recall and record the
parts they played in the history of our favourite aircraft company. In
spite of some minor errors (for example, there were nine Kestrels,
G-APUX was not the prototype two-seat Hunter, and Cuba was not subject
to a blockade but to a US trade embargo) this home-published book
produced to professional standards makes fascinating reading.
"My Path of Little Boredom" is available from Cliff on 020 8286 8676.
