Synopsis
This is a fascinating account of the age of Empire flying boats, whose story began in July 1936 with a reassuringly trouble-free test flight on Kent’s River Medway. Within ten years, however, this last word in luxury was to become redundant, spurned by the post-war age. The story is a dramatic and human one. It tells of slow, meandering flights across the Empire, swooping down on sun-warmed stretches of water for luncheon and tea. But it also describes misadventure and disaster, with flying boats crashing with unnerving regularity. The characters involved in the Empire’s story demonstrate its breadth, they include: Winston Churchill; Terence Rattigan (the playwright); Sir John Reith (who chaired both the BBC and Imperial Airways); Don Bennett (the wartime Pathfinder); and the doomed Duke of Kent. The Empire’s magnificent military sibling, the Sunderland, is also featured and the book illuminates some less well known areas of the war, for example, the Norwegian campaign of 1940 and Australia’s "Pearl Harbor." Extensively researched—drawing on personal letters and diaries, government papers, contemporary newspapers, and archive material from Imperial Airways and its successors—this book reveals all about the Empire flying boat and the people who designed, flew, and traveled in them.
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About the Author
Richard Knott is a former actor and educationalist who now researches and writes on twentieth-century history. He has previously written on subjects as varied as cricket, poetry, and the teaching of English.
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Flying Boats of the Empire: The Rise and Fall of the Ships of the Sky
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Flying Boats of the Empire: The Rise and Fall of the Ships of the Sky
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London: Robert Hale, 2011
ISBN 10: 0709087594
ISBN 13: 9780709087595
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Hardback in Dust Wrapper. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. Condition Notes: Leans, a decent copy otherwise; First edition (first printing). Hardback. Dust wrapper over turquoise boards with silver titles to the spine; Measures 9½" x 6½" (1.2 kg); pp 272; Index; Bibliography; Cover art by R. Vivian Pitchforth; Includes: Flight plans; Black & white photographs, within the text; Tables; References; || The book is on the shelf, ready to be appropriately packed, and posted from the pastoral paradise of Peasedown St. John, Bath, by a real bookseller in a real book shop - with my personal guarantee and beady eye on the Consumer Contracts Regulations. REMEMBER! Buying my copy means the book shop Jack Russells get their supper! My Book #200033 ||. Seller Inventory # 200033
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Flying Boats of the Empire: The Rise and Fall of the Ships of the Sky
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Flying Boats of the Empire: The Rise and Fall of the Ships of the Sky
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hardcover. Condition: Very Good. 2nd Printing. Hardcover with DJ. Bound with black cloth over boards, silver lettering on spine. Binding is tight and secure. Corners are square. Pictorial DJ is clean with minimal wear, wrapped in protective mylar cover. Pages are crisp, clean, and bright. Images are printed in B&W. No date on title page. Copyright page dated 2011. 272 pages. A very nice copy. This volume comes from the Aviation collection of Prof. Chris Sterling. Sterling spent his lifetime teaching, writing, and collecting books on civil and military aviation. We are proud to house his Aviation collection, part of the extensive library which is his legacy. We ship everyday from a real neighborhood bookstore. This description is written by an actual person, who is holding the book in front of them to make sure it?s properly described. Please contact us with questions or if you would like to see photographs. Seller Inventory # Aviation-354
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FLYING BOATS OF THE EMPIRE THE RISE AND FALL OF THE SHIPS OF THE SKY
Published by
Robert Hale, 2011
ISBN 10: 0709087594
ISBN 13: 9780709087595
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Hardback. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. First edition. 1st 2011. Slightly better than very good condition with no wrapper. A fascinating account of the age of Empire flying boats, whose story began in July 1936 with a reassuringly trouble-free test flight on Kent's River Medway. Within ten years, however, this last word in luxury was to become redundant, spurned by the post-war age. Turquoise boards, silver title to spine. B/w photos. Light browning to page edges. A little edge-creasing to wrapper. Packaged with care and promptly dispatched! Seller Inventory # 2138437
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Flying Boats of the Empire: The Rise and Fall of the Ships of the Sky
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Flying Boats of the Empire : The Rise and Fall of the Ships of the Sky
Published by
Robert Hale, 2011
ISBN 10: 0709087594
ISBN 13: 9780709087595
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Seller: Martin Bott Bookdealers Ltd, Felixstowe, United Kingdom
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Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. 1st. Extensive history of the famous 'Empire' class flying boats built for Imperial Airways. 271pp, illustrated. Fine copy in dust wrapper. Seller Inventory # 029206
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FLYING BOATS OF THE EMPIRE: The Rise and Fall of the Ships of the Sky
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Hardcover. 2nd Printing. 272p, illus. A fine hardcover book in a like jacket. Scarce. Seller Inventory # 1245131