Adventure In The Air

The excitement and thrill of flight testing and the effort made to make aircraft safe is portrayed in these memoirs.

A young colonial boy's life experience in India, prior to that country's indenpendence are linked with later episodes relating to testing aircraft. As a Flight Test Engineer, the author takes the reader on many close encounters. The development of a Nuclear Bomber, a high altitude Spy Plane, an Unmanned aircraft to be used as a target for missile tests, all reflected the urgency inherent during the cold war years. The reader can also accompany the aurhor on research aircraft investagiting Verticalk Take off and Landing, Swept wings for fighter aircraft and the unique Augmentor wing. Tests on Canada's Short Take off and Landing are some of the insights into aircraft development that the reader will gain. A Raja's palace, riots in the streets,Japanese air raids and a leopard hunt are some of his adventures in India. A cave dweller in Libya, a jungle airstrip in Peru, an interview with Lord Brabizon in Mayfair, desert heat in arizona and wind chill in Hudson Bay are just a few of the highlights to be enjoyed.. By writing this book the author intends for all those who gaze up in wonder of aircraft flying above, to gather some of the excitment of the world of aviation. In a non-technical way, this book conveys the effort taken and provides some unstanding of the testing that makes aircraft safe.,

Born in 1928, the author spent his early years in many parts of India and what was also later to be known as Pakistan. His father was a Captain in the Indian army and took part in campaigns in Mesopotamia and Waziristan. His mother was the daughter of the owner of a rubber plantation in Burma, now Myanmar. An uncle was a surgeon serving in a military hospital in Peshawa. Others were teachers. His family travelled extensively throughout India. After obtaining a Science degree from Calcutta University and a Diploma from the College of Aeronautical Engineering in London, he commenced his career as a Flight Test Engineer in several UK aircraft companies. He then emigrated to Canada, where he was employed as Chief Flight Test Engineer for the de Havilland Aircraft of Canada. He later retired as Manager of their Experimental Flight Test Department. He participated in tests on over fifty types of aircraft. The Author held membership with the Society of Flight Test Engineers and was an Associate Member of The Aeronautisc and Space Institute, where he served as Chairman of the Flight Test Section and for two years was a member of the Council. In 1991, he retired and still works as an avaitian consultant following a long career in aircraft design and flight testing. He now resides in Bracebridge, Ontario, Canada.