F4 PHANTOM: A PILOT'S STORY.

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn.NFINE/NFINE.No owner inscrptn,and no price- clip to dw/dj.Colour photographic dw/dj; with minimal shelf-wear and negligible creasing - no nicks or tears present - miniscule bumping with reciprocal creases to head of spine/backstrip which also appears unfaded.Top edge lightly dust-soiled,fore-edge generally clean and bright; contents bright,tight and very clean.Dark blue paper-covered boards with bright,crisp, blocked,silver gilt letters to spine/backstrip and immaculate plain white endpapers.UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn,1-209pp includes half-title+title pages,contents+ illustrations lists,18 chapters, 6+8pp b/w photographs between pp56/7 and pp120/21 respectively,2pp glossary and a blank to rear. Like the Sopwith Camel and the Spitfire,time has given to the McDonnell F4 Phantom the qualities of a classic - that collection of often nebulous characteristics which,for some reason or another,captures the affection and imagination of pilot and public alike.Robert Prest,a serving RAF fighter pilot,flies Phantoms: this is his journal. Three years of training until he flew the beast for the first time,and, before that,two decades of model aircraft,magazines,air shows.Now,his dedication rewarded,he shows us what is involved in flying a high-performance jet fighter in today's world of electronics,incredible strike capacity and savage speeds.Underlined by a deep love of flying, his book tells of a fighter pilot's work in all its many guises - air combat, escort duty,formation flying,missile and gunnery practice,low-level flying, intercepting intruders.He tells,too,of the difficulty,the mishaps,and the worse-than-mishaps that accompany life on the limits,where a few seconds' delay can bring danger a mile closer.Above all,he tells of what no layman can ever guess,the joy of flying the multi-role,multi-capability Phantom in every possible part of the sky,and on any type of work. The author's lyrical yet fast-moving style captures the essence of this extraordinary aircraft and of the part he shares with it. Enthralling, moving,nostalgic,often amusing, here is the danger,the speed,the tension and, supremely,the 'lonely impulse of delight' set down in a book that deserves to stand with those of Saint-Exupery,Lewis and Hillary. Please contact seller @rpaxtonden@blueyonder.co.uk ,for correct shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas buyers - BEFORE ordering through the order page! N.B. ALL buyers please note,stocks' actual shipping/P+p costs are adjusted and any difference is refunded,after order's receipt and before the order's despatch,especially if the item(s) are offered either P+p included/FREE. ** N.B. US/Canada customers please be aware: Standard AIRMAIL postage from UK to these destinations can now cost more than the price of the book! If speed is not of the essence, then Economy rate is recommended - at approx. anything from a 1/3rd to 1/2 of the standard US AIR quote/rate - sometimes arriving sooner than the 42 days - but not always. **