AIR

It is an indication of the risks incurred by the older breed of test-pilots that in his “Adventure with Fate”. which we reviewed last month, Harald Penrose, the former Westland employee, describes at least 25 forced landings, starting with that when the engine of the Widgeon in which he was flying with Openshaw cut out in 1926. Some 16 fraught occasions, over and above those expected in test flying, and six crash landings, including having to vacate a Westland P7 by parachute. In all but three of these episodes he was piloting the aeroplanes himself. It would be unfair to the author, and to the publisher. Airlife of Shrewsbury, to go into details, so to discover what happened you must obtain a copy of the book. which is the most detailed story of a test-pilot’s experiences ever published. Do not, however, gain the impression that this is an over-dramatised account, which it most certainly isn’t; it does, however,. rather incidentally, indicate the hazards faced by the test-pilot. In passing, when an OAP, this great test-pilot exchanged his Austin Princess car for a Hillman Avenger. — W.B.