About the Author

Richard Pike joined the Royal Air Force in August 1961 when he became a flight cadet at the RAF College Cranwell. In the early stages of his forty-year flying career he flew the English Electric Lightning before converting to the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom. On leaving the Royal Air Force he became a civilian helicopter pilot flying the Sikorsky S-61 for the North Sea Oil industry as well as in the search and rescue role. His duties took him to a wide variety of destinations at home and overseas including the Falkland Islands not long after the end of the Falklands War. His last assignment was in Kosovo helping to distribute emergency humanitarian aid on behalf of the United Nations World Food Programme. He and his wife live in Aberdeenshire from where they visit their three children and eight grandchildren in various parts of the UK.

Reviews

"This book is a quick and well-written read. The range of experiences covered should appeal to the experienced veteran and aviation enthusiast alike."-- "Air Power History"

"...a cracking read being well illustrated with a mix of black and white photos integrated within the text and two inserts of excellent color images, many of them taken the the air by the contributors...would also make a very welcome gift to the many who flew in or serviced the aircraft through those long years of QRA and TACEVAL!"-- "Britain at War"