Register

A Nice Little Book

** The quirky and barely stable Sopwith Camel
had a 30 percent attrition rate in training but
was a formidable opponent in a dogfight.**
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The article introduces Robert J. Hing's "Searching for the Epic of Flight," a book compiling 107 notable aviation titles.
  • A primary focus is V.M. Yeates' "Winged Victory," a semi-autobiographical novel discovered from Hing's list, depicting a WWI Sopwith Camel pilot.
  • "Winged Victory" is praised for its vivid, unromanticized portrayal of the monotony, brutality, and psychological toll of WWI air combat.
  • The novel also details the challenging experience of flying the unique Sopwith Camel and explores the protagonist's moral dilemmas and connection with his aircraft.
See a mistake? Contact us.

From time to time I find myself in the study of some aviation aficionado — former Flying editor Stephan Wilkinson comes to mind — admiring the cargo of his bookshelves. Many a volume that I would like to sit down with on a rainy afternoon; many that I have never heard of. The lavishly illustrated large-format ones you find remaindered at Barnes & Noble aren’t likely to be the most interesting; it’s rather the old cloth-bound volumes, mostly now out of print, that will take you deeply into other worlds of flight.

It is seldom convenient to note down titles in those situations, but one pilot sent me a nice little book of his that might save one the trouble.

Peter Garrison

Peter Garrison taught himself to use a slide rule and tin snips, built an airplane in his backyard, and flew it to Japan. He began contributing to FLYING in 1968, and he continues to share his columns, ""Technicalities"" and ""Aftermath,"" with FLYING readers.

Ready to Sell Your Aircraft?

List your airplane on AircraftForSale.com and reach qualified buyers.

List Your Aircraft
AircraftForSale Logo | FLYING Logo
Pilot in aircraft
Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE