Lightning Boys

True Tales from Pilots of the English Electric Lightning

Richard Pike author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Grub Street Publishing

Published:30th Apr '18

£12.99

Available to order, but very limited on stock - if we have issues obtaining a copy, we will let you know.

Lightning Boys cover

Over 16,000 copies of hardback edition (9781908117151) sold. Featured in Top 10 of Jarrold's bestsellers book chart in September 2011.

Now in paperback for the first time. True tales from pilots of the English Electric Lightning. 

In an international study, the Lightning was voted the fifth most popular military aircraft of all time. It has many thousands of devotees who are a ready market for this entertaining book which relates the highs and lows, the dramas and the demands of those who operated this iconic aircraft from the sharp end.
Tales include the recollections of an aerobatic display pilot, an implausible yet true account of telepathic communication, and an extraordinary episode when a Lightning pilot on an exchange programme with the French air force became embroiled in a mid-air collision. An unverified yet probably genuine world record is also revealed in one of the chapters.
In addition to the 16-page photo section, the book features a unique sketch from renowned aviation artist Chris Stone – who is a former Lightning pilot. The style, scope and pace of the writing will appeal to the general reader as well as to the enthusiast.

`Richard Pike is to be congratulated on this fascinating compilation of true tales. Four out of five stars.' Aeroplane; `A superb selection of over twenty first-hand Lightning stories, this is bound to be eagerly snapped up by fans of English Electric's astounding fighter.' Flypast Magazine; `An enlightening canter around the crew room. I recommend it as a good read both to aviators in general and to the Lightning fraternity in particular.' Royal Air Force Historical Society; `This fascinating book delivers 22 stories which will no doubt convince the reader that this aircraft was indeed unique... Highly recommended.' Air Mail; `Lightning Boys is an anthology of breathless and often breathtaking tales.' Eastern Daily Press

ISBN: 9781911621027

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

192 pages