Casemate Publishing have announced an exciting new study of arguably the most iconic British post war jet fighter - the English Electric Lightning.

According to a recent international study, the Lightning is the fifth most popular military aircraft of all time. It has many thousands of devotees who are a ready market for this timely and entertaining book which, with over twenty individual stories from former Lightning pilots, 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 program with the French Air Force became embroiled in a mid-air collision. An unverified yet probably genuine world record is revealed in one of the chapters.

In addition to the original photographs that accompany the text, the renowned aviation artist Chris Stone (himself a former Lightning pilot) has provided a unique sketch as well as copies of some of his paintings. The style, scope and pace of the writing in this book will appeal to the general reader as well as to the enthusiast.

What People are saying about The Lightning Boys: True Tales from Pilots of the English Electric Lightning:

'A superb selection of over 20 first-hand Lightning stories, this is bound to be eagerly snapped up by fans of English Electrics’ astounding fighter.' - Flypast

'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

The Lightning Boys: True Tales from Pilots of the English Electric Lightning

By Richard Pike, 5.75 x 8.25, 224 pages, 30 color, 30 b/w photos, 9781908117151, $39.95, hardback, Grub Street Publishing distributed by Casemate in the US.

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