A new book from Fonthill Media ‘Autogiro Pioneer’ The Life of Jack Richardson by Nicholas Richardson provides a vivid and extraordinary account of a leading pioneer pilot of the autogiro and helicopter

Autogiro Pioneer: The Life of Jack Richardson is a vivid account of the life and adventures of Jack Richardson (1899-1987). The book is based on his memoirs, which have been edited by his son. In the 1930s, he worked for Juan de la Cierva, the inventor of the autogiro (the forerunner of the helicopter) and was the first person to obtain a commercial licence as an autogiro pilot. This work involved – among other activities – several hazardous flights across Europe in all kinds of weather. In 1944, he learnt how to fly the new Sikorsky helicopters in the United States and became the first fully trained helicopter pilot in the British Army. In his later career with the Army and Westland Aircraft, he helped to develop the military and commercial uses of the helicopter, played a major role in the construction of the heliport at Battersea and was Chairman of The Helicopter Association. As a young man, Richardson had been a cavalry officer in the Ninth Lancers and for seven years a successful orange farmer in South Africa. He was also a keen racing skier and amateur painter.

The book includes:
●Profusely illustrated with original photographs and documentary material from the early days of the autogiro
●Describes in detail how the helicopter first came to be used in Britain at the end of the Second World War
●Rich in detail, this will be of interest to aviation and military historians as well as modellers, etc.
●A vivid account of the life of a pioneer pilot who was also a cavalryman, orange farmer in Natal, racing skier and painter.

Publication: 16 October 2019
Price: £25.00/$35.00
ISBN: 978-1-78155-742-6
Size: 234 x 156 mm
Binding: Hardback
Extent: 208 pages
Illustrations: 82 mono/16 colour
Rights: World, all languages

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