Book Review: by Andrew Collins.
A View from the Hover, by John Farley.
John Farley’s View from the Hover is an interesting mixture of autobiography, comment on test flying, history of the development of several types, and manual of aerodynamics for basic pilots. Written by a test pilot, it is still of interest both to mere mortal pilots and to aircrew in general. Opening with his early interest in becoming a pilot, Farley describes his somewhat circuitous route into the Royal Air Force. Then, having qualified for his wings and finished the Hunter OCU, he fell victim to the Duncan Sandys White Paper, effectively proposing the end of manned combat aviation. He and four other Short Service Commission Officers were posted to a ground tour, leaving the few available flying tours to be taken by Permanent Commission holders. So naturally they went to Bentley Priory, found the office where the postings were done, waited till it was unoccupied and forged the paperwork posting themselves to operational squadrons. They got away with it!
There then follows a series of chapters on the various phases of his career in aviation, almost entirely relating to test flying, and primarily involved with the P1127 / Harrier and its derivatives. All these chapters contain interesting detail mixed with general impressions of people and aircraft. There are the inevitable “war stories” of specific sorties, displays and overseas trips, all of them interesting and mostly related to illustrate some point. At chapter 10 the style of the book changes, and the remaining chapters are designed to inform and instruct. There are a few chapters reminiscent of AP 129 “Aircraft and Equipment” (AP 3456 for the younger generation). These give basic facts about Lift and Drag, Stalling, Spinning etc. The final chapters are of a more general nature, giving the Farley view on Instrument Flying, Simulators and how the General Aviation pilot should go about his flying. There is even advice on how the GA pilot should go about flight testing a new aircraft that he has just built himself!
This is a well written book by someone who holds definite opinions rather than being opinionated. There are a couple of minor niggles in style and orthography, but I found it to be a good read, and in due course I shall doubtless read it again.
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Cover Price : £29.95