Sigh for a Merlin Testing the Spitfire Revised Second Edition kk AS NEW

by Henshaw, Alex

$40 · Offered by Biblio

Wilmslow, Cheshire, U. K.: Air Data Publications, 1996. Revised Second Edition. Octavo, [23cm/9.25inches], full gilt-embossed cloth w/ mylar-protected dust jacket, pp. 240, indexed. Illustrated with b-w halftones. Please feel free to inquire as to particulars and/or additional photographs. ... Henshaw considered enlisting in the Royal Air Force at the start of the Second World War he instead became a test pilot for Vickers Armstrong. He subsequently took the rank of Sgt Pilot to fly a fully armed Spitfire to defend the factory, if needed, although he was never called upon to fly in combat. Henshaw started with Wellingtons and Walruses at Weybridge. He did not enjoy the work, and was on the point of leaving when Jeffrey Quill invited him to test Spitfires in Southampton. In June 1940, Henshaw moved to the Castle Bromwich factory in Birmingham, which had been taken over by Vickers after poor production results by the Nuffield group. He was soon appointed to the post of Chief Test Pilot, leading a team of 25 others. The factory built over half of the total output of Spitfires ever made, and 350 Lancaster heavy bombers; Henshaw tested both types of aircraft. Production/acceptance test flying was essential, ensuring that faults were detected before aircraft were delivered to the front line, but it was potentially dangerous: two of his team were killed testing new aircraft. Henshaw survived many forced landings and a catastrophic crash between two houses in Wednesfield near Wolverh

• Publisher: Air Data Publications
• Year: 1996
• Edition: Revised Second Edition
• Binding: hardcover

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