Books about Sir George Edwards,
These books have been chosen for their Viscount content, Sir George Edwards OM
The Authorised Biography of Sir George Edwards OM - the father of the Viscount
From Bouncing Bombs to Concorde:
by Robert GardnerFor more information and to check availability click the book image
For a quarter of a century from 1950, George Edwards was the dominant figure in British aviation, both civil and military. His name is synonymous with the Vickers Viscount,
the world's first turboprop airliner, and Concorde, for which he led the British team throughout its formative period to customer delivery.
During the Second World War, Edwards worked closely with Barnes Wallis and was responsible for making the dam busters'
famous bouncing bomb bounce.
After the war he was appointed chief designer at Vickers and designed Britain's first V-bomber, the Valiant, which was delivered to the RAF in just four years. Edwards then took the
lead in the most ambitious military aircraft programme of the period, TSR2, until it was controversially cancelled in 1965. Against this setback, his successes included the VC10
airliner and the legendary Anglo-French Concorde. Edwards's patience and perseverance when dealing with politicians and with his counterparts across the Channel were critical to
the success of the Concorde project.
Bouncing-Bomb Man:
by Richard ToddFor more information and to check availability click the book image
Barnes Wallis is best known as the 'boffin' behind the famous bouncing bomb used by 617 Squadron to breach the Ruhr dams
in 1943, but his work covers a far wider canvas. It ranges from airships, through novel aircraft structures and special weapons,
to long-range supersonic aircraft, and an extensive patent portfolio.
This book describes the huge breadth of Wallis's work, showing how his genius brought totally new ideas into these various
fields, and revealing the science and engineering expertise that he deployed to make them work. Extensive use of illustrations -
both line artwork and photographs - demonstrates the concepts involved.
Dam Busters:
by James HollandFor more information and to check availability click the book image
The night of May 16th, 1943 nineteen specially adapted Lancaster bombers take off from RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire, each with a
huge 9,000lb cylindrical bomb strapped underneath it. Their mission: to destroy three dams deep within the German heartland, which
provide the lifeblood to the industries supplying the Third Reich's war machine.
From the outset it was an almost impossible task, a suicide mission: to fly low and at night in formation over many miles of
enemy-occupied territory at the very limit of the Lancaster's capacity, and drop a new weapon that had never been tried
operationally before from a precise height of just sixty feet from the water at some of the most heavily defended targets in
Germany.
More than that, the entire operation had to be put together in less than ten weeks. When visionary aviation engineer Barnes
Wallis's concept of the bouncing bomb was green lighted, he hadn't even drawn up his plans for the weapon that was to smash
the dams.
What followed was an incredible race against time, which, despite numerous setbacks and against huge odds, became one of the most
successful and game-changing bombing raids of all time.
Vickers Valiant:
by Eric B MorganFor more information and to check availability click the book image
The Valiant was the shortest lived of the post-war V-bomber force, first flying in 1951 and with production of 104 aircraft
ending in 1957, and an official withdrawal in January 1965 after investigation had shown that the main wing spars were suffering
from metal fatigue.
It operated in four versions, the B.1 bomber, B(PR)1 bomber/photo-reconnaissance, B(K).1 flight refuelling tanker and B.PR(K).1
covering all three roles. Additionally several aircraft were modified for a variety of special roles. The all-black B.2 low level
pathfinder bomber was flown as a prototype in 1953.
Valiants participated in British atomic bomb tests and made noteworthy long-distance flights, principally operating from Marham
and Gaydon. In a change of task shortly before retirement, the aircraft were painted in a camouflage scheme better suited to
their new low-level penetration role.
In addition to the many photographs and drawings the book also includes a full history of each aircraft built.
TSR2 - Britain's Lost Bomber
by Damien BurkeFor more information and to check availability click the book image
More than forty years after its cancellation, the BAC TSR2 is still a controversial aircraft. Years ahead of its time, it was
abruptly cancelled by a new government when flight testing had only just begun.
Built to a demanding RAF requirement, the BAC TSR2 was a revolutionary low-level strike aircraft able to deliver a tactical
nuclear weapon at supersonic speed and low altitude to evade enemy radar.
This fascinating new book describes in detail the aircraft, its history and the events of its cancellation. Many hitherto
unseen photographs and diagrams support the detailed text, which benefits from extensive research in the BAC archives and
access to newly rediscovered material.
Vickers VC10
by Lance ColeFor more information and to check availability click the book image
The Vickers VC10 could have been a worldwide successful aeroplane but for the politics that surrounded it. This text tells the full story of its design and development using
original documentation and interviews with the design and flight team.
The Concorde Story:
by Christopher OrlebarFor more information and to check availability click the book image
This fully revised edition of The Concorde Story, is a complete history of Concorde, seen through the eyes of former Concorde pilot Christopher Orlebar. This new edition includes
the after-story of the aircraft, including a list of where surviving Concorde Aircraft can be viewed around the world.
Drawing on his own experience, the author reveals what it was like to be a Concorde pilot, and gives us a unique pilot's-eye-view of a typical transatlantic flight, including details
of the training involved and life on the flight deck. It is from the privileged perspective of an insider that Christopher Orlebar describes Concorde's 'Grand Finale' and final flight
to Filton, reflecting on the history and achievement of Concorde and those who worked on her.
