TEST PILOT.

London: Grub Street, 1992. 195 pp, large 8vo (9 1/2" H). First published in 1953, "(T)his new edition has an additional chapter covering Neville Duke's flying life from that date, and also has appendices and index, not included in the earlier book, together with a completely new selection of photographs." "The name of Neville Duke is well-known in aviation circles, not only as a successful wartime fighter pilot, but also as a peacetime test pilot with the Hawker Aviation Company. Joining the RAF at the beginning of the war, he found himself as a young fighter pilot with the crack 93 Squadron at RAF Biggin Hill, in 1941. Towards the end of the war he became an RAF test pilot and later a member of the RAF's High Speed Flight. This was the start of a successful career as a test pilot after leaving the Service in 1948, having been awarded the AFC. Working for Hawkers, he became Chief Test Pilot and did all the major flight development on one of the most famous of all RAF peacetime aircraft - the Hawker Hunter, and with it took the world speed record in 1953. Injured in a Hunter crash two years later, he was forced to leave Hawkers but continued to fly and later set up his own test flying business, as well as becoming the personal pilot of Sir George Dowty. He is now a freelance and still a highly respected test pilot, working on the Optica, Fieldmaster and Firemaster aeroplanes." Very light wrinkling at top/bottom of spine. Dust jacket has very light rubbing, very light edge wrinkling.. New Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good/Very Good.