**THIS BOOK WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR DISPATCH AFTER 23 MARCH 2023** (Please refer to the Terms and Conditions of Pre-Order below)
- He made the maiden flight of the Comet, the world’s first jet airliner, on 27 July 1949 and led the flight development programme of the Comet 4
- Cunningham made the first flight of the Trident in January 1962 and achieved certification of the first fully automatic landing airliner in all weathers
- Gloriously illustrated with 114 rare and unpublished photographs, this is of interest to aviation and military historians, modellers and gamers such as IL-2 Sturmovik and War Thunder
John Cunningham’s illustrious aviation career began at the de Havilland Aeronautical Technical School while learning to fly with 614 Squadron at Hendon.
On completing his apprenticeship, he helped test fly the Moth Minor with Geoffrey de Havilland Jnr.
When the Second World War was declared, he was mobilised and started his RAF combat career pioneering the use of radar equipped Beaufighter and Mosquito interceptors. Cunningham completed his service as one of the youngest group captains with twenty confirmed kills at night and in bad weather.
Not wishing a desk job, he returned to his friends at de Havilland, initially as chief test pilot of the de Havilland Engine Company where his combat experience was invaluable in selling aircraft to overseas air forces.
On the death of his close friend Geoffrey de Havilland Jnr, Cunningham was appointed chief test pilot and led the flight development of the Comet, the world’s first jet airliner, and later the Trident, completing some 35 years of test flying. He died in 2002.
| BOOK ISBN |
9781781558713 |
| FORMAT |
248 x 172 mm |
| BINDING |
Hardback |
| PAGES |
192 pages |
| PUBLICATION DATE |
23 March 2023
|
| TERRITORY |
World |
| ILLUSTRATIONS |
114 black-and-white photographs |
TERMS & CONDITIONS OF PRE-ORDER1. Pre-orders are charged at time of order and the order will be processed and posted to you as soon as the book becomes available.2. Current publication date for this title is 23 March 2023. Publication date can change and you will be informed via e-mail for any such changes or delays. The book will be shipped via DPD in the UK, Channel Islands and Republic of Ireland, and, DHL internationally.3. Current format specifications including page extent and number of images could change and you will be informed via e-mail for any such changes.4. You can cancel the pre-order at any time and request a refund. 5. Marketing, Promotions and Discounts: where at times we may offer discount(s) on forthcoming ('preorder') books and that part of the order is cancelled, we do not guarantee the same discount will be available at a future date or at all at point of availability.5. Placing a pre-order with us means that you have acknowledged and accepted these Terms and Conditions as well as our General Terms and Conditions.
Philip Birtles started work as an engineering apprentice at the de Havilland Aircraft Company in September 1957. Following the completion of his training, he was appointed as PA to John Cunningham—the famous Second World War night-fighter ace. Philip held a number of marketing positions over the remainder of his career in the aerospace industry, taking early retirement when Hatfield Aerodrome finally closed at the end of 1993. He spent over forty years as a trustee of the de Havilland Aircraft Museum, and he has written over thirty-five books.
