Empire to the Clouds
by James Hamilton-Paterson
The story of when Britain's aircraft ruled the World
James Hamilton-Paterson is the author of Gerontius, winner of a Whitbread Prize;Seven-Tenths: The Sea and its Thresholds; Playing With Water; and most recently, of the wild comic trilogy Cooking With Fernet Branca, Amazing Disgrace and Rancid Pansies.
In 1945 Britain was the world's leading designer and builder of aircraft - a world-class achievement that was not mere rhetoric. And what aircraft they were. The sleek Comet, the first jet airliner. The awesome delta-winged Vulcan, an intercontinental bomber that could be thrown about the sky like a fighter. The Hawker Hunter, the most beautiful fighter-jet ever built and the Lightning, which could zoom ten miles above the clouds in a couple of minutes and whose pilots rated flying it as better than sex. Just what was it like to be alive in that marvellous post-war moment when innovative new British aircraft made their debut, and pilots were the rock stars of the age?
In this special fully illustrated and lavishly produced large format hardback edition James's text is joined by glorious photographs that precisely capture the elegance, excitement and genius of these extraordinary aircraft, and offer a behind the scenes glimpse into a lost world of pioneering design, engineering and the daring of a generation of test pilots.
A glorious fully-illustrated edition of the bestselling aviation history book.
A wonderful, fully-illustrated and lavishly produced Christmas gift for every aviation enthusiast
The perfect read for everyone who loved Fighter Boys, Spitfire and Vulcan 607
Price: £25.00
Next Events
- Cold War Jets Open Day
Sunday 6th May.
- QRA Day
Sunday 15th July.
LPG eStore Latest offer
The story of when Britain's aircraft ruled the World. Price per copy £25 inc p&p.
Read more
More books
£25.00
We have managed to obtain the last few copies of the "Lightning Boys" intial print run. Price per copy £25 inc p&p.
Read more
£25.00
Special Offers
-
Lightning F6
Desk Model
Originally available from Royal Hampshire and out of production for many years the LPG has re-commissioned this quality model. Length 9cm x 6.5cm wingspan x 6.5cm high including stand.
£35.00
-
Lightning F6, Binbrook Flagship, XR 728/JS, LTF
This lovely model of our Jet is very competitively priced at £55.00. It also includes an exclusive card signed by Group Captain John Spencer, as he was when this was his aircraft.
£55.00
-
Lightning F6, XR770/AA,
5 Sqn, 1987
We are down to the last few of this limited edition model.
£55.00
-
74 squadron's famous "Tengah Tigers"
The latest Corgi limited edition model of one of 74 squadron's famous "Tengah Tigers". Limited stocks.
£55.00
-
Stewart Scott: English Electric Lightning-Volume 2
The Lightning Force. In support of the Q-Shed Appeal, Stewart has kindly agreed that the LPG may sell the second volume of his definitive history of the Lightning at a substantial discount.
£59.00
-
English Electric Lightning by Tim McLelland
Published July 2009 by Ian Allan. 224 pages with colour and B/W photos.
£40.00
-
Aviation Classics English Electric Lightning Bookazine
129 pages detailing the conception, development, service and preservation of the iconic Lightning. All backed up with superb photography.Hours of reading and great value.
£8.50
-
Lightnings at Warton
Vol 1
£17.00
-
Lightnings at Warton
Vol 2
£17.00
-
Lightnings at Binbrook
Vol 13
£17.00
-
Lightnings at Binbrook
Vol 14
£17.00