"Empire Of The Clouds" British 50's aviation industry book

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T-21
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"Empire Of The Clouds" British 50's aviation industry book

Post by T-21 »

Sainsbury have this paperback currently for sale at £4:99p or £7 for two http://www.faber.co.uk/work/empire-of-c ... 571247943/; looks a great historical read,covering test flying and the British aviation industry.
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Re: Empire Of The Clouds Britsh 50's aviation industry book

Post by JamesPerrin »

Thanks for the heads up Nigel!
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Re: "Empire Of The Clouds" British 50's aviation industry b

Post by mattbacon »

It is a most excellent book...

I even bought it (or at least put it successfully on my birthday wish list) at full price...

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Re: "Empire Of The Clouds" British 50's aviation industry b

Post by shangos70 »

Picked it up at Tesco , nice read for my hols along with Michael Caines bio week after next .
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Re: "Empire Of The Clouds" British 50's aviation industry b

Post by Eric Mc »

Bought the hardback when it first came out. An excellent read but a bit depressing.
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Re: "Empire Of The Clouds" British 50's aviation industry b

Post by Spaceowl »

My local branch of 'The Works' has the hardback in for £3.99. Well worth the price of admittance but as other people have said, a bit of a downer. It seems a massive shame that there is so little in the way of an aviation industry left in the UK, but time marches on, I suppose.
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Re: "Empire Of The Clouds" British 50's aviation industry b

Post by Eric Mc »

I think the UK aviation industry more or less reflects what happened throughout Europe and indeed the US after World War 2. Over the past 60 years there has been a gradual rationalisation of the manufacturers and a reduction in the number of projects.

Think how many aircraft manufacturers there were in the US in 1945 and how many there are now.

Of course, Britain had its own specific iissues as well - but the general outcome has been pretty much the same.
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Re: "Empire Of The Clouds" British 50's aviation industry b

Post by Arpie »

I've not much to add that hasn't been said already in the thread but for those wanting the paperback (much easier on the train :lol: ) it's currently half price in Waterstones.
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Re: "Empire Of The Clouds" British 50's aviation industry b

Post by Motley »

Saw this book advertised the other day on the History Channels Warplane weekend and thought about getting it, seeing as it is at that price may just have to get me a copy now, thanks for reminding me :)
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Re: "Empire Of The Clouds" British 50's aviation industry b

Post by JamesPerrin »

Spaceowl wrote:My local branch of 'The Works' has the hardback in for £3.99.
Picked up a copy today. The author has already been widely published, other non-fiction as well as adult and kid fiction. Sounds like at the very least it will be well written.
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Re: "Empire Of The Clouds" British 50's aviation industry b

Post by bobblelink »

A superb, if rather sad book: It seems today's government has learnt none of the lessons
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Re: "Empire Of The Clouds" British 50's aviation industry b

Post by Eric Mc »

Don't fall into the trap of blaming "the government" (a bit of a cop-out I think). The whole point of the book is that it emphasises how badly run the industry was by the aircraft companies themselves.
The manufacturers had the biggest part to play in their own demise.
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Re: "Empire Of The Clouds" British 50's aviation industry b

Post by mattbacon »

Yes... one of the key points is that if the manufacturers has consolidated themselves better, recognising that the contraction of the market and the advance in technology immediately after the war would mean that the number of separate companies, design departments and submissions was unsustainable, then the industry would have been in much better shape. Instead consolidation was forced by the government against strong resistance, and the tensions and hostilities within the resulting groups were at least as responsible for destroying promising projects as "the government". The aviation industry was strong after the war, but by merging the companies positively, building on strengths and removing weaknesses, it could have STAYED strong in the new environment. He makes the interesting point that if the Comet had been designed by de Havilland, but built by Handley Page, it would probably never have suffered the metal fatigue problems that effectively killed it as an international contender. And if you're going to blame somebody for terminally damaging the industry, blame the Chief Executive of BOAC as much as the government. His personal interventions, dilatoryness and downright dishonesty with the manufacturers messed up the chances of the Trident, the VC10, and the V1000 ever being true global competitors to American aircraft...

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Re: "Empire Of The Clouds" British 50's aviation industry b

Post by Eric Mc »

mattbacon wrote:Yes... one of the key points is that if the manufacturers has consolidated themselves better, recognising that the contraction of the market and the advance in technology immediately after the war would mean that the number of separate companies, design departments and submissions was unsustainable, then the industry would have been in much better shape. Instead consolidation was forced by the government against strong resistance, and the tensions and hostilities within the resulting groups were at least as responsible for destroying promising projects as "the government". The aviation industry was strong after the war, but by merging the companies positively, building on strengths and removing weaknesses, it could have STAYED strong in the new environment. He makes the interesting point that if the Comet had been designed by de Havilland, but built by Handley Page, it would probably never have suffered the metal fatigue problems that effectively killed it as an international contender. And if you're going to blame somebody for terminally damaging the industry, blame the Chief Executive of BOAC as much as the government. His personal interventions, dilatoryness and downright dishonesty with the manufacturers messed up the chances of the Trident, the VC10, and the V1000 ever being true global competitors to American aircraft...

bestest,
M.

All so true. The book concentrates mainly on the military sector. Mybe he could do a second volume on the demise of the British airliner and light aircraft industry.
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Re: "Empire Of The Clouds" British 50's aviation industry b

Post by T-21 »

If you missed the Sainsbury offer The Works are still selling this for £2:99 paperback and £3:99 hardback.
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