Vampire Boys: True Tales from Operators of the RAF's First Single-Engined Jet

Charlotte Bailey

May 2023 · Tantor Media Inc · Isinalaysay ni Jonathan Cowley

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Sliding out of the shadows of World War Two, the de Havilland Vampire-accompanied by the distinctive whine of its Goblin engine-quickly proved itself an effective alternative to piston-powered fighters. After entering operational service with the RAF (as the service's first single-engine jet) in 1946, the Vampire-sought by air forces the world over-held a number of notable records: the first fighter to exceed 500 mph, the first to set a world altitude record of almost 60,000 feet, the first jet to take off and land from an aircraft carrier, and the first jet to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Not bad for something built partly of wood. Throughout this book, the "Vampire Boys" bring to life the trials and tribulations of operating a first-generation jet across the globe. Through their insightful anecdotes and exceptional experiences, listeners can follow squadrons across the dusty deserts of Iraq to exercises in West Germany. First-hand tales of training, aerial handling, incidents and accidents (including the much-maligned spin characteristics) and squadron life bring together a portrait of a pioneering time in aviation advancement, right up to the present day with the T.11 still flying from Coventry Airport.

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Charlotte Bailey began her aviation career building special-shape hot-air balloons. However, a love of fixed-wing flight prompted a sidestep into writing. Now a freelance aviation editor and author, she has worked on titles worldwide, as well as learning to fly a Piper Supercub.

Jonathan Cowley is a British voice actor who calls Los Angeles home. He has received AudioFile Earphones Awards for his narration of The Science of Evil by Simon Baron-Cohen, The Tower, the Zoo and the Tortoise by Julia Stuart, and The Angry Chef's Guide to Spotting Bullsh*t in the World of Food by Anthony Warner.