Memoirs Of A Pioneer Aviator

Terry Finney

May 2018 · FriesenPress

About this ebook

Memoirs Of A Pioneer Aviator is a record of the author's experiences in the Royal Air Force from 1924 to 1930. Here is a story of the humour and tragedy that touched the daily lives of the officers and enlisted men of the R.A.F. during that time. It is a valuable link to an era long past and a part of aviation that no longer exists outside of aviation museums. Here, also, is a story about early aircraft operations; about flying in zero visibility, sometimes in formation with other aircraft, before the advent of instrument flight regulations. It gives us a taste of the risks those aviators took and the judgement they needed to survive. This book is a must for aviation buffs. Within its pages, flight instructors will discover the origins of their trade. Terry Finney's story is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of aviation.

About the author

Born in 1902, Terry Finney grew up in Glasgow, Scotland. In his early adult life, he apprenticed in the shipyards of Glasgow. Then, in 1924, he received a commission in the Royal Air Force, entering as a pilot officer and working up to the rank of flight lieutenant. He learned to fly in the open cockpit of an Avro 504, a biplane of First World War vintage. Later, as a qualified flight instructor, he also instructed on the Avro. During his six years of service with the R.A.F. he met, and worked with, several individuals who became acknowledged in the history of their time. After leaving the Royal Air Force, Terry emigrated to Canada where he continued his career as a flight instructor. He contributed his final years of service to aviation to the role of ground school instructor with the Aero Club of B.C. in Pitt Meadows, British Columbia. Terry died in 1978 in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada.