Book Briefing - ‘The Dangerous Skies’

The Dangerous Skies – Air Commodore A.E. Clouston

This is a remarkable book by a remarkable man.

Clouston was a New Zealander who was, in turn, Test Pilot, Racing Pilot, Coastal Command Liberator Pilot, Air Commodore and just about everything else in between.

His book of high aviation adventure is written in four parts:

Test Pilot

Records And Races

Interlude For War

Graduation

Each part could be a book in its own right so varied were his experiences.

A highlight dear to New Zealanders (at least those who remember or have heard of the man) is the England – New Zealand – England record flight that he made in 1938. This flight was made with Victor Ricketts and in a DH 88 De Havilland Comet G-ACSS. (T – link ACSS to http://www.xs4all.nl/~tozu/dh88/Comets/GACSS.htm)
Some of the records made on this and a previous England – Cape Town flight still stand today. (T link here to http://records.fai.org/pilot.asp?from=ga&id=5932)

Interestingly, while there are several web sites that feature the Comet Racer, few mention Clouston's achievements with the Comet other than in passing. Perhaps those authors should read this book – it’s certainly a story worth the telling.

Other parts of the book include hair raising flight testing in the then little understood condition of ‘icing’, flying into wires to determine the effect of an aircraft flying into a barrage balloon and racing a Flying Flea.

What’s more the author’s writing style is very down to earth with more than a
touch of humour.

I could go on but I think you’ll get the picture – this is a must read for any aviation enthusiast.

First published in 1954 it is now out of print but fortunately second hand copies can still be had. The amazon.co.uk listings can be found here.