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Tony Doyle
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Flying at the Edge: 20 Years of Front-Line and Display Flying in the Cold War Era Kindle Edition

by Tony Doyle (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 160 ratings
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A firsthand account of a twenty-year career as an RAF fighter pilot, instructor, aerobatic flyer, and squadron leader.
 
Tony Doyle first flew in the CCF, where he completed a glider course and then a highly prized Flying Scholarship. This opened the way to joining the RAF and becoming an all-weather tactical fighter pilot flying de Havilland Vampires and Gloster Meteors. At this he excelled, and he was posted as a flying instructor and then Staff Instructor.
 
This was the age when the Jet Provost was the standard training aircraft. In 1962, Doyle was selected to fly with the newly formed Red Pelicans aerobatic display team and honed his skills as a display pilot. He moved to RAF Valley as the new Folland Gnat was being introduced in the training role. This diminutive aircraft was somewhat of a breakthrough—and after several design problems were ironed out it proved a superb aircraft, fast and agile. The general public were eager to see this new RAF addition and Doyle became its display pilot, flying at open days throughout the UK and Europe.
 
In 1964 he converted to the English Electric Lightning, Britain’s one and only supersonic fighter, with a top speed in excess of Mach 2 and a ceiling of 50,000 feet. He was posted to Treble One Squadron at Wattisham in October 1964 as part of the Quick Reaction Alert force against potential Russian bomber attacks. Once again he became the Lightning’s chosen low-level display pilot and demonstrated it at the 1965 Paris Air Show. Shortly after that, he was forced to eject over the North Cornish coast after an engine explosion caused the loss of elevator control.
 
This fascinating account of front-line and display flying goes into considerable detail of the aerodynamic qualities, dangers, and advantages of the types flown—and recounts life-threatening incidents and successes that will educate anyone interested in flying at the very edge.
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  1. Print length
    854 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Pen & Sword Aviation
  4. Publication date
    November 29, 2010
  5. File size
    3.1 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00KTM7HF0
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pen & Sword Aviation (November 29, 2010)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 29, 2010
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.1 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 854 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 160 ratings

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Tony Doyle

Tony Doyle

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
160 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Patrick Foley
    5.0 out of 5 stars A marvelous book about flying.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I loved this book. I haven't enjoyed reading a book like I did this one in what seems like decades.
    All that said, permit me a short rant... I grew up dreaming of flying, watching John Wayne fly with his Flying Tigers, George Peppard win the Blue Max, and on and on and on. I also read just about every book on flying, especially fighters/tactical aircraft, that I could get my hands on and herein lies the heart of my rant... so many books written by aces, test pilots etc., that sell you on the flying story, from the cover illustration to the story lines on the back, treat the flying almost like an afterthought. The first third of the book is about mom and dad and growing up on the farm or where ever, then when the hero finally gets to start flying, the flights and the dogfights are glossed over in one or two sentences and the "important" subjects are quickly returned to... going into London (or inject another locale) to get drunk and try to get laid. Newsflash... all of us grew up somewhere and all of us had moms and dads and most of us got drunk and tried to get laid. So that isn't what makes you special. That isn't what makes people want to read about your exploits; it's the airplanes you flew and what you did in those airplanes.
    This isn't one of those books! It is about flying. It's about pushing an airplane to its aerodynamic limits and maybe slightly beyond them and living to tell the tale. It is a book written for pilots, though the author does an excellent job of explaining things so that the layman can learn and understand what is happening. It is honest and it is wonderful. I would love to meet the author, and listen to his stories over a pint or two, or three.
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  • Karl
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read
    Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoyed this authors writing and his descriptions of his various positions over the years in the RAF and the people he worked with
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  • D. Kelly
    5.0 out of 5 stars A frank and shocking account of the state of the RAF in the 70's and the aviation career of this distinguished aviator.
    Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2016
    This is an excellent book which really goes to the underbelly of the RAF in the 60's and 70's, and frankly provides a shocking account of how vulnerable the UK was to Russian attack back then and how ill prepared the RAF were with the endurance limited Lightning, and the lack of realistic training provided (which Tony fought hard to improve). Basically the Lightning had just enough fuel to make a supersonic climb to intercept, take a quick shot, then return. There was no time to stay and fight, and all training was based on the enemy flying straight and level whilst being shot at!. Tony also highlights just how unreliable the Lightning was, and how dangerous an aircraft it could be. He shows his human side by explaining his fears of crashing and dying, and you are left with an overwhelming sense of a great guy with bucket loads of skill and common sense in equal measure that was trying to whip the RAF into some sort of organised state. This is an enormous book covering Tonys long and distinguished flying career, and it is worth every penny as it is one of those books you just won't be able to put down.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • KM
    5.0 out of 5 stars A pilot's story for pilots
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 7, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Flying at the Edge is a detailed account of Tony Doyle's flying and ground tour experiences in the Cold War era. Tony was obviously a masterly instructor, and successful formation and solo fighter display pilot in the RAF, whose history is absorbing to those of us who were his successors as pilots on JPs, Gnats and Lightnings. His views on the handling of aircraft types that he flew are very insightul, but his numerous accounts of his frustrations with the hierarchy he encountered makes grim reading. His analysis of the state of the UK's defence capability in the era provides food for thought. He wrote a seminal briefing on display aerobatic techniques for fast jet pilots that was very influential, while his admission of the effects on him of the stress of flying low level aerobatics revealed the human being behind the Iron Man image.
    In all, this autobiography shows a highly motivated, skilled, strong willed, principled and analytic personality who did not suffer fools - at all. While 'Flying at the Edge' is an appropriate title for the book, given his numerous near misses with the Upper Ranks, and the ground, I would suggest that 'Pushing his Luck' would have been equally appropriate.
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  • Christine NEARY
    4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting history lesson of the Air Force Post WWII throughout the cold war
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 8, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    My own career as an Early Warning RADAR technician from 70 to 83 and a BAE Rapier technical advisor for SOAF from 83-87, It was a good read. My uncle flew as Aircrew during the war rose to the rank of Flt/Lt during the cold war after flying Meteors, F86/4's and latterly the Vulcan. I thoroughly enjoyed this book as it gave me differing aspects of a life I loved. The writing had some duplications but overall aspects of humour and tension made it a good read.
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  • G. M. Hedger
    5.0 out of 5 stars Quite simply one of the best books I have ever read.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 10, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    As an aviation nut and PPL pilot, I love anything regarding aviation and have read literally 100's of books over the years. This one, however, stands out for a variety of reasons, one of which is the author's style. There's bags of amusement, not a little controversy and a personal insight into the RAF and it's 'Old boy's network' that often made my teeth clench.
    Tony Doyle seems like one of 'us', rather than one of 'them' and he isn't afraid to say what he thinks, including a fair sprinkling of colourful phrases which made me smile or even laugh out loud.
    One or two of his experiences, I can relate to myself (having spent some time in the Middle East) and I found myself nodding in sympathy at a number of stories he has to tell.
    A great book and one that I will, most certainly, read again.
    And again.
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  • Skyepeter
    3.0 out of 5 stars A good read spoilt
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 9, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Could have been so much better if the author had concentrated more on the flying and less on the personal battles he fought during his service.
    As someone who served in the RAF around the same period I can agree that he makes some valid criticisms, but the amount of print devoted to the battles he had and enemies he made spoilt an otherwise interesting read. It came across more as a crusade to right some wrongs and expose a few of his critics than an account of his accomplished flying career.
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  • Mr P Jobling
    5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommend
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 9, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I've read a few books by both civilian and military pilots, the description of flying the aircraft and the time off duty varies but Mr Doyle has written the best yet in my opinion. Highly detailed descriptions of his experiences learning to fly, operating, instruction upon and displaying various types including the legendary Lighting. Also brief insights into service life around the UK and further afield. This is a long book and I spent many weeks of late evening spells never tiring of the next step in his story.
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