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Test Pilot: An Extraordinary Career Testing Civil Aircraft Kindle Edition

by Chris Taylor (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 125 ratings
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An elite test pilot recounts his life on the cutting-edge of aviation, flying everything from homebuilt airplanes to helicopters and fighter jets.

Over his long career as a licensed Category 1 test pilot and flight test instructor for both airplanes and helicopters, Chris Taylor has flown an astonishing 400 different aircraft. He is arguably one of the best qualified and widely experienced test pilots in the world. Now he shares the literal ups and downs of aviation testing, putting readers in the cockpit.

Chris began his service flying career with the Royal Navy, piloting Wasp and Lynx helicopters from warships around. After five years instructing, he became a test pilot flying experimental aircraft for research and development purposes, before returning to the Empire Test Pilot’s School as a tutor. Having served at Boscombe Down for 10 years, he joined the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority as an airplane and rotorcraft test pilot. With the closure of the CAA’s Flight Test Department, he went on to form his own company and has continued to test fly a wide variety of aircraft ever since.

In this eventful memoir, Chris covers general aviation aircraft, including testing homebuilt airplanes, helicopters and autogyros. He also discusses testing ex-military jets and warbirds such as the Fieseler Storch, Sea Fury, Spitfire and the Mustang.
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  1. Print length
    498 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Air World
  5. Publication date
    April 6, 2022
  6. File size
    41979 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a fascinating and highly readable book."
Aviation History Magazine

"...provides a good overview of flight-testing challenges."
Air & Space Power History

"Chris tells his tales like he talks; modestly but amusingly, describing in detail what he sees and experiences. It’s as if the reader is sitting on a bar stool, drink close by, while being regaled with amusingly gripping stories of flight test derring-do. "
Cockpit Magazine

"...[Taylor] writes so well of his experiences, combining suitably explained detail of the sometimes 'hairy' moments of test flying with a good story line, the whole observed with gloriously British wit."
Aeroplane

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09WSHT5Z4
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Air World (April 6, 2022)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 6, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 41979 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 498 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 125 ratings

About the author

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Chris Taylor

Chris Taylor

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Having wanted to be a pilot for as long as he can remember, Chris Taylor gained his private pilot’s licence at the age of seventeen. He joined the Royal Navy whilst studying for a degree in Electrical Engineering and, after serving as a Navigation Officer on numerous ships, went onto to operate Wasp and Lynx helicopters, flying in all weathers from frigates deployed worldwide. After five years instructing he became a Test Pilot and flew all manner of experimental aircraft for research and development purposes before returning to the Empire Test Pilot’s School as a Tutor. Having served at Boscombe Down for ten years he joined the UK Civil Aviation Authority as an aeroplane and rotorcraft test pilot. With the closure of the CAA’s Flight Test Department he formed Dovetail Aviation Ltd and has continued to test fly a wide variety of aircraft ever since.

Chris has flown four hundred different kinds of aircraft, is a Fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and is a licensed Category 1 Test Pilot and Flight Test Instructor for both aeroplanes and helicopters, which arguably makes him one of the best qualified and most widely experienced test pilots working today. Additionally he finds time to be a Helicopter Examiner and Instructor for helicopters, aeroplanes and autogyros.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
125 global ratings
A fun, insightful, and fascinating read about an extraordinary flying career
5 Stars
A fun, insightful, and fascinating read about an extraordinary flying career
Chris Taylor's Test Pilot is a book I would recommend to anyone with an interest in aviation - civil or military. Chris' career spans decades and has flown over 400 different types of aircraft, including helicopters and gyroplanes. His writing style is informative while also being humorous - several times I literally laughed out loud - not something you'd expect from a book about a test pilot. The book is written in stand-alone chapters that focus on a particular aircraft or type of flying, so you can pick it up at any time and read for a few minutes. Whether you are pilot yourself or just interested in the art and science that is test flying aircraft, there is something here for you. 5 out of 5 stars and looking forward to his next book!
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Top reviews from the United States

Stephen J Beaver
5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2023
Verified Purchase
A very enjoyable book with an unusual combination interesting (semi) technical content and a fluid, amusing writing style. Hard to find a better value at $3 on the Kindle store!
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Amazon4Life
5.0 out of 5 stars A fun, insightful, and fascinating read about an extraordinary flying career
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2022
Verified Purchase
Chris Taylor's Test Pilot is a book I would recommend to anyone with an interest in aviation - civil or military. Chris' career spans decades and has flown over 400 different types of aircraft, including helicopters and gyroplanes. His writing style is informative while also being humorous - several times I literally laughed out loud - not something you'd expect from a book about a test pilot. The book is written in stand-alone chapters that focus on a particular aircraft or type of flying, so you can pick it up at any time and read for a few minutes. Whether you are pilot yourself or just interested in the art and science that is test flying aircraft, there is something here for you. 5 out of 5 stars and looking forward to his next book!
Customer image
Amazon4Life
5.0 out of 5 stars A fun, insightful, and fascinating read about an extraordinary flying career
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2022
Chris Taylor's Test Pilot is a book I would recommend to anyone with an interest in aviation - civil or military. Chris' career spans decades and has flown over 400 different types of aircraft, including helicopters and gyroplanes. His writing style is informative while also being humorous - several times I literally laughed out loud - not something you'd expect from a book about a test pilot. The book is written in stand-alone chapters that focus on a particular aircraft or type of flying, so you can pick it up at any time and read for a few minutes. Whether you are pilot yourself or just interested in the art and science that is test flying aircraft, there is something here for you. 5 out of 5 stars and looking forward to his next book!
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent read for anyone with a passion for aviation
Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2023
Chris does a wonderful job of providing his professional development as a flight test pilot as well as insight to the safety aspects flight test pilots faces to confirm product safety for the aviation community. Chris has done a wonderful job of writing to take you into the cockpit with him during these flight tests. Every pilot should read to give them confidence the design they are flying has been thoroughly tested to its limits. Every aviation enthusiast should read to gain insight into the highly regulated aviation industry and the risks flight test pilots take to make it a safe one. Thank you Chris, for writing this book.
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LarryO
4.0 out of 5 stars Great story
Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2023
Verified Purchase
I like the sarcastic tone.
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Paul F. Dye
5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining and Educational!
Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2022
Chris Taylor has that wonderful combination of dry British wit and understatement that makes a book a pleasure to read. His accomplishments are many, yet he writes as if he is just a working pilot going to do various jobs - the fact that the “jobs” are fight testing entirely new aircraft is where the understatement comes in. This book should be required reading for anyone setting out to test a new airplane because it is a catalog of the many things that can catch one unawares, while subtlety education one on the best way to handle problems and stay alive while bringing the machine back to fly again. And even if you’;re not interested in flying there’s kinds of machines yourself, the stories are just outstanding and flat out funny! A marvelous read.
One person found this helpful
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Brendan C.
3.0 out of 5 stars Not the kind of Test Pilot you imagine.
Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2023
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A mediocre read.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

raf
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful stories
Reviewed in Canada on November 29, 2022
Verified Purchase
If you want to know what a test pilot life looks like, read it. Amazing stories with a funny style that make you part of the adventure. At some points, I feel that happened to me, light aircraft flight testing is so much fun and stressful!!!
Thank you Chris 👍🏼
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Anthony Wilson
5.0 out of 5 stars One of a great trilogy of books by Chris Taylor
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 29, 2024
Verified Purchase
The excellent trilogy of books by Chris Taylor covers his early experiences as a Royal Navy seaman officer and later Wasp and Lynx helicopter pilot, his experiences later as a trainee Test Pilot at then as an experimental Test Pilot at the Empire Test Pilots School Boscombe Down on a wide range of fixed wing aircraft and helicopters. Then, in this third book, he covers his experiences as an aeroplane and rotorcraft test pilot with the Civil Aviation Authority and later with his own private company. All three books give a wide and absorbing insight into what has lead to the ever increasing reliability and safety of flying today. Thoroughly recommended.
One person found this helpful
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Johann Emmanuel Thiveyrat
5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring author, and book, to make general aviation safer
Reviewed in France on July 31, 2022
Verified Purchase
Good stories, the right amount of technical details and humor. Inspiring for everyone who's interested in flight testing. Show the way of a career outside of the big aircraft manufacturers spotlights, just to serve the aviation community. Looking forward to reading the next volume?
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Leandro Bigarella
5.0 out of 5 stars A lifetime experience!
Reviewed in Germany on June 8, 2022
Verified Purchase
For those who have worked in Flight Test, this book brings really funny stories and situations that no one would ever believe!
I have worked personally with Chris Taylor and can tell that he is such a great character and his experience as a Test Pilot is almost unmatchable!
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David Ostler
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book
Reviewed in Australia on February 4, 2024
Verified Purchase
Wonderful read, I was going to read a little bit each evening but ended up reading it all in one weekend I enjoyed it so much. It struck a beautiful balance between telling interesting stories about Chris' flight test career and providing insights that are of value to the professional test pilot. I highly recommend this book and based on my experience I am off to read his other books.
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