In his short life Derry became known for his brilliance as a test pilot, and was loved and respected for his personal qualities. In this authoritative biography the authors trace his life story, and the part he played in a thrilling era of aviation. At the end of the Second World War, John Derry was the commanding officer of 182 Squadron, flying Hawker Tempest fighters, and then joined the Central Fighter Establishment as the RAF entered the jet age with the Gloster Meteor. Within six years he had become one of Britainrsquo;s foremost test and demonstration pilots.On September 6, 1948, John Derry became the first pilot in Britain to fly faster than the speed of sound. Exactly four years later he died tragically as his experimental prototype DH110 jet broke up in the air at the Farnborough Air Show, in full view of 120,000 spectators. In this authoritative biography the authors trace Derryrsquo;s life story and the part he played in a thrilling era of aviation. They reveal how he became known for his brilliance as a test pilot, but was also loved and respected for his personal qualities.
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Annie Bullen is a journalist who writes on a broad range of subjects and is the author of Charles and Camilla Royal Wedding Souvenir. She has written guides on Britain's most historic cities, and biographies on famous British writers. Bullen also runs a specialist plant nursery and enjoys visiting historic buildings, walking in Britain's national parks, reading, looking at paintings, and cooking.
Brian Rivas worked initially as a newspaper journalist on the Basingstoke Gazette before a career change to the hi-fi business; he lives in Somerset.
