Aviation Including Airships

Bert Hinkler [Pioneer Aviator] Centenary Medal 1892-1992

Born at Bundaberg, Queensland in 1892, Bert Hinkler would become one of the World’s greatest pioneer aviators.

He completed the first solo flight from England to Australia in February 1928. In that year, a medal was struck to recognise that feat. He went on to be the first to fly across the Southern Atlantic but sadly died in aircraft crash in Italy in 1933.

This medal is a replica of the 1928 medal, and it was produced as a souvenir of the centenary of his birth.

Still in its original velvet covered box it measures 40mm across and 33gm with high relief to both sides. Displays a head and shoulders portrait of the great man in his flying cap of the day and on the reverse a nice map representing the flight – the narrative noting it was completed in 16 days.

Hard to find, for some reason, we do not know who struck the medal.

Bert Hinkler outstanding Australian pioneer aviator

$70.00

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Autobiography of Australia’s Great Aviator – Sir Gordon Taylor – First Edition

A particularly good copy of the first edition of this desirable autobiography published by Cassell in 1963.

Subtitled – “A famous aviator’s personal story of pioneering aviation: 1916 to 1951”.

Octavo, 366 pages, illustrated from period photographs.

Gordan Taylor (1896-1966) was one of those adventurous Aussies, one of the few that flew in WWI – he won the Military Cross [the Air Force was part of the Army in those days]. So, his story starts in 1916 at the age of twenty. On return to Australia, he pursued his passion for flying with vigour – teaming up with Charles Kingsford-Smith there are many adventures. One of which saw him out of the aircraft [Southern Cross] over the Tasman Sea shifting oil from one engine to the other, in a thermos flask, in order to make terra firma.

Lots more.

Gordon Taylor – one of the great pioneering aviation heroes

$90.00

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U.F.O – Evaluating the Evidence – Bill Yenne

Who doesn’t like a good U.F.O book?

Published by Saraband, USA in 1997. Largish quarto, 160 pages, with a multitude of UFO images and related … corny UFO designed end paper … we like them. Nibble on dust jacket otherwise very good. A bit too big for economical Overseas postage.

The author is an aviation / space ex buff so the UFO interested is a related spin off [joke intended]. Some really good stuff in here as well as the usual “cover up” … not sure why government is so obsessed with hiding the truth about UFO … they may be friendly ….

UFO explained – lots of them – look up next time you are out!

$35.00

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Sir Hubert Wilkins – His World of Adventure – Lowell Thomas

Unusual publishing disclosure … by the Readers Books Club, by arrangement with Arthur Baker, London in 1963. However, actually published in Australia by Colorgravure Publications, Hawthorn Melbourne. A pretty good copy a little age but clean and a nice jacket. Discrete prior ownership stamp on paste down.

Octavo, 247 pages, illustrated with numerous images from photographs of our hero and his endeavours.

This is a late book by, the prolific American traveller, Lowell Thomas who made his name writing about Lawrence of Arabia of whom he also made newsreel which he used as a basis for his sell out lectures in the USA and England – Covent Garden no less – and for months sold out.

After all that we have little room left for Hubert Wilkins, Australia’s greatest ever adventurer in our mind. There are some modern publications on Wilkins and we suggest they are largely based on this book. Lowell Thomas has come in for some criticism re exaggeration [also happened re his work on Lawrence] – we suggest only because the critics struggle with the breadth and depth of the subject character

Lowell Thomas on Hubert Wilkins – we are true believers.

$35.00

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Early Aviation at Farnborough – The First Aeroplanes – Percy Walker

A particularly good to better copy of this stand out book on the very first aeroplanes.

First edition published by MacDonald, London in 1974. Quarto, 375 pages, littered with images from original photographs and diagrams of these first in the air machines. Still has its original pictorial slipcase. A heavy book not really suitable fro Overseas.

Described as Volume II as there was an earlier book on balloons etc but generally seen separately as they carry different interests.

Naturally, we start with the Wright Brothers. Colonel Caper visits the US in 1904 to see the Wright Brothers and Samual Langley – Negotiations takes place, but they are frustrated. In 1906 further approaches are made – more rejections. Cody moves on [first without engines] and the first machine is ready in October 1908. It works and we are in the air. There is some mystery along the way – the odd hoax – the odd tree gets in the way – but generally speaking we are off and running – well “flying”!

If it’s Farnborough, then it’s Flying.

$80.00

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Solo to Sydney [From London in a Single Engine Aircraft] – Francis Chichester.

This edition published by Conway Maritime Press, Greenwich in 1982. Octavo, 208 pages, loads of illustrations, map, table of flight times / distance per sector. Very good condition, excuse the gift inscription front ends.

This book was originally published in 1930 immediately after Chichester had flown solo from London to Sydney in a single engine aircraft.

A thoroughly readable account and twenty-three sectors leads to a lot of adventure and colour along the way.

Francis Chichester in the air before the sea …

$30.00

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Bert Hinkler [Pioneer Aviator] Centenary Medal 1892-1992

Autobiography of Australia’s Great Aviator – Sir Gordon Taylor – First Edition

U.F.O – Evaluating the Evidence – Bill Yenne

Sir Hubert Wilkins – His World of Adventure – Lowell Thomas

Early Aviation at Farnborough – The First Aeroplanes – Percy Walker

Solo to Sydney [From London in a Single Engine Aircraft] – Francis Chichester.

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