As the author said in his preview “strap yourself in the jump seat” and let Scot Gibson (the main person in this book ) fly you around the world. And that is what this book is all about. You fly with Scot during his active career as a pilot in so many different planes and different disciplines that it also a book for non aviators who are interested in the aviation world.
It starts with an exciting story in which “Sunshine”, the nickname of Scot, is trying to bring his Beech 18 safely back to his departure airport with one engine on fire. Not a good situation! And that is the main red line: the book contains stories of his adventures in the air with a broad variety of planes and situations including flying B-29 SuperFortress, Boeing Clipper Seaplane, C-47 (Dakota), Piper Pawnee and many more types ending his active career with a hair raising flight in a Twin Pioneer on a rescue mission.
I am still not sure whether it is a biography or fiction but the stories are very realistic and written as if the author witnessed the flights from the jump seat. A few notes however should be said. Scot is a heavy drinker and the Scotch is always present in and outside the cockpit. A little unrealistic but maybe not in those days. But okay he survives every time so we forgive him. In the chapter “Long Haul” Scot is flying his Twin Pioneer single handed from Kuala Lumpur to Prestwick (Scotland) in the UK a very long flight taking 16 flying days, which is a great adventure on its own. I am sure he encountered many unexpected technical problems and situations with his plane and with the authorities of the different countries he visited and that could be very interesting reading also. But this chapter contained only a list of the flight itinerary and that is a pity.
Sunshine is flying many different types with many different companies (warplanes, seaplanes, crop dusting, ferry flights, freight charters) and the technicalities are fine and correct (the author must be a pilot too or at least very well informed) but a little bit more details about the flight characteristics of each plane especially the B-29 would have been interesting for the reader.
But saying this, the book is exciting, smooth and enjoyable reading and gives the reader an adventurous even sometimes hilarious insight in the aviation world. Heartily recommended.
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