The Race for Speed

Since the beginning of manned flight, both racing and record-breaking feats have played a prominent part of the aviation scene, each activity stimulating and contributing significantly to the development of new aeroplane and engine projects. After the Second World War, the British aerospace industry boomed. It was a time when its designs, innovations and new aircraft developments led the world. It in this exciting post-war period, air racing resumed. Pre- war competitions were reinstated, and major new races were introduced. It was from this scene that six highly enthusiastic, extremely competitive, and fiercely driven racing pilots emerged: Nat Somers, Tony Cole, Geoffrey Alington, Fred Dunkerley, Jimmy Rush and Ron Paine. Three of the six had served in the RAF during the Second World War. One individual became a Vickers apprentice – an engineer who frequently suggested ways in which to get the best speeds out of all their aircraft, often by employing ingenious methods. One individual gained his experience as a Chief Test Pilot flying Fairey Battle’s, Hawker Hurricane’s, Short Stirling’s, and Avro Lancaster’s. Three individuals were already highly successful entrepreneurs. One later owned Panshanger and Southampton airport’s and went on to develop the Somers-Kendall SK-1 two-seat jet with the Chief Test Pilot for Handley Page. Another owned cotton mills and was awarded the OBE for services to the cotton industry; he collaborated with F.G. Miles Limited to modify the Sparrowhawk into the highly successful Sparrow jet. Both aircraft would rank among some of history’s most important civil private racing designs. What united the six men the most, though, was their unrelenting pursuit of speed. Such was their love of competitive flying and their ‘need for speed’, that they later went on to form the Throttle Benders Union. In this book the author delves into the details of these six aviators, as well as the inclusion of two later members to the TBU. From the early days learning to fly, through to their competitive racing careers, and touching upon their very varied and exciting working careers, this book reveals their achievements and many of their hair-raising adventures.

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