This website is reader-supported. When you click a link and buy something, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

< Overview >

Civil aviation - Great Britain: books - companies and airports

A book on the civil aviation in Britain? Explore here our selection of illustrated books on the history of British airports and airlines.


Britain's Imperial Air Routes 1918-1939

Pictures the growth of British civil air transport from its inception in 1910 through to the formation of Imperial Airways in 1934 and the beginnings of British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC).

Robin Higham shows the impetus given to aircraft production by the First World War, and presents a careful account of the operational and financial fortunes of each of the four principal British airlines, which began operations shortly thereafter.
The fight against official apathy and lack of foresight on the part of the government, the campaign for subsidies and the struggle with foreign competition are interestingly presented.

The development of the chosen-instrument concept in Great Britain is interestingly covered and the use of subsidies in this connection justified in order to place civil aviation on a firm financial base for the establishment of a great British airline to serve the Empire.
The result was Imperial Airways, which soon found itself in the awkward position of being expected to be both a successful commercial company and the chosen instrument of imperial policy.

The final emergence of British Overseas Airways was the result, and its organisation marks the close of the period covered in this volume. Included in the book are comprehensive statistical appendices and a complete bibliography.

Author:Robin Higham
Specs:384 pages, 23.5 x 15.5 cm / 9.25 x 6.1 in, hardback
Illustrations:74 b&w photographs
Publisher:Fonthill Media (GB, 2015)
EAN:9781781553701
Book: Britain's Imperial Air Routes 1918-1939

Britain's Imperial Air Routes 1918-1939

Language: English

Buy from Amazon UK
Buy from Amazon CA
Buy from Amazon.com

Born of Adversity - Britains Airlines 1919-1963

An intriguing blend of heroic endeavour and epic mismanagement, the history of British civil aviation reflects our nation's strengths and weaknesses and, above all, the muddle in the politics and policies.

This book helps steer you through them, as it tells of Imperial Airways, the wartime experiences of BOAC and the small internal airlines, the creation of BEA after the war, and the short-lived British South American Airways, the importance of aircraft manufacturers like Avro and de Havilland, the Berlin Airlift, and the indomitable rise of the private airlines, and their champions like Freddie Laker and Harold Bamberg, as they forced their way centre stage to share the limelight with the government owned corporations.

Author:Guy Halford-Macleod
Specs:208 pages, 25 x 17 x 1.3 cm / 9.8 x 6.7 x 0.51 in, paperback
Illustrations:illustrated
Publisher:Amberley Publishing (GB, 2014)
EAN:9781848689930
Book: Born of Adversity - Britains Airlines 1919-1963

Born of Adversity - Britains Airlines 1919-1963

Language: English

Buy from Amazon UK
Buy from Amazon CA
Buy from Amazon.com

Gone but Not Forgotten : Defunct British Airlines Since 1945

In post-war Britain, several small airlines were founded and equipped with surplus military aircraft, the most popular being the Douglas Dakota. The British airliners we see today in our airports are the result of numerous takeovers and mergers, involving large and small companies.
This book covers some of these airlines that have ceased operating since 1946: some collapsed because of financial difficulties, some were taken over by larger airlines, and some ceased operating altogether.

The book is a guide to each airline, accompanied by a brief historical account, and interesting images of the aircraft in their distinctive colour schemes.
The airlines covered are a selection of large and small aircraft, who flew international and regional routes, as well as airlines involved in inclusive tours business.

Author:Alan Phillips
Specs:128 pages, 25 x 17 x 1.3 cm / 9.8 x 6.7 x 0.51 in, paperback
Illustrations:profusely illustrated
Publisher:Fonthill Media (GB, 2017)
EAN:9781781556276
Book: Gone but Not Forgotten : Defunct British Airlines Since 1945

Gone but Not Forgotten : Defunct British Airlines Since 1945

Language: English

Buy from Amazon UK
Buy from Amazon CA
Buy from Amazon.com

Commercial Aviation in Britain in the 1970s

In the decades leading up to 1970s, passenger air transport was the preserve of the well-to-do who flew on airliners driven by propellers. Over the next few years all this was about to change. The passenger air transport industry underwent a great transformation with the introduction of many innovations that established the foundations for today.
The state airlines, BEA and BOAC, were merged to form British Airways in 1972. Throughout the decade they were far and away the most important operator of scheduled services in the country. To provide competition, however, the independent carrier British Caledonian was created.

The first Boeing 747 jumbo jet was delivered to BOAC in 1970. This widebody airliner enabled fares to be reduced and opened up air travel to many people who could not previously afford it.
Laker Airways pioneered the concept of the low cost airline. It was the only British independent airline to operate a wide-bodied jet in the form of the DC-10 until British Caledonian received two examples in 1977.
Most of the other British independent airlines had to make do with a motley collection of old airliners, many of them turboprops.
The charter and holiday market was the main market for a large number of these carriers. They were regular visitors to the main airports throughout Britain, particularly at weekends.

In this book, Malcolm Fife uses his excellent collection of colour photographs to illustrate the airliners in commercial use that could be seen at airports during the 1970s.

Author:Malcolm Fife
Specs:96 pages, 23.5 x 16.5 cm / 9.25 x 6.5 in, paperback
Illustrations:180 colour photographs
Publisher:Amberley Publishing (GB, 2016)
EAN:9781445653037
Book: Commercial Aviation in Britain in the 1970s

Commercial Aviation in Britain in the 1970s

Language: English

Buy from Amazon UK
Buy from Amazon CA
Buy from Amazon.com

Heathrow Airport Manual (1929 onwards) - Designing, building and operating the world's busiest international airport

Fully authorised and supported by Heathrow, the Haynes Heathrow Airport Manual takes the reader behind the scenes of the world's busiest airport, investigating all aspects of its organisation. The author covers airport management, runways, terminals, air traffic control and airport operations, including fuelling, baggage services, freight, passenger services, retail, engineering, emergency services, ground transportation systems, security, meteorology, simulator training and telecommunications. This is a fascinating subject, ripe for the Haynes Manual treatment.

Pages of the book Heathrow Airport Manual (1929 onwards) (1)

Author:Robert Wicks
Specs:160 pages, 28 x 21.5 x 1.5 cm / 11 x 8.5 x 0.59 in, hardback
Illustrations:15 b&w and 235 colour photographs
Publisher:Haynes Publishing (GB, 2016)
EAN:9780857338433
Book: Heathrow Airport Manual (1929 onwards) - Designing, building and operating the world's busiest international airport

Heathrow Airport Manual (1929 onwards) - Designing, building and operating the world's busiest international airport

Language: English

Buy from Amazon UK
Buy from Amazon CA
Buy from Amazon.com

Related titles:

British Airways - An Illustrated History

British Airways - An Illustrated History

Paul Jarvis

English | paperback | 160 p. | 2014

Air Atlantique

Air Atlantique

Charles Woodley

English | paperback | 96 p. | 2021

British Midland Airways

British Midland Airways

Charles Woodley

English | paperback | 96 p. | 2022

Speedbird - The Complete History of BOAC

Speedbird - The Complete History of BOAC

Robin Higham

English | hardback | 512 p. | 2013

History of British European Airways : 1946 - 1972

History of British European Airways : 1946 - 1972

Charles Woodley

English | paperback | 208 p. | 2016

< Top >



Last update:27-03-2024