The Royal Flying: A Pictorial History

2017 | Transportation

When the King's Flight was officially formed in 1936, passenger flying was very much in its infancy. Creating the Royal Flight under the Master of Horses Department was a most innovative action by King Edward VIII, although members of the Royal Family had enjoyed a passion for flying over many years, almost since the dawn of aviation. During a visit to Paris in 1909, King Edward VII met the Wright Brothers and watched them demonstrate their new 'Flying Aircraft'. In order to facilitate flying members of the Royal Family, the Royal Air Force officially allocated a series of specific aircraft for these duties. The very first was Bristol Fighter J8430, which in 1928 was fitted with a specially modified rear cockpit for VVIP flying, although the cockpit was still very much open to the elements. Later, a special 'Flight' was established with five Bristol Fighters, two Avro 504s and two de Havilland Moths - all annotated 'For Special Service'. Over the years of operations, the King's and Queen's Flight have operated an interesting variety of aircraft and helicopters, many of them of British design and manufacture.

Their visits to a wide number of locations provided an excellent opportunity to promote British aviation, and a number of orders were received from airlines around the globe as an indirect result of their usage with the Royal Flight. This book covers a pictorial history of royal flying - not just the King's and Queen's Flight, but also the much wider subject of royal flying, including the Duke of Edinburgh's, Prince Charles's and Prince William's military and civilian flying activities. The book is profusely illustrated with images from a variety of sources, many of them previously unpublished, all supported with a concise but thorough text.

Keith Wilson (Author)