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The Sky Beyond
hardcover autobiography - lots of black and white photos
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1963
3 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
Patrick Gordon Taylor
8 books1 followerPatrick Gordon Taylor was an Australian aviator and author. He was born at Mosman, Sydney, and died in Honolulu.
Taylor attended The Armidale School in northern New South Wales. At the beginning of the First World War he applied to join the Australian Flying Corps but was rejected. He subsequently went to Britain and was commissioned into the Royal Flying Corps in 1916, joining No. 66 Squadron. He was awarded the Military Cross in 1917 and promoted to Captain, also serving with Nos. 94 and 88 Squadrons.
Following the war he returned to Australia and embarked on a career in civil aviation, working as a private pilot and for de Havilland Aircraft Company in the 1920s. He flew as a captain with Australian National Airways 1930-1931. He also completed an engineering course and studied aerial navigation. He served as second pilot or navigator on pioneering flights with Charles Kingsford Smith, Charles Ulm and others. In 1943 he was commissioned flying officer in the Royal Australian Air Force, transferring to the Royal Air Force in 1944.
During the 1935 Australia-New Zealand airmail flight with Charles Kingsford Smith, the starboard engine failed and the crew decided to return to Sydney, where the aircraft was buffeted by strong winds. It was decided that fuel and cargo must be jettisoned. During these conditions, Taylor made six journeys outside the cabin of the Southern Cross, climbing along the under-wing strut to drain the oil from the useless motor and transfer this to the overheating port motor. Taylor's actions, with the addition of Smith's flying skills, resulted in the plane making its way back to land safely. Taylor was later awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal for his actions, which was later exchanged for the George Cross. During the Second World War Captain Taylor served as a ferry pilot with the ATA. Taylor was knighted in 1954
Taylor attended The Armidale School in northern New South Wales. At the beginning of the First World War he applied to join the Australian Flying Corps but was rejected. He subsequently went to Britain and was commissioned into the Royal Flying Corps in 1916, joining No. 66 Squadron. He was awarded the Military Cross in 1917 and promoted to Captain, also serving with Nos. 94 and 88 Squadrons.
Following the war he returned to Australia and embarked on a career in civil aviation, working as a private pilot and for de Havilland Aircraft Company in the 1920s. He flew as a captain with Australian National Airways 1930-1931. He also completed an engineering course and studied aerial navigation. He served as second pilot or navigator on pioneering flights with Charles Kingsford Smith, Charles Ulm and others. In 1943 he was commissioned flying officer in the Royal Australian Air Force, transferring to the Royal Air Force in 1944.
During the 1935 Australia-New Zealand airmail flight with Charles Kingsford Smith, the starboard engine failed and the crew decided to return to Sydney, where the aircraft was buffeted by strong winds. It was decided that fuel and cargo must be jettisoned. During these conditions, Taylor made six journeys outside the cabin of the Southern Cross, climbing along the under-wing strut to drain the oil from the useless motor and transfer this to the overheating port motor. Taylor's actions, with the addition of Smith's flying skills, resulted in the plane making its way back to land safely. Taylor was later awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal for his actions, which was later exchanged for the George Cross. During the Second World War Captain Taylor served as a ferry pilot with the ATA. Taylor was knighted in 1954
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 25, 2011
An excellent book about the experiences of an aviation pioneer in war and peace. Beautifully written, this is surely a classic of aviation literature.
April 19, 2025
Thoughts on The Sky Beyond by Sir Gordon Taylor.
Off I went joyfully down another aviation rabbit hole at the top of the year which culminated, somehow, in purchasing this particular book off someone on eBay.
I thought it might be intensely interesting as an historical travelogue (my favourite) and for an aviation infodump. It turned out also to be wildly exhilarating, poetic and philosophical. The author’s frequent descriptions of his private enjoyment and refuge in the place beyond the currents of earthly realities poured over my soul like a tempering salve. Each moment was more delicious than the last.
“We had passed beyond earth and no longer belonged with any world. Solitude was absolute, but inhabited by the fundamental source of life. There was no life itself, nor death, nor any passing state, but only eternity without time, distance, nor any dimensions. There was no aircraft with engines and propellers thrusting their way through the air- and no crew. I was momentarily conscious only of the source of all things of which we were part. Here in this new sky, colored with strangely beautiful lights, was the revelation which could not be named or expressed in terms of reason, but only as a sublime consciousness which I recognized, in its fulness, as something which before had touched me with a quick impression in the solitudes of the air. “
Off I went joyfully down another aviation rabbit hole at the top of the year which culminated, somehow, in purchasing this particular book off someone on eBay.
I thought it might be intensely interesting as an historical travelogue (my favourite) and for an aviation infodump. It turned out also to be wildly exhilarating, poetic and philosophical. The author’s frequent descriptions of his private enjoyment and refuge in the place beyond the currents of earthly realities poured over my soul like a tempering salve. Each moment was more delicious than the last.
“We had passed beyond earth and no longer belonged with any world. Solitude was absolute, but inhabited by the fundamental source of life. There was no life itself, nor death, nor any passing state, but only eternity without time, distance, nor any dimensions. There was no aircraft with engines and propellers thrusting their way through the air- and no crew. I was momentarily conscious only of the source of all things of which we were part. Here in this new sky, colored with strangely beautiful lights, was the revelation which could not be named or expressed in terms of reason, but only as a sublime consciousness which I recognized, in its fulness, as something which before had touched me with a quick impression in the solitudes of the air. “
March 10, 2019
Good read about pioneering aviation in Australia.
October 24, 2017
Wow! What an interesting read. Very enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews