The Years Flew Past: 40 Years at the Leading Edge of Aviation

by Roland Beamont

Bee Beamont has deservedly won the reputation of being one of Britain's greatest pilots. This book includes his reminiscences and observations of forty years flying at the leading edge of high-speed flight. At the age of twenty-two Bee commanded No 609 Squadron equipped with the Hawker Typhoon. In 1944 he formed No 150 Wing, equipped with the Hawker Tempest fighter. In the final months of WWII a new design team was set up at English Electric to create the first British jet bomber. Bee, as Chief Test Pilot, was the first man to fly the Canberra through all stages of its development. Then Britain's first and only supersonic fighter, the Lightening, appeared on the scene. Bee soon found himself at Mach 2 exploring the boundaries of space. This book also includes some of his remarkable experiences test-flying the TSr 2. From 1965 to 1978, Bee became heavily involved with the design, manufacture and introduction of the Panavia Tornado.

192 pages, Hardcover

First published April 9, 2005