Open Cockpit Over Africa

by Victor Smith

This intimate account of what it was like to fly open-cockpit, single engined aircraft over the length and breadth of primitive Africa in the early 1930's has been written by one of the pioneers of the African air-routes, Victor Smith.

Smith is in fact the last of that intrepid breed of pilots who risked their lives, and their machines, in a determined bid to open up the "Darkest Continent" - and to reduce traveling times between Africa and Europe.

Genres: Africa

232 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2001

Reviews

[Matt Raubenheimer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intimate and personal account of aviation's pioneering days from a close to home perspective for me. Some Raubenheimer relatives are even mentioned a few times. Aviators in those days certainly had nothing easy.

[Michael Maddams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply one of the best autobiographical accounts of inter-war flying and adventure. What this man went through is remarkable. Unfortunately this book is jolly hard to find and I wish every aviation enthusiast had a copy.

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read about true pioneers of flight. An open cockpit across the dark continent. No Radar. No Radio. No GPS. Flying by compass and landmarks, where it was safer to fly at night by the light of the full moon.

I really enjoyed this book though in era of modern flight had to remind myself of just what a monumental feat it was to fly a plane without any modcons!