WRIGHT TO FLY – CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF POWERED FLIGHT

Wright to Fly is the third volume in RAFBFE’s acclaimed series of top-quality aviation art and history of flight books. It follows Brace by Wire to Fly-by-Wire (80 Years of the RAF) and Sabre to Stealth (50 Years of the USAF), with its mix of fine paintings by world-renowned aviation artists and authoritative text. Wright to fly details many of the people, aircraft and events that have shaped the amazing story of powered flight in the century since the Wright brothers made the first successful flight on 17 December 1903.

Over 100 quality paintings, twelve of them specially commissioned for the book, illustrate the enormous strides that have been made, from the flimsy wood and fabric aircraft of the earliest years, through the powerful piston-engined fighters and bombers of World War II, the stealthy jets of more recent times and the Concorde supersonic airliner, to shuttle – flight into space. Wright to fly celebrates 100 years of powered flight in a colourful and memorable volume.

Cover painting: Wright to fly, specially commissioned and painted for this book by Wilfred Hardy GAvA depicts the Wright Flyer I, a Supermarine Spitfire, BAC/Aerospatiale Concorde, B-2 Spirit and a Space Shuttle launch.

Peter R March :

Is a leading aviation author and photojournalist. He has contributed a monthly column to Aircraft Illustrated for over 30 years and also writes a column for the Pilot magazine. Since 1979 he has prepared over 40 books for Ian Allan’s ABC aircraft recognition and military markings series.

When the first Air Tattoo was held at North Weald in 1971, Peter volunteered his assistance to the management team and has continued unbroken association through to the present Royal International Air Tattoos. Since 1973 he has edited the IAT airshow programmes and provided a photographic record for the organizers. As managing editor for the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund Enterprises (RAFBFE), he has been responsible for the annual Royal Air Force and United States Air Force Yearbooks since 1988.

Among the many books he has produced for RAFBFE are Hawk Comes of Age, The Royal Air Force Almanac, International Air Tattoo Silver Jubilee, The Real Aviation Enthusiast II, Brace by Wire to Fly- by-Wire, Sabre to Stealth and Proud Heritage. Peter has also produced a series of aviation books: Eagles, Freedom of the Skies, Warplanes and the 480-page Directory of Military Aircraft of the World, published by the Orion Group/Cassells in association with the RAF Benevolent Fund. Having a particular interest in vintage, veteran and warbird aircraft, he has produced two books on the former Confederate Air Force in Texas, and a directory of Preserved Aircraft.

Peter is married and has four children, two of whom share his passion for aviation. When he is not at his word processor, he divides his time between flying a Cessna 172 that he has co-owned for 36 years, attending airshows around the world and taking photographs of aircraft. These images are added to one of the UK’s largest private collections of aircraft photographs, many of which appear regularly in books and magazines in the UK and USA.