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Brace by Wire to Fly-by-Wire
80 Years of the Royal Air Force 1918 - 1998

This book chronicles the history of the RAF using art from a collection of leading aviation artists including Wilfred Hardy, Gerald Coulson, Charles Thompson and Keith Woodcock. Originally released in 1993 to mark 75 years of the RAF, this updated and reissued edition celebrates 80 years of both the RAF and the RAF Benevolent Fund whose sterling work raises millions of pounds each year for service charities.

The body of the book takes each year in turn, a narrative summary of RAF activity is complimented by a diary giving dates of key events, and a full colour plate of a painting relevent to the period. Overall the presentation is good with most pictures reproducing well. In summary this is a good combination of useful reference and some excellent examples of aviation art.

Introductions by
HRH The Duke of Kent KG GCMG GCVO ADC
The Prime Minister, The Right Honourable Tony Blair
Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Charles Guthrie
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Johns
Marshal of the Royal Air Force Viscount Trenchard of Wolfeton

Reviewer’s Pick
Eric Day exploits the fluid and spontaneous properties of the watercolour medium to full effect in his dramatic portrayal of a Harrier GR 3 Over Port Stanley.

All images copyright the individual artists or publishers.

First published in hardback to mark 75 years of the RAF in 1993. It was then revised and updated with extra content and reissued as a softback in 1998 to mark the 80th anniversary, this version had a different cover illustration.

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