Book Review

John Matchett

From Cambridge to Adelaide in a R44.

The story of two intrepid pilots flying from Cambridge to Adelaide in a Robinson 44

Imagine flying 10 miles out at sea avoiding an unfriendly Iran, out of radio contact from anywhere, too far from your take off point to turn back, no shipping in sight, with a spluttering engine that you suspect might be caused by clogged filters and dirty fuel. Well, if that doesn't phase you, try fleeing from a military coup in Pakistan and if you survive that, how about a 370 mile air distance sea crossing over the shark infested Timor sea with a maximum range of only 400 miles, or having to fly by instruments and GPS for 150 miles in bad weather, constantly worried by the possibility of unseen obstacles or running into high ground? This book is stirring stuff. I often had to remind myself I was reading a work of non-fiction rather than the script of a latest Spielberg blockbuster. Indeed, with battered brown akruba the character figuring in the photograph on page 111 could be mistaken for Indiana Jones in person. Include the intriguing saga involving a few Thai girls in Bangkok and you have the ingredients of a read...