Chris Taylor has had an unusual and interesting career as a test pilot, flying over 400 different aircraft (fixed wing & rotary wing). From his early career in the Royal Navy, to being selected for the prestigious test pilot programme and later working for the Civil Aviation Authority and then running his own business, his work has taken him all over the world, and he has hundreds of stories to tell about his exploits – the good, the bad & the ugly!
As well as the sophisticated jets and latest modifications that he has tested, Chris has also been involved in testing handmade aeroplanes, unusual refurbishments and autogyros.
The book is unashamedly written for his grandchildren, and whilst its nice that the stories are varied and quite chatty, it also means that its not particularly well structured and very repetitive in places. The photographs are great to help illustrate the different types of aircraft that he flew.
This book will probably appeal to fans of aviation who know the various aircraft discussed and if it could be re-edited, this could be a great book for those with a more general interest but as it stands it’s just ok.

There can be no question that Chris has had an extraordinary career, test-flying a vast range of fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft of all vintages, with extraordinary stories to match his voluminous logbook. For an aviation nut, this is a thoroughly convincing read, even if the anecdotes jump about chronologically more than some of his test flight aircraft did. But, to anyone of a certain age and background, this all makes perfect sense – all the aircraft manufacturers and private owners desperately wanting their ‘baby’ planes not to be ‘ugly’ and having to be told the truth after flight test. I have that aviation background, and hence enjoyed the book a lot because I could identify with what he was trying to do, and many of the types and places. I hope that other UK aviation nuts will find the same.