To Ride The Storm: The Story Of The Airship R.101: Presentation Copy

Published by William Kimber, London, UK. Date: 1982. First edition. Original cloth. Dustwrapper. Size: 16.5cm x 24.3cm. Pp. 560. Illustrated throughout with photographs. The most comprehensive analysis of the events leading up to the ill-fated flight. Signed by Alan Birchmore, managing director of Airship industries, Roger Munk, the company’s founder and technical director. Inscribed by the author, Sir Peter Masefield, ‘With the best of good wishes, Peter Masefield, 23rd April, 1986’, and also inscribed: ‘To commemorate the first passenger paying airship flight for 49 years – a great design achievement; may it be a tremendous commercial success. Michael Spicer, Minister for Aviation, 23 April, 1986’. These four signatories took part in the inaugural flight of Skyship 500 on the same date from Leavesden aerodrome. The Skyship 500 was operational until 1990, with six being made in total. Arguably its most famous use had been as a ‘Zorin Industries’ airship in the James Bond film, ‘A View To A Kill’. Whilst it may appear an unusual title to inscribe for this event, given the tragic first overseas flight of the R.101, it remains an extraordinary presentation copy of this scarce book. Binding nice and tight. Ownership inscription and address to rear blank endpaper. Darkening to pages 313-328 due to the paper stock else a near fine, tight, clean copy in near fine, very slightly creased and rubbed dustwrapper.