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During the Second World War, one of the Royal Air Force's most astonishing aircraft was without any doubt the "Lysander". The Lysander was used and became famous, through the clandestine transport of special agents between France and England. But who can remember its use as a reconnaissance aircraft, or in tactical support in Europe and in Asia?
The "Lysander", the first well-known product from the "Westland" firm. Men, women and children in the United Kingdom at war were soon to be surprised by how distinctive its outline was. Still today, even the least knowledgeable amateur is able to pick out and point at a Lysander and to identify a "Lizzie" (the affectionate nickname given by those who had flown and learnt to respect and love it.
The result of a concept that was already out of date at the time it was developed, it failed totally in the role for which it had been originally designed. So, once combat started on the continent of Europe, it was to pay a heavy price in operations. Nevertheless, in the end it was to be put to other uses, in which moreover it was to excel. It soon became a very popular aircraft in occupied France, under the name of "the aeroplane from London". Under this name the Lysander found its true place within the R.A.F. at the hands of men of courage and daring.
The "Sabena Old Timers", an association which put a Lysander back in flying order, has the purpose of letting us find out about this pleasant aircraft. Through the history of its design, its operational life, the restoration of OO-SOT, we can discover an aeroplane with borderline flying capabilities.The author, a SABENA flight captain, flies this Lysander during air shows, and in this book he has carried out the work of a meticulous historian.
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The author |
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Jean-Michel LEGRAND, was born in 1961, at Ath in Belgium. His grandfather, who was a farmer near a major German base in both world wars, told him of the bombing suffered as a result of being in the immediate neighbourhood of this major target |
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The painter |
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In 1969 JJP earned a draftsman degree and began as an Air Traffic Controller in the French Air Force. His passion for aviation bloomed during the 20 years that followed. He had the opportunity to fly in different types of airplanes
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The translator
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MARK Nazzari di Calabiana WILLAN was born in 1953 at Sale, in Cheshire. He grew up in the immediate vicinity of Ringway Airport, which was to become Manchester airport, from which comes his love of aviation |
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- Bilingue english - french
- 2nd edition, revised and corrected
- 104 pages, 8' 1/2 x 11' (21.5 x 30 cm)
- 98 photos, 29 pictures
- 3 descriptives charts
- ISBN : 2-913663-02-8
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