Xtended

What happens when you put three authors and publishers around a table to discuss the challenges of writing historical aviation content?  

Find out in this fascinating insight on what it is like to research, write and publish accurate and compelling historical aviation books and magazines.  

Mick Oakey is a familiar voice to many and is of course Managing Editor at The Aviation Historian. Mick was the editor at Aeroplane magazine and is a member of the Royal Aeronautical Society's Historical Group Committee 

https://www.theaviationhistorian.com  

Robert Forsyth is an author, editor and publisher specialising in historic military aviation. He set up his own publishing company in 1994 and since then has gone on to write more than thirty titles on the aircraft, campaigns and units of the Luftwaffe. You can hear Robert on Xtended episodes  

https://www.chevronpublishing.co.uk  

Chris Gibson sits on the committee of the Royal Aeronautical Society, Heritage Specialist Group and is on the editorial Committee of The Aviation Historian for whom he also writes. He researches, writes, illustrates, produces and publishes aviation books for Crecy publishing, Key Publishing and his own company, Blue Envoy Press. He is the former editor of Air Britain Aeromilitaria and specialises in Cold War military aviation and guided weapons. 

https://www.blueenvoypress.co.uk/  

Recorded 4th September 2023 

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We continue our Test Pilot series with Commander Nathan Gray, who joins us to talk about his book ‘Hazard Spectrum’. With over 140 combat missions to his name, he is among the most decorated pilots in the British armed forces and we share Nathan’s journey to the top of the Fleet Air Arm, from student to F-35 Test Pilot.  

But, the episode starts with the sobering account of how he walked away from an ‘unsurvivable’ crash at RAF Wittering, which sadly killed his instructor. Nathan is one of the humblest heroes we have had the pleasure to interview. He is also one of our most talented pilots, flying and test flying with the Fleet Air Arm for over two decades on various aircraft including the Harrier, F-15, F-16, F-18, and of course F-35.   

 His career has taken him from the Californian coast of the United States to war zones in the Middle East. Nathan was part of the ground-breaking F-35 development program and conducted the first-ever F-35 launch and recovery on the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers. He has also qualified as a commando green beret, paratrooper, and forward air controller. 

 This is an unmissable episode! 

 Recorded 15th August 2023 

You can buy a copy of Hazard Spectrum at the Xtended bookshop through this link https://uk.bookshop.org/a/11161/9781035402519  

Contact Us: [email protected]  

 Nathan Gray 

Please leave us a review on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or your podcast playing app. Here is a link to all the pod players https://pod.link/1611149544   

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Mark Lardas joins us to talk about the ‘The Kamikaze Campaign 1944–45 - Imperial Japan's last throw of the dice’ his book published by Osprey. Mark of course was a major part of our Coastal Command series, nominated for an International Aerospace Media Award. 

 Mark has been fascinated by all things related to the sea and sky his entire life; from building models of ships and aircraft as a teen to studying Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at college. He worked as a navigation engineer on the Shuttle program and is now employed at Johnson Space Center on the Lunar Gateway program. He has written extensively about aircraft and warships, and has authored more than 50 books on military, naval and maritime history. He lives in Texas. 

Recorded 28th July 2023 

 You can buy a copy of Mark’s book at the Xtended bookshop through this link https://uk.bookshop.org/a/11161/9781472848444  

Contact Us: [email protected]  

Mark Lardas 

 Please leave us a review on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or your podcast playing app. Here is a link to all the pod players https://pod.link/1611149544   

Aviation Xtended Partners 

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Xtended Podcast family 

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Dave Homewood from the Wings Over New Zealand podcast took on the almighty task of a 35-day tour of as many UK aviation heritage locations as he could squeeze in. All in the spirit of recording a new podcast series called the Wings Over Britain!  

The first few episodes are already out, and they bring a fresh view of the sector from an avid enthusiast but also from an advocate (in Dave) for keeping alive the stories and memories of those who operated and flew these aircraft. Hear Dave’s view of how lucky we are in the UK to have such a rich source of aviation history right on our doorstep. 

 Recorded 22nd July 2023 

Link Tree https://linktr.ee/aviationxtended

Contact Us: [email protected]

Dave Homewood 

 Other Mentions during our discussion 

Please leave us a review on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or your podcast playing app. Here is a link to all the pod players https://pod.link/1611149544   

Aviation Xtended Partners

• Royal Aeronautical Society https://www.aerosociety.com/
• Global Aviation Resource http://www.globalaviationresource.com/v2/
• XTPMedia https://www.xtpmedia.co.uk/
• Ellie Carter https://twitter.com/dragongirl94

Show Supporters

• The Aviation Historian http://www.theaviationhistorian.com/
• Wings Over New Zealand Show http://cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZ_Show.html
• Aviation Enthusiasts Book Club https://www.facebook.com/groups/359410134220076
• Aircrew Book Review http://aircrewbookreview.blogspot.com/

You can shop through this Amazon link (No cost to you but a small benefit to us):
• https://www.amazon.co.uk/?tag=xtenaeroradi-21&linkCode=ur1

For Aviation and Aerospace Podcasts join https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlightAudioandVideo/

The true story of the largest polar rescue mission in history is pretty much unknown in most aviation circles. Until now!

Mark Piesing author of the book N4 Down joins us to discuss this almost unbelievable story of human suffering and tragedy, political drama, incompetence and heroism. This story has everything!

Recorded 18th July 2023 

Buy ‘N4 Down’ at the Xtended Bookshop https://uk.bookshop.org/a/11161/9780062851536 (At time of publication the paperback is on sale) 

Link Tree https://linktr.ee/aviationxtended

Contact Us: [email protected]

In the book 'Royal Navy Cold War Buccaneer Pilot', author Simon Kershaw helps us relive the story of his father Steve Kershaw flying the mighty Buccaneer in Fleet Air Arm service.  

 Much of the tale comes from Steve’s own notes and memoirs, then picked up by Simon’s analysis of his final flight.  

 In the sobering finale we discuss Steve’s final flight and how Simon was able to piece together the hours, minutes and seconds both before and after the accident.  

Simon Kershaw joins us to help rekindle the story of his father’s adventures. 

Recorded 20th June 2023

Buy ‘Royal Navy Cold War Buccaneer Pilot’ at the Xtended Bookshop https://uk.bookshop.org/a/11161/9781399040129  

Link Tree https://linktr.ee/aviationxtended

Contact Us: [email protected]

Simon Kershaw 

Aviation Xtended Partners

• Royal Aeronautical Society https://www.aerosociety.com/
• Global Aviation Resource http://www.globalaviationresource.com/v2/
• XTPMedia https://www.xtpmedia.co.uk/
• Ellie Carter https://twitter.com/dragongirl94

Show Supporters

• The Aviation Historian http://www.theaviationhistorian.com/
• Wings Over New Zealand Show http://cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZ_Show.html
• Aviation Enthusiasts Book Club https://www.facebook.com/groups/359410134220076
• Aircrew Book Review http://aircrewbookreview.blogspot.com/

You can shop through this Amazon link (No cost to you but a small benefit to us):
• https://www.amazon.co.uk/?tag=xtenaeroradi-21&linkCode=ur1

For Aviation and Aerospace Podcasts join https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlightAudioandVideo/

As we continue our focus on features across aerospace, let’s take a look at the hovercraft, which brings up the question of ‘where exactly does it fit in?’

To help us answer that question we are joined by Ben Avery.

Ben is the Chief Pilot at Griffon Hoverwork and a Trustee and Head of Operations at The Hovercraft Museum.

Recorded 13th June 2023

Link Tree https://linktr.ee/aviationxtended

Contact Us: [email protected]

Ben Avery 

Griffon Hoverwork 

Aviation Xtended Partners

• Royal Aeronautical Society https://www.aerosociety.com/
• Global Aviation Resource http://www.globalaviationresource.com/v2/
• XTPMedia https://www.xtpmedia.co.uk/
• Ellie Carter https://twitter.com/dragongirl94

Show Supporters

• The Aviation Historian http://www.theaviationhistorian.com/
• Wings Over New Zealand Show http://cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZ_Show.html
• Aviation Enthusiasts Book Club https://www.facebook.com/groups/359410134220076
• Aircrew Book Review http://aircrewbookreview.blogspot.com/

You can shop through this Amazon link (No cost to you but a small benefit to us):
• https://www.amazon.co.uk/?tag=xtenaeroradi-21&linkCode=ur1

For Aviation and Aerospace Podcasts join https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlightAudioandVideo/

Find out in this episode with Kerry Bennett why the sky is NOT the limit. Dream big, work hard and take risks and you can achieve your dreams and goals. 

Kerry Bennett is a mother, pilot and STEM Ambassador. With a career that already spans the RAF with over 100 missions in Afghanistan and Iraq, through to flying Airbus airliners for British Airway, Kerry is also an ESA astronaut candidate.  

Donating her time and energy to over 100 school visits and Kerry has presented to over 20,000 children as a STEM ambassador.  

Recorded 12th June 2023 

Kerry (GT) Bennett 

Aviation Xtended Partners

• Royal Aeronautical Society https://www.aerosociety.com/
• Global Aviation Resource http://www.globalaviationresource.com/v2/
• XTPMedia https://www.xtpmedia.co.uk/
• Ellie Carter https://twitter.com/dragongirl94

Show Supporters

• The Aviation Historian http://www.theaviationhistorian.com/
• Wings Over New Zealand Show http://cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZ_Show.html
• Aviation Enthusiasts Book Club https://www.facebook.com/groups/359410134220076
• Aircrew Book Review http://aircrewbookreview.blogspot.com/

You can shop through this Amazon link (No cost to you but a small benefit to us):
• https://www.amazon.co.uk/?tag=xtenaeroradi-21&linkCode=ur1

For Aviation and Aerospace Podcasts join https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlightAudioandVideo/

Artyom Liss is a UK qualified general aviation pilot and was host of the fabulous aviation podcast 'Two Thousand Feet'.

In this episode we find out what it is like to deliver Piper PA32 Saratoga SP N505WC from the UK to Lithuania, the challenges, adventures, and experiences of this fabulous cross-country flight. 

Recorded 5th June 2023 

Link Tree https://linktr.ee/aviationxtended

Contact Us: [email protected]

Artyom Liss  

Aviation Xtended Partners

• Royal Aeronautical Society https://www.aerosociety.com/
• Global Aviation Resource http://www.globalaviationresource.com/v2/
• XTPMedia https://www.xtpmedia.co.uk/
• Ellie Carter https://twitter.com/dragongirl94

Show Supporters

• The Aviation Historian http://www.theaviationhistorian.com/
• Wings Over New Zealand Show http://cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZ_Show.html
• Aviation Enthusiasts Book Club https://www.facebook.com/groups/359410134220076
• Aircrew Book Review http://aircrewbookreview.blogspot.com/

You can shop through this Amazon link (No cost to you but a small benefit to us):
• https://www.amazon.co.uk/?tag=xtenaeroradi-21&linkCode=ur1

For Aviation and Aerospace Podcasts join https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlightAudioandVideo/

Rachel Ramsay is a UK qualified private pilot, with licences to fly helicopters, small planes and motor gliders. Rachel has a fabulous flying and travel blog and we wanted to find out about; multi-licence flying, writing for both a blog and an aviation publication and issues like…. favourite hotel to fly to and what does it take to fly down the River Thames in Central London?

Recorded 15th May 2023 

Link Tree https://linktr.ee/aviationxtended

Contact Us: [email protected]

Rachel Ramsey 

Aviation Xtended Partners

• Royal Aeronautical Society https://www.aerosociety.com/
• Global Aviation Resource http://www.globalaviationresource.com/v2/
• XTPMedia https://www.xtpmedia.co.uk/
• Ellie Carter https://twitter.com/dragongirl94

Show Supporters

• The Aviation Historian http://www.theaviationhistorian.com/
• Wings Over New Zealand Show http://cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZ_Show.html
• Aviation Enthusiasts Book Club https://www.facebook.com/groups/359410134220076
• Aircrew Book Review http://aircrewbookreview.blogspot.com/

You can shop through this Amazon link (No cost to you but a small benefit to us):
• https://www.amazon.co.uk/?tag=xtenaeroradi-21&linkCode=ur1

For Aviation and Aerospace Podcasts join https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlightAudioandVideo/