Written in 1960 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Bristol Aeroplane Company (which ironically would cease to exist later that year when it was folded into the government backed British Aircraft Corporation), this slim volume somewhat incongruously only covers the company’s first 35 years rounding out its story at the conclusion of World War II.

But it remains a fascinating read, not just as a time capsule document, but as an aviation adventure story.

Rather than list aircraft types and specifications or go into technical detail, it focuses on the personalities that made the company into an aviation legend.

Here are personal stories about the company founders, designers, engineers, test pilots, and others who created and flew a succession of innovative aircraft from the earliest days of flight through to the dog-fights of aerial combat.

It presents a very human and engaging story of the pioneering days when we took to the skies, from the people who made it happen. ( )