Cowboys Don't Fly: Adventures In African Aviation (2018) By John Steed
 
The memoir takes the reader from the author's birthplace in India through boyhood in Kenya including service in the Kenya Regiment and then on to the RAF where he was a trainee jet pilot. The scenario then returns to Africa via a series of unusual jobs including a brief sojourn as "Fleet Commodore" of a turtle fishing operation off the Somalia coast. Thence on to Uganda, unjust deportation to the UK and a brief spell at the legendary insurance market, Lloyd's of London, whence on to Rhodesia and by chance, a second career as TV presenter and interviewer. The uncertainty of UDI and the country's transition to independent Zimbabwe takes the reader through experiences in the African business and aviation worlds with stories about active service as a pilot during the bush war. With the advent of peace, a unique air charter operation is created, using a mixture of civilian and military aircraft to support major aid agencies, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross during wars in Mozambique and Sudan. The story ends with a description of the historic translocation by air of two black rhinos from South Africa to Malawi. The resulting TV Movie was made for and aired by the "Discovery" and "Animal Planet" Channels. Laced with amusing and heart-warming anecdotes, the book will appeal to all who enjoy unusual exploits.
 
Inscribed by the Author
 
Soft Cover
274 pages
In Good Condition