Our pick of the best flight-related tomes this issue AIR WAR NORTHERN IRELAND by Steven Taylor (available from www.pen-and-sword.co.uk, 19.99) Despite facing the problems posed by the Official Secrets Act, the author has made a decent stab at this small part of history, describing the events that took place over the 39 years of the Troubles. After a brief outline that covers the Anglo-Irish War, the narrative moves swiftly on to 1969 and the start of the most recent conflict. The book only covers operations carried out in South Armaghs bandit country the most hostile area within the province, seeing the most intense IRA operations. At its height, the number of AAC and RAF helicopter sorties flown from Bessbrook Mill made it the busiest heliport in the world. Most of the major incidents involving helicopters are covered, using a number of interviews of aircrew involved. Taylor manages to capture well the realities of operating with the constant threat of machine gun fire, improvised mortars and IEDs and, later, SAMs. The fact that so few aircraft were downed by hostile action was down to the skills of the pilots and a rather large helping of luck. Review by Mike Buckley, Log Board member Would you like to review a book for The Log? If so, simply email TheLog@balpa.org BOOKS Book review