Only the maker’s name by Ray Blyth, published by Dolman Scott www.dolmanscott.com £24.99, 749 pages, black and white images

It’s not often that we come across autobiographies from flying instructors, so we were overjoyed when Ray Blyth’s book arrived in Pilot’s office.

Only the maker’s name is divided into two parts – the first is a series of memories as recalled during a two-year stay in hospital after a near-fatal air crash, the second concerns the author’s life following his recovery.

Though the thickness of the book may cause some initial trepidation, it doesn’t feel dragged out. This account is anything but dreary – the author has had an extraordinary life. Stories range from the harrowing tale of his serious accident in a Zlin, to anecdotes about flying lessons and taking passengers on joy-rides. His run-in with a shadowy organisation, involving the discovery of a bomb on an airfield, could easily make another book on its own.

Overall, Only the maker’s name is a worthy addition to any aviation library.

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