Early Birds

Ref: 4269

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{detailed description}Horrie Miller is a man who fell in love with flying in the days when aircraft were little more than box-kites with engines. He gives a colorful picture of his early experiences in Australia, then of Britain before the first World War when he went there to learn how to build and fly aircraft. There's a 'Magnificent Men' flavour about his adventures in this period, becoming more sombre when he joined the Royal Flying Corps and saw service in France. Then he returns to Australia, to give an enthralling picture of the abounding optimism with which fliers tried to start Australian civil air services. His own, Mac-Robertson Miller Air Services, was amongst the most successful, but there were many difficulties to be conquered first. His story, telling of the unreliable, sometimes bizarre aircraft, the daring flights and occasionally flamboyant fliers, is a vivid piece of modern Australian history and a constantly enthralling narrative.

Horace Clive Miller was born in Creswick, Victoria, in 1893. As he says in his book, he was fascinated by cars and engines from his schooldays onwards, and this fascination soon blossomed into his lifelong involvement with aviation.
In 1913 he went to England, and with other airminded young Australians, including Harry Hawker, he found employment with the infant aircraft companies.
After the outbreak of war in 1914 he returned home to join the Australian Flying Corps, and saw service in France as a member of No. 3 Flying Squadron.
The war over, he served as test pilot at Point Cook, and then branched out into various pioneering aspects of civil aviation in Australia. In 1925, he rejoined the Royal Australian Air Force for a short period before returning to what was to be his life's work in commercial flying.
In 1927 he went into partnership with Sir Macpherson Robertson, with whom he registered in the name of MacRobertson Miller Aviation Company.
{Author / Publisher / Date}by H. C. Miller
Published by Angus and Robertson 1968 1st edition. 166pp illus 14x22
{condition}very good, d/j spine faded and edge worn.
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