Well known experimental test pilot and author Shawn Coyle has released a new book series that collects three decades of his writings on rotary-wing flight.
40 Years Afore the Mast is an anthology of his columns for Vertical, Rotor & Wing and other publications, as well as previously unpublished writings. Volume 1 collects his articles on helicopter accident investigations, plus pilot reports on aircraft ranging from Groen Brothers Hawk 4 gyroplane to the world’s largest helicopter, the Mil Mi-26. Volume 2 contains diverse writings on other technical subjects, from testing aircraft for certification to “getting to know your autopilot.”
According to Coyle, his goal in publishing 40 Years Afore the Mast is to provide a convenient reference for others who are dreaming about or actively pursuing a career of flying rotorcraft.
“I realized that there was no single source for this knowledge,” he said. “I have enjoyed flying helicopters, and doing a myriad of things that can only be done with helicopters, and wish that others can continue to do those same types of things with increased knowledge and greater safety.”
Coyle obtained an engineering degree from the Royal Military College of Canada, flew in the Royal Canadian Air Force, and attended the Empire Test Pilots’ School before launching a career as a test pilot in the U.S. and Canada. He has taught at the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, the International Test Pilots School, and the National Test Pilot School, and has accumulated around 6,500 helicopter flight hours in more than 50 different models.
“The helicopter has evolved to be a wonderful tool for a wide variety of daily tasks . . . yet many parts of its operation and use have defied detailed understanding,” Coyle writes. “I have been extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to not only fly but to study, to teach and to write about these marvelous machines and those who design, build, operate and maintain them.”
To order the books, visit the Eagle Eye Solutions website, www.eagleeyesolutionsllc.com. Vertical readers can receive 10 percent off by using the discount code “vertical.”
