Airship on a Shoestring the Story of R 100 Hardcover – Illustrated, January 28, 2014

Unless you're into airships, you've likely never heard of the R-100. It was a British Zeppelin built in the 1920s. The R-100 was built by private industry, its rival, the R-101, was built by the government. Both airships construction was funded by the government. the R-101 crashed on its first flight to India, killing 48 of the 52 onboard, including Lord Thompson the British Air Minister. Its story is much better known.If you're interested in the story behind the R-100, this book delivers. If you're the kind of person who wants the engineering side of the story, that is here, as Anderson covers the problems that had to be overcome to get the R-100 airborne. if you're interested in the people behind the machine, Anderson gives you that as well. There's quite a cast of characters here, including Nevil Shute Norway, later to become famous as the author of On The Beach. Shute was deeply involved in the building of the R-100, initially as the chief stress engineer.Like any good history, Anderson gives a taste of the background of his story. This is not a flashy book, but it is solid, and if you are interested in airships you ought to add it to your library. Even if your interest in history is more general, this is worth reading.

A wonderful study of R.100. While Slide Rule gives Norway's remembrances 30 years after the facts, Airship on a Shoestring is a well researched account of the airship not tainted by nostalgia or bitter feelings. Add R100 in Canada by Barry Countryman and you have the best picture of the R.100 availably. For perspective I will also recommend The British Rigid Airship, 1908-1931: A Study in Weapons Policy by Robin Higham.

In this book John Anderson presents many technical details of the R100 never before widely published. It includes many pictures and diagrams which are very interesting. When you look at a picture of the nearly completed rigid frame and then look at a close-up of one of the numerous joints in the structure, you get some feel for the magnitude of the whole undertaking. The diagrams of the passenger and crew quarters clearly show the limited, Spartan accomodations which required a 700 foot airship to get them off the ground. The section based on Nevil Shute Norway's log of the flight to Montreal is most enlightening. While includiong a good introduction to the British hopes for airships in the 1920s, the book probably is of more interest to those with some familiarity who want a more detailed trestment of the R100.

Excellent book for airship enthusiasts with new information about the British zeppelin R100, the Vickers team and the ship's voyage to Canada. Useful for researchers as well as being an enjoyable read.

John did a great job on this book. Part of the Nevil Shute history set!

Despite having many flaws and setbacks, those who designed, built and flew this airship can stand proud for the moment they captured in the history of flight.I long for the simple days of yore when these airships filled the sky with wonder and dreams.This is a adequate account of such.

An interesting read about the era of airships.

The book affords a treasure trove of information on the little-known British passenger airship R-100.

This is a thoroughly researched, well referenced and really engaging account of R100. There are lots of resources describing R101, but if you've only ever read about R100 in "Slide Rule", this will fill in the gaps and correct some potential misconceptions. And it's a great read as well. Many thanks to the author.

John Anderson has done a masterful job of telling an important part of aviation history. Few know of the amazing engineering accomplishments of a handful of people in the 1920's who dared to dream of "ships of the sky" that would carry hundreds of passengers thousands of miles. This book tells of the hundreds of innovations, and of the fortitude of the engineers, financiers, and airship crew who undertook this competition between private enterprise and government to see who could build the best airship. Weaved into this story are historic figures like Nevil Shute (Norway), Barnes Wallis, and others who played important roles in this enterprise. In spite of its tragic conclusion, this story is inspiring because of the amazing accomplishments of a relatively few dedicated people. If you are interested in aviation, this is a must read.

A+ speedy delivery. Super item. Very informative. Just as described. Very pleased. Thank you.

Was stationed at Cardington in the 50s and have followed airship history since.

Very interesting book;I had never questioned Nevil Shute's account of the R101 disaster, as written in his autobiography Slide Rule,but after reading this I will definitely have to think again.