Rick Peacock-Edwards has led different lives at different times, but
through it all has used a bonus in life nowadays often overlooked: he
has consistently enjoyed himself. One of three brothers of outstanding
South African Battle of Britain pilot F/O S R 'Teddy' Peacock-Edwards,
his subtle and compassionate regard for a generation of wartime aircrew
is clear: "As the proud son of one of the 'Few', their selfless daring
has inspired me throughout my life. Importantly, they influenced my
decision to become an airman in the Royal Air Force, to become a fighter
pilot like my father, and to live life with spirit as they had lived
their lives. It is essential that their experiences live on." Rate of
Climb, his original and continually entertaining biography, drawing on
previously unpublished family and archival material, shows Rick in
complete command of his primary subject: flying. A leading ex-RAF
fighter pilot to his fingertips, he flew the Lightning, Phantom, Tornado
F2/3 and other high-performance aircraft, and served in senior-ranking
positions in the UK, Germany and the US. During a varied and
distinguished career he was closely associated with the Eurofighter
Typhoon program and was appointed as the Royal Air Force Inspector of
Flight Safety. He ably demonstrated his uncommon skill and determined
leadership during the Cold War era, first Gulf War and elsewhere. A past
master of The Honourable Company of Air Pilots, he is a Fellow of the
Royal Aeronautical Society and the immediate past vice chairman of the
Royal Air Force Club in London. He is equally as engaged in his post-RAF
career as he was when a serving officer. This is an action-packed
account of a foremost flyer's life with endless good stories, and a
colorful cast of characters to match. Rick's compelling recollections in
Rate of Climb reveal a life of considerable achievement, in a very
personal book capturing the ties of airmanship that the author has been
privileged to share. A must for all lovers of derring-do in the air.
