Shadows of Flight

About the Book

After eight years of short-service commission in the Royal Navy, flying the latest supersonic jet fighter from the deck of an aircraft carrier, the writer moved to a new challenge—that of starting a farm in the wilds of the African bush in Northern Rhodesia, or the dreaded Black North. After nearly twenty years as a successful farmer growing crops of tobacco and maize while ranching cattle on an adjoining farm, he returned to the commercial-flying world as a charter pilot. His career ended as a training captain with an airline, flying BAC 1-11 aircraft around the sunny Mediterranean. This is the story of an ordinary individual named Richard Jenkins whose philosophy in life is this: “With God’s help, anyone can do anything.” This philosophy stood him in good stead throughout his life, whether being catapulted from aircraft carriers, bracing against the winds of change blowing over the farming area of Mkushi in the newly independent African state of Zambia, or trekking up to eighteen thousand feet in the Himalayas. This book, written in an easy, descriptive style, takes the reader on a long, unusual, and fascinating story of his experiences, which have not ended yet.

About the Author

Born in Watford Herts in 1932, the author married Sally Cullen in 1958. They brought up two children, Wendy and Ian, who now have families of their own and live near London. Their three grandchildren are a great incentive to move back to England after some forty years overseas, but so far, the attraction of sunny weather and its relaxed way of life has kept them happily in Cyprus, except during three summer months, which they spend touring in their caravan to see friends and relations in England.