Ailes de Guerre, Ailes d'espoir / Wings of War & Wings of Hope

This book, as its title suggests, recounts aerial adventures experienced in all corners of the world. More precisely? First and foremost, it tells the stories of men—in those days, women were still largely absent from the aeronautical world—and while some achieved worldwide renown, such as General Doolittle with his B-25s, or Count von Rosen in Biafra, others were content to become part of "aviation history."
Such as the classic fighter pilot, whether aboard a Thunderstreak in Suez in 1956, a Skyraider in Laos in 1969, or a Jaguar in Chad in 1984. Or the transport pilots aboard heavy four-engine aircraft in the Berlin Air Corridors in 1948 or en route to Uli, the air-road in the Biafran enclave. Experience the stress of the RAF Vulcan crew after the first bombing raid on the Falkland Islands in 1982. In addition to the airmen, this book tells the story of aircraft that have become aviation icons: the Crusader in Cuba, the Pilatus Porter in Laos, the Mustang and Corsair during the Football War, and the Invader in the African conflicts. All are placed within the historical context of the events and countries as diverse as Chad, Honduras, Egypt, and Cold War Germany.

Born near the final approach to runway 26 at Orly Airport, Philippe Boscardin began his career as a parachute jump pilot. He flew Cessna 207s, Pilatus Porters, and De Havilland Canada Twin Otters. He discovered Africa in Chad with "Aviation sans frontières" (Aviation Without Borders) in a Cessna 206. Hired by Euralair, he first served as a co-pilot on Cessna Citations, then as a captain on Boeing 737s. He subsequently flew for AOM and Star Airlines/XL Airways on DC-10s, MD-83s, A320s, and A330s. Assigned as a pilot-inspector to the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC), he ended his career with 17,500 flight hours and 3,000 hours of simulator instruction and testing. Today, he dedicates himself to writing about aviation and contributes in particular to the magazine ICARE.