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I mentioned a few weeks back that a member of my family had been severely affected by Covid. He's finally out of ICU and out of hospital but he's got a long road to recovery still ahead.
He's got a thing for planes and RAF history and I thought a really nice, maybe a bit unusual book on that topic would be something he can take some time over while resting and recuperating OR a box set of something on Blu-ray to watch along same lines.
Even better if it's something I can buy from a museum or charity or gets this place a commission.
I like my planes too but compared to him I'm only a low grade anorak and I fear I'll only find the obvious and there's such a bunch of knowledgeable folks on here as we've seen on some excellent plane threads wondered what you'd found.
Vulcan 607 by Roland White is rather good (not keen on his other work) and might be available from Hendon or IWM. As might be...
Spitfire, by Leo Mckinistry. Thorough, excellent.
First Light, Geoff Wellum. Required reading.
On TV, Cold War, Hot Jets on the Beeb was excellent, not sure if still on iPlayer though.
The trouble of knowing what he had read. But my favorite is still
The Big Show
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0304366242/ref=cm_sw_r_apa_i_8hFQEbYV6VCMJ
The Big Show also my favourite. Other book recommendations are anything by Neville Shute, Sigh for a Merlin by Alex Henshaw (not RAF strictly speaking), Against the Sun by Edward Lanchbury (bio of Roland Beaumont) and First Light by Geoffrey Wellum.
If reading is a bit hard work in recovery he could try some audio of an interview with Jeffrey Quill - Supermarine Chief Test Pilot after Butch Summers left and who led development of the Spitfire. Bit nerdy as quite technical but fascinating listening and he has a brilliant dry sense of humour. Just google Jeffrey Quill interview and it’s on Aerosociety.com.
The Works often has a good set of aviation books, I picked up Vulcan, Victor and Valiant Boys for £7 each.
No Moon Tonight by Don Charlwood; he was an Australian navigator at RAF Elsham Wolds and his account of his tour is gripping. It's really well written thoughtful book and a great tribute to the courage of the crews of Bomber Command.
A bit later in RAF history (but to my mind actually a far more exciting time):
A view from the hover - John Farley... Harrier Test pilot
Any of Mike Brooke's books - goes from operational Canberra jockey to instructor to test/display pilot and very entertaining.
From a charidee point of view - there is a series of books called out of the blue that donate to the RAF Benevolent Fund
If he's anything like the typical Av Geek then DVDs of:
633 Sqdn
Battle of Britain
Dambusters
Aces High
Memphis Belle
Hurricane
TopGun
but for crying out loud steer clear of Fortress and Lancaster skies!
Depending on his level of interest and attention span during recovery, the RAeS have a podcast full of old lectures with some very interesting topics.
The Most Dangerous Enemy by Stephen Bungay was an interesting read.
Spitfire on Blu-ray was really good, some stunning shots.
Many of this mentioned above.
Enemy Coast Ahead (the re-release with the forward by James Holland as it contains a lot of text that was too sensitive at the time of original publication) - Guy Gibson
Wings on my Sleeve - Eric Brown
Not a book recommendation, but my favourite RAF history fact is how they came to have their uniform.
Story goes, when they were being formed in 1917, the procurement chaps went to a uniform manufacturer to get the uniforms made up. Said manufacturer had just had a huge order for Cossack trousers cancelled by the Russians, on account of their ongoing revolution, so offered the British chaps a terrific deal on light blue serge...
The big show as mentioned above is an excellent read, spitfire/Tempest specifically.
Spitfire by John Nichol is worth a read.