(by GuyWarner; ISBN 978-1- 905989-51-5; Ernie Cromie, Ulster Aviation Society, Appt A1, Wapping Lane, Hillsborough, County DownBT26 6AX; 8¼in x 8¼in softback; 24 pages, illustrated; £4.95 plus 97p p&p)

IT IS SURPRISING that Lilian Bland has not had a book devoted to her before this, as she certainly merits more attention than she generally gets. This humble but timely effort to bring her to the attention of a greater public is to be applauded, as her successful pioneering efforts in Ireland culminated in somewhat limited powered flights in a biplane of her own design and manufacture in County Antrim in 1910.

Unfortunately she did not progress beyond that, and advised other amateurs not “to commence building aeroplanes unless they have plenty of spare time and money”. She had the time, she added, but lacked “the necessary £.s.d.”, as often seems to have been the case among the struggling pioneers in those early days. This booklet’s brief but readable text is complemented by a collection of black-and-white illustrations of varying quality, some being rather dark and contrasty, but the price is indisputably good.