Richard Pike became a flight cadet in 1961, at the RAF College, Cranwell where, on graduation, he was awarded the Dickson Trophy and Michael Hill memorial prize for flying. In the early stages of his forty-year flying career he flew the English Electric Lightning before converting to the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom. On leaving the Royal Air Force he became a civilian helicopter pilot. His duties took him to a wide variety of destinations at home and overseas including the Falkland Islands not long after the end of the Falklands War. His last assignment was in Kosovo helping to distribute emergency humanitarian aid on behalf of the United Nations World Food Programme. He and his wife live in Aberdeenshire.

`I am sure that I will not be alone in hoping that a third book will be added to the collection in the near future.' Pilot magazine; `A superb sequel to Pike's bestseller. Lightning Boys 2 is another factual and fascinating, humorous and inspiring account of his own and other pilots' experiences of the iconic aircraft. This new book will not only appeal to readers from that time, but inspire new generations to consider the RAF as a career.' The Aberdeen Press & Journal; `Lavishly illustrated throughout in colour and black and white, containing annexes of selected biographies and a comprehensive index, this book must not only appeal to Lightning buffs but to any reader with an interest in military aviation. Highly recommended.' Air Mail