SOLVED. 1970s Disaster Novel, Concorde like plane on cover along with exploding helicopter [s]

[Norm017]

This is another of those books I picked up at a thrift type store many years ago and disappeared in a move.

The novel read like the script for an 'all star disaster movie' that had been converted into a novel when the script didn't sell. From memory it dated to the mid-to-late 1970s.

What I remember of the plot is as follows, a second generation supersonic transport takes off from London bound for New York, aboard are the usual disaster movie 'types' including a heavily pregnant 'poor little rich girl' being sent home in disgrace, first class (From memory she's wearing a surplus US Army jacket.).

Part way across the Atlantic the crew get attempt to transfer fuel from the aft tanks forward to balance the plane, but instead get a huge number of red lights on the instrument panel. It turns out that a maintenance error has blown several fuses including all the ones controlling the pumps that transfer fuel from the aft tanks and the system that allows them to lower the nose on landing.

The crew diverts to Gander but are now faced with the task of landing an aircraft that is increasingly aft heavy and with limited forward vision. Then the fog rolls in over Gander...

Title/author details are very gratefully appreciated.

[Kris]

Do these names sound familiar? "Star-Raker / The Stars at Noon" (1962) by Ian Cameron (a.k.a. Donald Gordon / James Vance Marshall). Subject: Supersonic planes - fiction.
Here's one cover image - www.fantasticfiction.com/m/james-vanc...

[Norm017]

No neither name sounds familiar. It is a pity that the Fantasticfiction site does not give plot summaries, I find I tend to remember plots better than I remember authors names.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

I would suggest Air France One, except the plot is a bit different (terrorist, nuclear weapon aboard the plane) and the pub date appears to be about 10 years before 9/11.

[Norm017]

Thanks also for that suggestion, which I will also add to the list, even if the plot makes me think of 'Executive Decision'.

But I am still looking for the book in the Op.

[Norm017]

I just remembered something else about the plot. I think the pregnant girl starts to give birth shortly before the plane makes the landing attempt.

[Kym]

Supersonic by Basil Jackson

Kirkus review -

The Canadian science writer and novelist (Epicenter, 1971)has written a Gann. Beatty-Hailey disaster-run novel which is short on personnel (a prominent British surgeon, our Secretary of State, a pregnant girl about to pop, etc.) and much firmer on terminology from ""Takeoff monitor armed"" to ""disengage"" reader. The plane concerned is the new supersonic, in the air six months, with lots of general problems (danger of galactic radiation; overpressures, known as ""superbangs"") as well as some immediate ones, like the overvoltage in the circuits which forces it down in Gander

[Norm017]

That's it, thank you.

[Kym]

You're welcome.

[Norm017]

Thank you again. Checking my bookshelf showed that I actually had one of his other novels (Flameout) on my shelf. At least now I can search second hand bookshops knowing who to search for.

[Kym]

Hi Norm,

If you enjoyed Supersonic, you might like the books mentioned in the below link by cedarjet. He even rates them :)

http://www.airliners.net/forum/viewto...

[Norm017]

Thanks for that link.