Back in 2007 I reviewed the 2006 printing of the 20th edition. Since then there have been four more updates, this one being the 24th edition.

As a bit of a background. In the UK and other places in the world, 'spotting' is a huge hobby and there are legions of people who spend their time trying to add to their visual collection of whatever the subject might be. It could be birds, it could be trains or, in this case, it is aircraft. Aircraft that are no longer in original service and may be anything from hulks to restored flying aircraft. f

Wrecks & Relics is the work of Ken Ellis and concentrates on the British Isles, as that seems to be where the hobby is the most popular. The book covers preserved, instructional and derelict airframes and is listed according to the county in the UK and Northern Ireland where the airframe is located. Though you might think that these airframes would be somewhat static, the location and condition of these often changes. Aircraft are moved to new locales, older planes are put out of service or cut up for scrap, or placed in areas of honor atop a pole or in a museum. Some are restored to flying condition or kept that way by enthusiasts.

Keeping track of all this isn't the easiest thing and through a legion of helpful followers, the author is able to provide the most up-to-date listing of what is where.

Each airframe has all of the known data about it listed on each page and beside it is a small box so that the enthusiast can check off having seen or visited the airframe in question. I did notice that there tends to be quite a few cockpit sections scattered about the UK and though not complete aircraft, these are also included as a part of the UK's aviation heritage. Though probably a more massive undertaking, it would be neat to see something like this on US aircraft.

In with the 368 pages of data are over 200 photos, most of them in color of some of the subjects in question. The listing is not just limited to military aircraft, but civil ones as well, making for a most comprehensive reference. It is a book that quickly sells out and is a must for the enthusiast.

September 2014.

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