How to Build an Aircraft Carrier

The Incredible Story of the Men and Women Who Brought Britain’s Biggest Warship to Life

De: Chris Terrill

Narrado por: Adam James

Brought to you by Penguin.

Hear the enthralling story of the HMS Queen Elizabeth, the Royal Navy's largest ever warship.

Sixty-five thousand tons, 280 metres long. A flight deck the size of 60 tennis courts. A giant piece of Sovereign British territory that's home to up to 50 aircraft. HMS Queen Elizabeth in the biggest ship in the Royal Navy's history and one of the most ambitious and exacting engineering projects ever undertaken in the UK.

But it's her ship's company of 700, alongside an air group of 900 air and ground crew, that are Big Lizzie's beating heart. And How to Build an Aircraft Carrier tells their story.

From before the first steel of her hull was cut, Chris Terrill has enjoyed unprecedented access to the Queen Elizabeth and the men and women who have brought her to life. From Jerry Kyd, the ship's inspirational captain, to Cdr Nathan Gray, the first pilot to land Britain's new stealth jet fighter on her deck, Terrill has won the trust and confidence of the ship's people.

How to Build an Aircraft Carrier tells the story of Britain at her best: innovative, confident, outward-looking and world-beating.

©2022 Chris Terrill (P)2022 Penguin Audio

Great read

I seen a pbs broadcast on this ship which was great, but the book was more in-depth of the experiences early on and aft the movie finished. Very well done!!!

Storytelling and narrator

Extremely interesting. The author does a superb job of weaving human stories into the creation of the ship. The narrator was exceptional.

How to Build An Aircraft Carrier - 5*

Review 38. How To Build An Aircraft Carrier by Chris Terrill, narrated by Adam James.

I loved this book.

HMS Queen Elizabeth is the first of the Royal Navy's 2 new aircraft carriers and a technological marvel.

I've learnt a lot about the technology that has gone into building the ship and learnt a lot of details about the ship including issues with it on sea trials.

The details about her crew and their personal quirks was amazing.

The chapter about her first arrival into her homeport of Portsmouth on the 16th August 2017 was probably my favourite part of the first half of this book because I was actually in Portsmouth when she arrived. I've seen this massive ship enter the harbour twice, but the first time was the most impressive because of the crew all dressed in their best uniforms were stood on the edge of the flight deck (Procedure Alpha) and the aircraft that we're flying around her.

I loved learning about the first captain of the Queen Elizabeth, Jerry Kyd and how he would never touch alcohol at sea, ate on his own each evening and loved his stewards choice of reggae music (in particular Boombastic by Shaggy).

This book had me smiling when Captain Jerry Kyd was leaving the ship in New York Harbour, about how he quietly wanted to leave the ship (but his crew had another idea) and the amazing gift he gave to his personal steward.

This book contained so many details about this fantastic ship and her amazing crew. I never thought I would enjoy listening to a 12 hour audiobook about one Royal Navy warship, but I did.

I loved the part of this book in chapter 53 which was about a possible Arctic diversion for the ship enroute home, but was in fact a prank about supporting a special air transport mission in December from a bright red craft.

I will definitely be looking to buy this book in physical format as soon as I can.

5*
*****

I WANT MY MONEY BACK

This book is mis titled and not what I expected... and yes Audible.... I Want My Money Back. Books like Blast Off tell the reader how to start a rocket company... here, I really wanted to learn how to build a huge war ship. But no, they talked about crazy details that had nothing to do about anything. I gave up after 4 chapter. I do not need to know about welders taking the 5:15 to work, and the sound the train made on the way to yards... A total waste of time and focus... I want 1_ credit's back pls.