Upgrade your PC today
$14.99
FREE delivery Wednesday, August 20 on your first order
Or fastest delivery Monday, August 18. Order within 21 hrs 14 mins
In Stock
$$14.99 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$14.99
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Sold by
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer – no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera, scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle app

  • Into the Silk: The Dramatic True Stories of Airmen Who Baled Out — And Lived
  • To view this video, download

Follow the author

Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Into the Silk: The Dramatic True Stories of Airmen Who Baled Out — And Lived Paperback – Sept. 26 2022

4.3 out of 5 stars 1,467 ratings
4.2 on Goodreads
688 ratings

' + '' + decodeURIComponent(encodedIframeContent) + ''+''); doc.close(); } } this.iframeload = function () { var iframe = document.getElementById(iframeId); iframe.style.display = ''; setTimeout(function () { setIframeHeight(initialResizeCallback); }, 20); } function getDocHeight(doc) { var contentDiv = doc.getElementById("iframeContent"); var docHeight = 0; if(contentDiv){ docHeight = Math.max( contentDiv.scrollHeight, contentDiv.offsetHeight, contentDiv.clientHeight ); } return docHeight; } function setIframeHeight(resizeCallback) { var iframeDoc, iframe = document.getElementById(iframeId); iframeDoc = ((iframe.contentWindow && iframe.contentWindow.document) || iframe.contentDocument); if (iframeDoc) { var h = getDocHeight(iframeDoc); if (h && h != 0) { iframe.style.height = parseInt(h) + 'px'; if(typeof resizeCallback == "function") { resizeCallback(iframeId); } } else if (nTries < MAX_TRIES) { nTries++; setTimeout(function () { setIframeHeight(resizeCallback); }, 50); } } } this.resizeIframe = function(resizeCallback) { nTries = 0; setIframeHeight(resizeCallback); } } return DynamicIframe; });
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$14.99","priceAmount":14.99,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"14","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"99","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"gJeWAt8a7nnwYOU3%2BDKbJLEFlZNEV1un2MpVo7UbRLsZvMzN4xgryNYKDvJ87eU0nwy8x9Wr4LnrBwsdXeCtguijUW2FikBd2NHQFl5TEdrGR4c%2FV0mtt2kDqdUz1dwcJ%2ByvOlzfdWk%3D","locale":"en-CA","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

From World War Two to the Jet Age, Ian Mackersey charts the thrilling and personal accounts of airmen who have jumped from their planes and survived.

An ideal book for fans of Helen Parr, Mark 'Billy' Billingham and Ollie Ollerton.

Since the test pilot Harold Harris became the first man to save his life with a parachute in 1922 there have been over 120,000 air force pilots and crew who owe their lives to their parachutes.

Into the Silk is full of astounding tales of people who against the odds bailed out of their planes and were therefore able to enter the annals of the Caterpillar Club, a society open only to men and women who survive aviation disaster with the aid of a parachute.

Mackersey records dramatic moments during the Second World War when pilots leapt from their burning planes while still being shot at by enemy fighters. He uncovers the descent of the extraordinarily lucky man who jumped from his damaged bomber but had to put his parachute on while falling through the sky and the pilot who found himself attached to a moving train and was dragged along for miles.

The book highlights the debts that all of these survivors owe to people such as Leslie Irvin, who invented the modern parachute and Sir James Martin, the great designer of ejection seats.

As the legendary pilot Douglas Bader states this book ‘is well worth reading whether parachutes have come into your life or not.’

Great on Kindle
Great Experience. Great Value.
iphone with kindle app
Putting our best book forward
Each Great on Kindle book offers a great reading experience, at a better value than print to keep your wallet happy.

Explore your book, then jump right back to where you left off with Page Flip.

View high quality images that let you zoom in to take a closer look.

Enjoy features only possible in digital – start reading right away, carry your library with you, adjust the font, create shareable notes and highlights, and more.

Discover additional details about the events, people, and places in your book, with Wikipedia integration.

Get the free Kindle app: Link to the kindle app page Link to the kindle app page
Enjoy a great reading experience when you borrow the Kindle edition of this book with your Kindle Unlimited membership. Learn more about Great on Kindle, available in select categories.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sapere Books
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ Sept. 26 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 279 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1800555954
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1800555952
  • Item weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 kg
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.24 x 1.6 x 22.86 cm
  • Book 1 of 2 ‏ : ‎ Developments in Aviation
  • 鶹 Rank: #1,067,130 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 1,467 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Ian Mackersey
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
1,467 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers

Top reviews from Canada

  • Reviewed in Canada on September 4, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This is a great read for all aviation enthusiasts. It gives many detailed accounts of exciting and sometimes miraculous escapes from aircraft emergencies of diverse types. It chronicles development of parachute systems, from the first crude pack types, through the Martin/ Baker ejection seats that many are somewhat familiar with today. It is amazing to think about how many folks owe their lives to Mr Irvin’s persistence and dedication in pursuit of safe escapes from aircraft.
    A fascinating and informative book, which deserves a place in any aviation library.
  • Reviewed in Canada on February 25, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I found it hard to believe that pilots and crew members have the courage to fly so high testing these planes knowing the risks involved.
  • Reviewed in Canada on November 15, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    The author's ability to explain the development of the parachute's remarkable life-saving history is, I think, wonderfully illustrated by real-life experiences of those who owe their lives to having had to used parachutes in some of the, almost unbelievable stories of their escapes from near-death experiences.
  • Reviewed in Canada on February 2, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Still reading it - the mind boggles at the non-stop design accomplishments during and after WW2 and the luck or divine intervention for the men who fell thousands of feet without a chute and survived. Incredible read.

Top reviews from other countries

  • Daniel C.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Remarkable True Events
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 27, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This is a fantastic book with various life events of air servicemen that have survived bailing out; becoming members of the caterpillar club hence the book title ‘Into the Silk’. Now I recently purchased this copy knowing that my grandad Ted Ansfield (chapter 8 page 121 - Pathfinders Lancaster ‘Freddie’ - crew and plane in photo) was one of those air servicemen, and his events feature within this book. I was aware of this when I was younger and I remember reading this as a paperback at his house. It wasn’t till the 80th D-Day Anniversary that I started to explore again. A brilliant read, would recommend to anyone; it particularly comes useful for my son who has WWII as part of his school curriculum. We will remember and continue to share onto the next generations.
    Customer image
    Daniel C.
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Remarkable True Events

    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 27, 2024
    This is a fantastic book with various life events of air servicemen that have survived bailing out; becoming members of the caterpillar club hence the book title ‘Into the Silk’. Now I recently purchased this copy knowing that my grandad Ted Ansfield (chapter 8 page 121 - Pathfinders Lancaster ‘Freddie’ - crew and plane in photo) was one of those air servicemen, and his events feature within this book. I was aware of this when I was younger and I remember reading this as a paperback at his house. It wasn’t till the 80th D-Day Anniversary that I started to explore again. A brilliant read, would recommend to anyone; it particularly comes useful for my son who has WWII as part of his school curriculum. We will remember and continue to share onto the next generations.
    Images in this review
    Customer image
  • HansDampf
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
    Reviewed in Germany on December 2, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    An excellent, wonderfully written and researched book that stands the tide of times.

    From the first WWII parachutes to todays jet eject seats which are technological marvels: the Humans and Situations involved in using them to save lives are impressive Stories which absolutely need to be told and kept alive.

    Just as well for honouring of the many Service Members and Aviators which didn‘t make it, as in many Stories in the Book Tragedy walks close to Luck of Survival.

    All in all a great Book worth reading even today.
  • W Andersen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and entertaining.
    Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I thoroughly enjoyed this book. As a person who has never even touched a parachute, I do enjoy reading books about military history and aircraft. The stories are captivating. I particularly liked the brief history given for the "Caterpillars" and on occasion, the provided update on what happened to them after their experience. I did not expect certain sections which addressed a few of the persons who had almost unbelievable experiences, yet did not qualify for membership in the exclusive "club" of those who were saved by a parachute. Those events were enthralling.

    From a structure point of view, I did sometimes find the transitions from one person's experience to the next person a bit too abrupt. On occasion, I found myself reading about one man's experience and the next paragraph started on another man's experience with no delineated transition. All in all, a very minor point and in it did not impact my pleasure in reading the book.

    I generally keep one in five of the books I read. This book was interesting enough that I will keep it and, perhaps, reread it another time.
  • don
    5.0 out of 5 stars tremendous book.
    Reviewed in Australia on February 11, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    What a find ,riveting from start to finish.! There are a lot of geniuses in this world too invent stuff like this, what an eye opener.
  • Bri
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great for parachute enthusiasts
    Reviewed in Italy on June 6, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Interesting. You will know all about parachutes after reading this.