Leaving aside the technical details, QF32 is Pilot In Command Captain Richard de Crespigny's personal recollection of the near-disaster Qantas Flight 32 in late 2010.

With multiple electrical, hydraulic and mechanical failures on board not only did Crespigny keep the flight in the air for two hours but also systematically guided his team through the swift decision making process with clear sighted alacrity to save the flight.

Guiding the plane swiftly to a safe landing and subsequent evacuation in rapidly deteriorating circumstances, Richard's heroic leadership saved the lives of 469 passengers and cabin crew.

How did he do it? This autobiographical reminisce provides the answer. An ex-RAAF combat pilot, de Crespigny's words immortalize the adage: coolness under fire. ( )

Fascinating blow by blow account of the catastrophic engine failure aboard the world's largest and newest passenger jet, the A-380, as told by the captain of the flight. On 4 November 2010, Qantas flight 32 was enroute from Singapore to Sydney with 469 souls onboard, when No.2 engine suddenly exploded, sending shrapnel scything through the wing, control systems and fuel lines. Faced with a crippled plane leaking fuel, control surfaces demolished, and with all engines degraded, the crew of 5 led by veteran pilot Richard De Crespigny had to struggle with a mountain of warning checklists flooding the plane's computers and figure out a way to get the dying aircraft back to Singapore. Fortunately they had as captaina pilot of vast experience and enormous ability, as detailed by the story of his life told in the first half of the book. From childhood motorbike fanatic to RAAF pilot, to flying the 747 then on to command the A-380, De Crespigny was born to fly and to command, fortunately for the 440 passengers on QF32. This is a wonderful book, written in a breezy conversational style, but neglecting none of the technical details of the horriffic scenario that eventuated on QF32. I found it absolutely enthralling and nearly unputdownable. Highly recommended for airplane fanatics and those who just love a good story well told. ( )

I highly recommend this book. Richard De Crespigny writes as well as he flies. The first half of the book is devoted to his early years and time in the RAAF - all relevant to his later career with QANTAS and the performance of him and his team during a crisis on one of the first A380 aircraft in commercial service.

Well worth reading. ( )

Although necessarily technical in places this book is a gripping read. It follows the early career of Qantas Captain Richard de Crespigny and the events leading up to one of the most catastrophic in-flight incidents in aviation history. Richard's account of how he and his crew brought the A380, the largest and most advanced airliner ever built, back to earth, saving the lives of the 469 people on board, kept me on the edge of my seat. ( )