Wings For Sale

In this enlightening and entertaining memoir, Barry Lloyd reflects on a vibrant chapter of his life during the 1980s and 90s, when he was part of the international sales team at British Aerospace, focusing on both the commercial aircraft and later the corporate jet divisions. 

Barry and his colleagues were tasked with selling aircraft like the Coastguarder, the BAe 748, the ATP, and the BAe 146, across a diverse range of far flung territories including Peru, Colombia, Paraguay and Brazil in South America, The Leeward Islands, Guyana and Cuba the Caribbean; Portugal, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Russia, selling to a wide variety of airline clients, not forgetting more local sales in the UK (British Midland) and Ireland (Ryan Air).  

The world of aircraft sales is fiercely competitive, with Barry and his team often facing stiff competition from rival manufacturers eager to employ any tactic to land lucrative contracts. As a result, these salesmen frequently found themselves battling frustration and disappointment. After costly demonstrations and protracted negotiations, decisions often swung in favour of competitors. It was a tough industry, but this only made securing a contract all the more rewarding.

Over more than a decade in the field, Barry experienced his fair share of both victories and setbacks. Yet, even when deals fell through, the quirky and unusual places he travelled to and the vibrant personalities he encountered provided him with a treasure trove of stories. With understated humour, he offers readers a fascinating peek into this unique industry, one that remains largely unknown to the general public. It is a book that will be enjoyed by aviation buffs, students, historians and general readers curious to learn about a somewhat ‘niche’ profession.

Publisher - Woodfield Publishing Ltd

Language - English

Perfect Bound

Contributors

By author

Barry Lloyd

Published Date - 2026-05-26

ISBN - 9781846831805

Dimensions - 23.4 x 15.6 x 0.8 cm

Page Count - 133