As with all Biggles books some of the charm is the simplicity. There is black and white and no grey. You are rarely left in the doubt about what side each character is on. If they have a strong handshake, they are good. If they have a shifty glance, they are bad. So when the real world, where nothing is black or white, is too draining. There is the Biggles world.

In this book a representative from an eastern European state contacts Biggles asking him to set up an minimal airforce because a neighbouring state has started moving aggressively. It could be modeled on a Baltic state since this is before they were occupied by Russia. He's reluctant but when someone tells him not to go... well, if you know Biggles books you know the rest.

I think this is one of the better books in the Biggles library. That doesn't mean it's great, but sometimes you don't need a great book, just a simple book. ( )

Biggles krijgt het verzoek om te helpen met het opzetten van een luchtmacht in Maltovië.

In eerste instantie ziet hij er niet veel in, maar na een bezoek van vertegenwoordiger van een vijandig land, en besluit dan om toch in te stemmen met het verzoek.

Eenmaal aangekomen in Maltovië worden Biggles cs danig tegengewerkt door de opperbevelhebber van het leger, en dreigen Biggles en Algy voor het vuurpeleton te komen, maar uiteindelijk komt alles goed. ( )