Novels for a 12-year-old obsessed with planes/flying

[spiderlight]

DS is 12 and a very able but reluctant reader. He's recently developed an obsession with planes and decided he wants to be a pilot. I've found plenty of factual books about planes but I'd like him to be reading more proper chapter books as well to help with his attention span. Any ideas? He's read 'Grandpa's Great Escape' and loved it, but is a bit old for David Walliams now.

I'm a bit late to this so don't know if you're still looking.

A few people mentioned Flambards - K.M. Peyton has a new book called "Wild Lily" set in the 1920s, with an aviation theme.

Classics from the 1st World War and the early aviators:
Sagittarius Rising by Cecil Lewis
Winged Victory by V.M. Yeates
These may be a bit heavy and old-fashioned, but I love them!

Classic from the 2nd World War:
Fighter Pilot by Paul Richey

I've (ahem!) written a series of retro-style adventures with classic cars/planes set in the 1950s/60s - the latest one is "The Al-Eden Emergency" (by S.P. Moss). Hope it's OK to mention that.