DFSpence
New Member
Hahaha. Awesome.
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REQUEST: Good aviation/military books
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Hahaha. Awesome.
I read through this recently and honestly, I didn't even find it to be too dated.....at least through API and Primary. I'll have to see how it compares to advanced though. It did seem to way over-exaggerate a few things in the effort of making flight school (esp API) seem a lot more difficult than it actually is.
I'll have to read Bogeys and Bandits again...I remember that being a good one.
Thanks heyjoe. I'm writing down some titles and heading to Half Price books tomorrow
I've a ton of old "Approach" and a lot of naval aviation reads, I'll lend them to you. Notice I made this offer in open forum.
That way, if I don't get them back, these guys will help me hunt you down. I'll pay the postage to you, you pay the postage back to me. Second thing is you have to read them and get them back to me in short order.
Heyjoe was editor when most of my copies of "Approach" were published, good reading.
PM me.
Steve
"Old days"? Didn't that take place in the late 90's? 10 to 15 years ago is now the old days?
And "Boyd" is a "classic" account of Col Boyd's life? It came out in December of 2002, ferChrissakes.
Man, mebbe I am getting old.
The God Machine
1. The God Machine
2. James R. Chiles
3. From Boomerangs to Blackhawks - besides the great title and the associated huge head, it's a great read that is part history, part story, all real.
From the spine: "In addition to transforming the ways of war, offering godlike views of inaccessible spots, and providing some of our most-watched TV moments–including the cloud of newscopters that trailed O. J. Simpson’s Bronco–the helicopter has revolutionized rescues worldwide by proving its ability to extract people from almost anywhere. In 2005 an astounding 35,500 people were saved from the perils of Hurricane Katrina–a feat impossible with any other machine."
I'd say a must read for helo bubbas and all those that wish they were.
1. The God Machine
2. James R. Chiles
3. From Boomerangs to Blackhawks - besides the great title and the associated huge head, it's a great read that is part history, part story, all real.
From the spine: "In addition to transforming the ways of war, offering godlike views of inaccessible spots, and providing some of our most-watched TV moments–including the cloud of newscopters that trailed O. J. Simpson’s Bronco–the helicopter has revolutionized rescues worldwide by proving its ability to extract people from almost anywhere. In 2005 an astounding 35,500 people were saved from the perils of Hurricane Katrina–a feat impossible with any other machine."
I'd say a must read for helo bubbas and all those that wish they were.
Meh. It's half good book and half "John Boyd Saves the Military" rampant cheerleading.
Barett Tillman wrote a really good fiction book called Warriors. The head character is based on John B Nicholas who was an F-8 driver and Mig-17 killer. I think he passed a few years ago btw. Anyway, the story is about a former F-8 pilot hired by the Saudi's to train a new air force, made up of F-20 Tigersharks. Sounds cheesy but Tillman can write so it's pretty good. In the end, the Saudi's take on the Israeli's F-15's/16's. Good story really.
Again, Hostile Skies, is a well written book, almost done with it. Very easy to read and great story of a Sea Harrier pilot in the Falklands.
Again, Hostile Skies, is a well written book, almost done with it. Very easy to read and great story of a Sea Harrier pilot in the Falklands.
Kilo Sierra, by Tom Terlizzi
Here is a recent and entertaining novel, especially for anyone interested in what it was like flying F-4s off a carrier, bagging MiGs, losing a medical, Happy Hour at the Cubi O'club, or surviving a couple of SARs, etc. in the last year of the Vietnam War.
Although it is supposed to be fiction, anyone who made that cruise in '72-'73 with the author (a Brand X AI who had a unique vantage for the story) will easily identify many actual events and personalities.
I hesitated buying it, as it was a little pricey, and a first novel. But it turned out to be a great read, with a lot of sub-stories-and-pages ratio, to the buck. This guy can write.
I wouldn't recommend it here if I were not impressed, and really enjoyed it (despite it being authored by a "spy" from the hated brand X squadron
- and whose squadron by more luck than exceptional talent bagged a bunch of migs, while my squadron didn't.
)
The novel is in a similar vein as Flight of the Intruder. Just a fun read.
http://lnk.nu/amazon.com/sec
Here is a recent and entertaining novel, especially for anyone interested in what it was like flying F-4s off a carrier, bagging MiGs, losing a medical, Happy Hour at the Cubi O'club, or surviving a couple of SARs, etc. in the last year of the Vietnam War.
Although it is supposed to be fiction, anyone who made that cruise in '72-'73 with the author (a Brand X AI who had a unique vantage for the story) will easily identify many actual events and personalities.
I hesitated buying it, as it was a little pricey, and a first novel. But it turned out to be a great read, with a lot of sub-stories-and-pages ratio, to the buck. This guy can write.
I wouldn't recommend it here if I were not impressed, and really enjoyed it (despite it being authored by a "spy" from the hated brand X squadron
- and whose squadron by more luck than exceptional talent bagged a bunch of migs, while my squadron didn't. ) The novel is in a similar vein as Flight of the Intruder. Just a fun read.
http://lnk.nu/amazon.com/sec
I disagree with the "Top 10" list in the article, but the comments have some really good suggestions.
http://www.omnivoracious.com/2009/04/tom-ricks-best-defense-books-on-the-best-military-history.html
http://www.omnivoracious.com/2009/04/tom-ricks-best-defense-books-on-the-best-military-history.html
ebcarlson23
New Member
Unknown Rider By Scott Anderson. Amazing book about a college grad's trip through UPT and advanced training for the F-16 with the Air Guard. Great read.
flyboy2199
New Member
Going Solo--Roald Dahl
Coming Back Alive--Spike Walker--had a chance to meet him in Alaska--hell of a guy
Coming Back Alive--Spike Walker--had a chance to meet him in Alaska--hell of a guy
Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveG75 Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors OK, so it about SWO's. But, what a story. Attacking Japanese battleships and cruisers with destroyers and destroyer escorts. Worth the read.
I can't thank you and SteveG75 enough for recommending this book! The first fifty pages or so were like a set of "rusty hinges," but after page sixty it became very readable. Here's a quote from page sixty three," Fleeing an enemy sub, Johnson was informed that the carrier's boilers were reaching their temperature limit. In the fine rhetorical tradition of Farragut, Dewey and Nelson, Captain Johnson shouted into the voice tube, "Piss on them then. We need more speed.""
Thanks again,
Steve
Edit: Forgot to mention: Remember "the marbles in the overhead" scene from "Ensign Pulver?" Well, guess where that idea came from?
Originally Posted by SteveG75 Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors OK, so it about SWO's. But, what a story. Attacking Japanese battleships and cruisers with destroyers and destroyer escorts. Worth the read.
I can't thank you and SteveG75 enough for recommending this book! The first fifty pages or so were like a set of "rusty hinges," but after page sixty it became very readable. Here's a quote from page sixty three," Fleeing an enemy sub, Johnson was informed that the carrier's boilers were reaching their temperature limit. In the fine rhetorical tradition of Farragut, Dewey and Nelson, Captain Johnson shouted into the voice tube, "Piss on them then. We need more speed.""
Thanks again,
Steve
Edit: Forgot to mention: Remember "the marbles in the overhead" scene from "Ensign Pulver?" Well, guess where that idea came from?
