1500 feet over Vietnam: A marine helicopter pilot's diary Review

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(More customer reviews)Bruce Lake's 1500 FEET OVER VIETNAM: A MARINE HELICOPTER PILOT'S DIARY is an excellent first-person narrative dealing with what it was like to be a Marine combat aviator in Vietnam. He has an understated writing style that manages to keep the reader involved with each chapter.

This reviewer conversed at length by phone with Bruce on a number of occasions awhile back while doing some project research on 1st Lt. Horace H. Fleming, USMC, who is still listen as a POW/MIA. Lt. Fleming, known to his fellow Marines as "Bud," was the pilot of a Marine CH-46A helicopter that was bringing reinforcements into the compound of Ngok Tavak, about five miles away from the border outpost at Kham Duc, in Vietnam. Ngok Tavak had been attacked by elements of the NVA 2nd Regiment in the early morning hours of 10 May 1968, and by the time the two CH-46s arrived, the camp was undergoing heavy rocket, mortar, and infantry attack.

As Lt. Fleming lifted off, his aircraft was hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire, severing either the fuel or oil line, forcing him to land his aircraft within the besieged compound. As a second aircraft, a UH-1 Huey, hovered over the fouled landing pad in order to take on wounded. Fleming and some Nung soldiers mounted the skids but were unable to enter the crowded cabin. After the aircraft lifted off, Fleming and the Nung soldiers fell over 100 feet into the thick jungle outside of the defensive perimeter that was controlled by the NVA.

The Ngok Tavak defenders withdrew to the base camp at Kham Duc, arriving just in time to fight in the unsuccessful defense of that camp. Lt. Fleming was one of at least 39 Americans who died or was taken prisoner during the defeats at Ngok Tavak and Kham Duc, and one of the 32 whose possible remains have not been repatriated. Bud Fleming was promoted to Captain, then to Major over the years, but his status is still unknown.

Bruce Lake and Bud Fleming were fellow Marine CH-46A pilots, both members of HMM-265, a Marine Medium Helicopter squadron that was with MAG-16 at MMAF. If you read this book you will find Lt. Fleming mentioned as "Bud."

The author offers a great deal of insight about what it was like to be "Up North" flying daily helicopter missions in what was some of the most hotly-contested territory of the entire Vietnam Conflict. 1500 FEET OVER VIETNAM is one of those books that's hard to put down once you start reading.

The author also describes what it was like to come home to New England after his tour of duty; a young combat pilot who had seen far more than most civilians could imagine from the daily news coverage that was being displayed in the media.

It's not difficult to imagine what it was like flying from the way that the author relates his experiences there. Though frequently understated, the images of what Bruce and others experienced can be shared by reading this superb recollection of just one part of the Vietnam conflict.

This reviewer has a personal interest in this book, as I still wear a POW/MIA bracelet that bears the inscription "MAJ HORACE H. FLEMING, III, USMC - 10 MAY 68 SVN." It's my third bracelet with his name since the 1970s.

Thanks, Bruce, from one 'Nam-Era Marine to another. It's a superb read. Semper Fi!



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Robinson R22: A Pilot's Guide (ASA Reference Books) Review

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(More customer reviews)for godsakes at least rewrite it well! The low-quality of the writing gets in the way of extracting any useful info from this book, and is downright confusing in many places. But what rips me more than anything else is that 95% of the material in this book is from your POH. The rest of it is inapplicable for US students or isn't particularly insightful. Spend some time with your POH and you'll get the official, updated info, straight from Robinson. The POH is well-written and 100% accurate.

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Expanding on the information included in the manufacturer's official flight manual, which is compiled in strictly controlled test conditions, this guide details the performance and handling characteristics and limitations of the popular Robinson R22 helicopter in real-world flight conditions. It includes specialized preflight checklists, listing of R22 manufacturer safety notices, and preflight planning conversion tables providing pilots with invaluable information about what to expect when flying an R22 and how to operate one safely in a wide variety of flight situations.

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Learning to Fly Helicopters Review

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(More customer reviews)I am a student pilot in Switzerland. This book gave me a lot of information on helicopter flying. More than that, it thought me what is essential to know and to remember when flying. If you look for a very technical book, you will be certainly disappointed because the autor does not want to overload the subject with graphs and calculations. But the book is breathtaking for any reader interested in helicopters... (sorry for my english...)

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An introduction to helicopter flying techniques, many of which are difficult to master, as well as a discussion of emergency procedure, human factors, advanced operations and even a section on careers.

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Seawolf28: Branded a Maverick as a Junior Officer this is a true account of naval aviation as seen through the eyes of one of the most decorated Navy pilots of the Vietnam era Review

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(More customer reviews)A Navy Maverick With True Grit!
Seldom do I ever read a military aviation book where I come away thinking that I would have really loved to have flown with the author of that memoir. Author Al Billings is a veteran's veteran! He is a man among men. It was men like Al that made flying in Hueys the heroic aviation adventure it was. His book "Seawolf 28" explodes with energy and action and much more. His personality certainly comes shinning through and shows him for whom he was.
Billings was awarded over 40 medals and citations including the Silver Star and The Distinguished Flying Cross. He was a member of the Navy's most decorated helicopter attack squadron in the Vietnam War. I have met several members of the Seawolfs when filming the documentary film "In the Shadow of the Blade." You could not find any better group of honorable men for sure. It is not surprising to read how well they did in combat. This book not only honors the role of the author but also adds to the almost myth like tales of those fine young men.
The book is well written and is a great read. I admit that the last chapters in the book were not the way I would have liked to see it end for the author, but Billings is true to himself all the way to the end and shows a lot of class. When you finish reading his book you will be left with many emotions about the war, the men, leadership in the military and what it means to stand up and be counted when someone has to be accountable and honest. Al Billings is a true leader in the real sense. I think most veterans will agree that he would be the guy that you would like to have had in the pilot's seat on your flight!
This is a must read book and receives the MWSA's HIGHEST RATING - FIVE STARS!


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Seawolf 28 SummaryAn exciting action filled novel of one of the top decorated naval aviators of the Vietnam era brings the reader a dramatic story of a twenty-two year career of a Navy helicopter pilot.By the end of the Vietnam War he was a four tour veteran with well over 600 missions and the recipient of more than thirty-nine citations, including the Silver Star and Distinguished Flying Cross.Throughout his career he qualified in over 20 different types of aircraft and rose from the enlisted ranks to squadron Commanding Officer.This is not just another Vietnam combat action story.Seawolf 28 is a timeless, powerful, honest and uncompromising first hand account of a man that knew no limits when it came to standing up for his men and what he believed in.What makes this novel stand out is the unparalleled successes they enjoyed while others stood by and watched to see if they would fail. They took on every challenge including the military bureaucracy and could not be defeated.Driven as a young man to find the person he truly was, he risked everything to complete that journey. Even though it took years, he learned to honor himself for what he accomplished in an environment where he was overmatched and out of his league when it came to politics and manipulation.Through it all he was able to maintain his integrity, and loyalty to his men.These actual accounts are a testament of the determination of one individual to meet life head-on and challenge those intrusions and aggression of others.He was labeled a Maverick by the Navy because he would not compromise his beliefs or the men he served with.Even with his directness and at times boldness they were unable to stop him as long as he had the support of his men.The story spans the gamut from a young cadet full of exuberance and high ideals to nine engine failures and dozens of life threatening incidents and hair raising combat stories, to his biggest battles challenging senior officers to do the right thing, at the risk of his own career. As his distinguished career comes to the end he finds himself battling the crippling results of medical mismanagement from the doctors at Balboa Naval Hospital.Even then he refuses to accept the inevitable and fights back to restore his dignity and physical well-being.The story ends with the Naval Hospital doing everything they can to cover up their incompetence and total disregard for the men who served.Through his internal strength and undefeatable character he never loses faith in the Navy and the men who served so gallantly.Out of shear determination and on his own he was able to overcome the debilitating affects at the hands of the Navy doctors.It is a compelling story that will cause young people to think about what lies ahead and let them see the sacrifices that are needed to serve their country and bring back the memories both good and bad for those who were there.

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Choppers Up Review

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(More customer reviews)I can tell you without reservation, that this book affected me. And not all the memories were good, either. I did not want
to put it down when I started reading, but some of the scenes and action were hard to get through. I am a former Marine (1965-1969)
and a pilot, but I didn't serve in combat. I did see planes crash (one right in front of me) and people were killed. This background
did allow me to empathize with the characters of the book. I recommend this book if you want a hard look at what combat and military
aviation (helicopters in particular) can entail. You can feel what it might be like to follow orders and at the same time have a gut
feeling that maybe you should be doing something else.

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Choppers Up! is a story of war and its futility, the young lives wasted and the devastation of landscapes and families. Warrant Officer Timothy D. Dundee is a very young helicopter pilot in an assault company in the US Army during the Vietnam War. His encounters give a graphic account of day-to-day life in combat. In his Army unit there is action, love, sex and simple military humor typical of that found in the jungles of Vietnam with men trying to do a job against impossible odds.The parallel story of Vietnamese activist Dinh Chau and his sister Nguyen provides a fascinating contrast, showing life on the other side. It also highlights the conflict among the country's people and the uncertainity of their nation.The Saigon River Massacre changes Timothy's perception of the "honorable" war. The order is given to destroy a Sampan (steamship) loaded with civilian women and children. The haunting memory of children in his gun sight changes Timothy's whole outlook on life. Clandestine "Spook" missions, in Cambodia add to Timothy's discomfort and loathing of this "unwinable" war in Vietnam.

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Helicopter Oral Exam Guide: When Used with the Oral Exam Guides, This Book Prepares You for the Oral Portion of the Private, Instrument, Commercial, ... Helicopter Checkride (Oral Exam Guide series) Review

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(More customer reviews)I used this book to study for my checkride oral. The book was a good review of all the stuff you already should know. My examiner asked a lot of questions that were taken directly from this book, which was great.

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This indispensable tool prepares helicopter pilots for their one-on-one “checkride” with an FAA examiner. Answers to the most commonly asked questions, clarification on the requirements of the written and oral portions, and study material for the exam are provided. Topics covered include certification and documents, helicopter flight-controls, weight and balance, and emergency operations.

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Principles of Helicopter Flight Review

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(More customer reviews)This is an excellent book for the beginning pilot. You DO NOT need to have a prior knowledge of physics to understand this book. If you can read and follow diagrams, you can understand the book. The text is clear and concise as are the diagrams. It gives you a full and thorough understanding of a very complex machine.
If you have a hard time understanding this book you may want to reconsider piloting a helicopter.

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Recently updated,this comprehensive handbook explains the aerodynamicsof helicopter flight, as well as how to perform typical helicopter maneuvers, unlike many aviation training manuals which are strictly how-to guides. Beginning with the basics of aerodynamics, each step of the process is fully illustrated and thoroughly explained—from the physics of helicopter flying and advanced operations to helicopter design and performance—providing helicopter pilots with a sound technical foundation on which to base their in-flight decisions. Containing discussions on the NOTAR (no tail rotor) system, strakes, and frequently misunderstood principles of airspeed and high-altitude operations, this revised edition also includes the latest procedures and regulations from the Federal Aviation Administration.

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US Helicopter Pilot in Vietnam (Warrior) Review

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(More customer reviews)The importance of the helicopter in the Vietnam War is immeasurable. Performing a myriad of duties, helicopter pilots and their crews basically revolutionized warfare. Vietnam vet Gordon Rottman examines that special breed of airmen in this informative 2008 volume from Osprey Publishing.
Though helicopters were used in Korea, that usage never approached the scale of helo ops in Nam. To pilot the thousands of helicopters the Army needed, a new breed of aviator was created - the Warrant Officer. Rottman's book charts the creation of the WO billet, how perspective candidates were recruited, the training they received, the flight gear they wore, helicopter operational procedures in Nam, typical battle experiences, etc.
The text is illustrated with 60 black & white and color photos and color artworks.
If you're looking for exciting tales of Army helicopter pilots in face-to-face shoot-outs with VC or NVA, this isn't your book. Rather it is a comprehensive and informative if dry summary of the world of an Army helicopter pilot in Vietnam. Recommended.

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One of the most enduring and vivid images of Vietnam is the helicopter. There is little doubt that the helicopter revolutionized warfare and how the war in Vietnam was fought. Helicopters lifted troops, supplies, material, equipment, and vehicles. They conducted visual reconnaissance, command and control, medical evacuation, artillery spotting, fire support, and countless administrative tasks. They were aerial weapons platforms and aerial trucks. The 40,000 pilots were the men behind this revolution. Many helicopter pilots were thrill seekers to some degree. They liked fast cars and a fast life. To "party hardy" was a common term used to describe their lifestyle. They loved to fly and the war gave them the opportunity to do that. They were little concerned with the politics of the war, the conflicts back at home, and could care less about the drug culture, sexual revolution, the environment, and other social issues that defined their generation. A common aviator's phrase was, "Who needs drugs, I'm already high."Helicopter pilots experienced a broad range of combat, from air-lift, med-evac and fire-support to landing in 'Hot LZs', in which choppers would find themselves caught in deadly high-volume crossfires.Crew protection, other than armored seats for the pilots, was minimal.There was little armor to protect vital engines, transmissions, and fuel tanks.Crashes were survivable, but aircrews suffered relatively high casualties.Enemy action was not the only cause for concern.Of the 4,642 US helicopters lost in Vietnam, over half were due to non-hostile causes-accidents, mechanical failure, weather, and other non-combat causes. Aviators had to deal with long flying hours in a less than pleasant climate, heat, humidity, dust, rapidly changing weather conditions, spare parts shortages, and spotty maintenance.All of these accumulated to make the lives of natural risk-takers more dangerous. This book will reveal their experiences from their first deployment to the deadly thrill of combat in a warzone. Accompanied by poignant photographs and written by a Vietnam veteran, this is a crucial addition to our coverage of the conflict that defined the post-war generation in America.

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KISS the Sky: Helicopter Tales Review

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(More customer reviews)Loved it! As an x-Army Huey pilot, this brought back a flood of memories from flight school. This was a well written, yet simple tale about the struggles of getting through Flight School.
Jan Hornung tells a great story. The characters are believable and the plot moves along well.
This is a wonderful book for anyone who loves helicopters or aviation in general.

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KISS the Sky: Helicopter Tales is a humorous look at flying helicopters. Whether you fly fixed-wing or rotary-wing, or you know someones second cousin twice removed who flies kites, you can fly along with Bubba Huey in this hilarious book that will have pilots and pilot wannabes of all ages rolling with laughter.Included in the book is a history of helicopter flight, women in aviation, and a lesson in how helicopters fly.

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Black Hawk (Enthusiast Color Series) Review

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(More customer reviews)A high glossy paper/photo book, this reads a lot like a manufactuers pamphlet...you will not find any criticism of the UH-60 in here. It's good, fast reading with many excellent color photos and details that would be very helpful to a modeler.
In 94 pages, the author gives you a brief overview of each version of the famous cargo helicopter of the US Army, the Black Hawk. I see this as a very enjoyable book for someone starting out with an interest in helicopters or as a supplement to other books that are more "nuts and bolts" or statistics and data oriented.
Affordable, nice to have on your bookshelf.

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In 1978, Sikorsky introduced the UH60 helicopter as a transport, medevac, special ops, escort, and reconnaissance platform to replace the UH-1 "Huey" that had become a legend in Vietnam. Nearly a quarter century hence, the "Black Hawk" remains the world's premiere military helicopter.This colorful look back at the namesake of the 2001 blockbuster film examines the development, capabilities, specifications, and active service of variants by branch of service-Army, Navy, and Air Force. Within each chapter, author Steve Tomajczyk describes the histories and specifications of task-specific variants and profiles typical missions. Included are the UH-60Q Medevac, MH-60 Night Stalkers, SH-60B Sea Hawk, MH-60G Pave Hawk special ops (infiltration and search-and-rescue), and the CH-60 Sea Hawk amphibious support aircraft, among others.

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Fragments from Vietnam: Recollections of a Helicopter Pilot Review

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(More customer reviews)Although not having served in Vietnam, I found the book's attention to details riveting and engrossing. While the "fragments" were short in length, they were packed with interesting and humorous accounts of people making the best of a difficult situation. Fragment 21 relates how disposing of captured weapons by the EOD unit turned into a hilarious prank for the pranksters but not the "victims." Fragment 15 about how the orphans of the war were treated with a little human kindness was especially moving. Once you read the entire book you'll want to go back and re-examine the Fragments in detail. An excellent read!

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Have you ever been in a museum and viewed an old, broken piece of pottery that had lain in a tomb for centuries? Although it was assembled carefully, you could not help but notice that many fragments were missing. Nonetheless, its form was easily recognizable, despite the missing shards.These are my stories. Fragments from Vietnam, compiled after many decades of lying in the dust of the tomb called Vietnam. Not all the fragments are here. Some are still missing or lay buried over there...where they should be.

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Warbird Recovery: The Hunt for a Rare World War II Plane in Siberia, Russia Review

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(More customer reviews)When Gordon sent me the book, I was excited to dig into it, but life is busy, and I didn't get a chance to read it right away. I am sorry I delayed reading it as it is an excellent story. I couldn't put it down once started. Gordon's undying passion and perseverance in the recovery of these WWII relics is impressive. I thought that I have had some pretty crazy adventures moving aircraft around here in the United States, but they are nothing compared to the situations that Gordon and his group had to endure. It makes me very thankful to live in America. Warbird Recovery is a well written story that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone, even if you are not an aviation fanatic like me. Thanks Gordon!

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April Fool's Day, 1992. Author Gordon R. Page receives a call from a business associate offering him the chance to travel to Russia in hopes of acquiring a rare World War II fighter plane. He's waited for this call for years—and it's not a joke. Packed with action, intrigue, and danger, Warbird Recovery delivers Page's gripping true story of his journey to Russia to recover the aircraft and fulfill a lifelong dream.In bitter winter conditions, Page journeys to St. Petersburg, Russia, in an attempt to recover a rare German Bf 109 fighter plane. But everything about traveling in the former Soviet Union only reinforces the vast differences between cultures. Placing a call, buying lunch, and even riding in a taxi—to say nothing of buying an aircraft—prove to be strange and dangerous.Putting his life at risk, Page discovers that he must learn to negotiate and have plenty of cash on hand to ensure both his safety and his return to the United States. Yet nothing can compare to the excitement he experiences upon finding lost aircraft. Unfortunately, chasing a childhood dream just might cost him his life.

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Price of Exit Review

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(More customer reviews)To most Americans, and in most history books, the American effor in the unpopular war in Viet Nam ended in 1970. However, many nineteen and twenty somthing year-old helicopter crews; pilots, crew chiefs, gunners and medics, continued to fly dangerous missions in support of ARVN soldiers and a dwindling number of US troops, well into 1973. In fact, the last US helicopter pilot killed in Southeast Asia gave his life in 1975.
In "The Price of Exit", Tom Marshall gives voice to those of us helicopter pilots and our crew members, living and dead, who served with honor and distinction during a period of time when few Americans knew of, and even fewer cared less, of our efforts. Marshall writes of his own participtation during this difficult time. Even though he could have written a complete book of his own valor, Marshall has elected not to do so. Rather, he writes of the valor of others.
In the spring of 1971, the Army of South Viet Nam (ARVN) embarked upon an ambitious helicopter borne invasion, called Lam Son 719, into the NVA sanctuaries of Laos. Very few Americans knew then or will recall now that the helicopters that undertook this invasion were flown by American crews.
Marshall puts a human face on young men who will never grow beyond the ages of 19, 20 and 21 they had reached that terrible spring of 1971. "The Price of Exit", in part tells of 45 days in March and April 1971 when American helicopter crew flew sortie after sortie into Laos. We are allowed to view incredible valor as these American pilots take off, time and again, only to face huge volumes of anti-aircraft fire.
But it is not just pilots Marshall pays tribute to in this wonderful work. As we are remined many of the aircraft were vrewed by equally young enlisted crew members. In many ways Marshall shows us an even higher livel of valor that was demonstrated by these crew chiefs, gunners, flight engineers, and medics. "The Price of Exit" tells us how, without questioning, these unsung heroes climbed willingly in the rear of helicopters they had no control over and made the harrowing trips into an airborne hell.
We are instructed by Marshall that the US emplowyed 659 helicopters in Lam Son 719. Of these 659 helicopters, 444 were shot down or otherwise damged by hostile fire. We are also instructed that it was the best of American youth in those 659 helicopters. Without these American helicotpers and crews Lam Son 719 could never have been undertaken.
What Marshall has accomplished in "The Price of Exit" is to tell the story of the uncommon valor shown by young helicopter crews at places with names like Ripcord, Khe Sanh, Lolo, Sophia, and Brown. The reader may not be as familiar with these places as one might be with those visted by the World War II generation of airman. However, thanks to Marshall's efforts histroy will now recall a time when young men willingly paid "The Price of Exit" from an unpopular war, not for their country, but for each other.

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"The risk of a fatal catastrophe was constant. The NVA was the enemy, but the ultimate opponent was, quite simply, death. . . ."For assault helicopter crews flying in and around the NVA-infested DMZ, the U.S. pullout from Vietnam in 1970-71 was a desperate time of selfless courage. Now former army warrant officer Tom Marshall of the Phoenix, C Company, 158th Aviation Battalion, 101st Airborne, captures the deadly mountain terrain, the long hours flown under enormous stress, the grim determination of hardened pilots combat-assaulting through walls of antiaircraft fire, the pickups amid exploding mortar shells and hails of AK fire, the nerve-racking string extractions of SOG teams from North Vietnam. . . . And, through it all, the rising tension as helicopter pilots and crews are lost at an accelerating pace.It is no coincidence that the Phoenix was one of the most highly decorated assault helicopter units in I Corps. For as the American departure accelerated and the enemy added new, more powerful antiaircraft weapons, the helicopter pilots, crew chiefs, and gunners paid the heavy price of withdrawal in blood. For more than 30 Percent of Tom Marshall's 130 helicopter-school classmates, the price of exit was their lives. . . .

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Inside the President's Helicopter: Reflections of a White House Senior Pilot Review

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(More customer reviews)This decorated war hero, who started flying MASH missions during the Korean War and was shot down in Vietnam, is also a master storyteller, and he's woven his rich, cinematic, impossibly interesting life into a remarkable book.
Boyer's life, in one sense, can be measured in numbers. He had 6,900 hours of helicopter flight time, 368 combat hours, 580 "code one" presidential missions, 451 Richard M. Nixon flights, and 55 flights with at least one foreign head of state on board. Two forced landings. No crashes. He flew in 49 states and 17 countries.
But on another level, his story is more accurately framed by the people and places he encountered. His story starts in Akron, Ohio, where he grew from a Depression-era child into a football star at Ohio University. We travel with him through the Korean DMZ to the jungles of Venezuela, to the mountains of Peru, from St. Peter's Square to the pyramids of Egypt, and everywhere in between.
He flew five U.S. presidents, Gen. William Westmoreland, Henry Kissinger, Anwar Sadat, Hosni Mubarak, King Hussein, Charles de Gaulle, Robert Kennedy, Nguyen Van Thieu, Leonid Brezhnev, John Steinbeck, Bob Hope and John Wayne.
He was also the first pilot to fly a sitting president and first lady into a combat zone and recruited the first three African-American pilots to fly for the White House, one of which was his co-pilot the day Nixon resigned.
That iconic day when Nixon said goodbye, Aug. 9, 1974, it was Boyer who shuttled Nixon away from the White House.
Today, that very helicopter, Army One, is on display at the Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda, Calif. It was found and restored by Boyer, who remembers that last day all too well.
At 81, Boyer still recalls things in razor-sharp detail. Recalling a death-defying goodwill trip to the mountains of Peru with Pat Nixon after a catastrophic earthquake, Boyer chuckles at the absurdity of the circumstances. "Helicopters are not supposed to fly as high as we did that day. But we made it in and out, and it's still one of the most rewarding missions I ever undertook. In all that devastation, to see what the first lady accomplished was really something. She made a difference up there. She was a remarkably graceful person."
The book, for all of its touch-and-go moments of peril and somber historic reality, is also punctuated with some very funny stories revealing how chaotic things can become within the chief executive's inner circle. Boyer takes the reader inside the most exclusive of bubbles with an honest, no-holds-barred voice of reason that often makes one feel as if they are co-piloting alongside this vaunted flyer.

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As a Skywitness to History, helicopter pilot LTC Gene T. Boyer flew tours of duty in Korea and Vietnam before joining the Executive Flight Detachment, gradually working his way up to the White House Senior Pilot position during the LBJ, Nixon, and Ford administrations.

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A Pilot's Guide to Aircraft and Their Systems (General Aviation Reading series) Review

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(More customer reviews)There are very little, if any, few diagrams and the explanations are given to you as though you already have a background with electricity and mechanical items. The sections you perceive to be full of information are probably only 3 pages in length. The diagrams are there to show you what the instruments looks like, but no indications on the diagram of how it would work. Not a book I would recommend to people who want to be in-depth about their systems and planes.

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Pilot-oriented rather than mechanic-oriented, this guide to aircraft systems is designed specifically to help general aviation pilots understand how aircraft systems work so that they can better use them in flight. In order to operate modern aircraft in the manner that the designers and manufacturers intend, pilots must understand what each handle or knob controls and must know what to expect from each system when it is employed. The understanding that pilots gain from this manual will help them enjoy their flying more and make them safer, more efficient aviators.

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Tell Me A War Story Review

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(More customer reviews)George's descriptions of his experiences throughout his military career makes the reader appreciate the daring and bravery of army aviators and helicopter pilots in both peace and war. In peace, he received awards for his aid in the flood relief efforts in Nicaragua. In war, his exploits in Vietnam earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Bronze Star medals. His exploits in Vietnam during an ambush by the Vietcong on an American convoy can be summed up by statements in his DFC award: "With total disregard for the withering hail of enemy fire, he continued to lead his attack.....through a murderous crossfire......" For a truly inspiring experience, this is a "must read."

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This manuscript is a compilation of individual stories from my experiences as an Army Aviator and instructor pilot during the period from 1956 to 1973. The venues are Central and South America, Korea, USA, Japan and Vietnam.Each story is introduced by a first person cliffhanger of a few paragraphs in italics followed by a more detailed story.

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Working Hard With the Rescue Helicopter (Tonka Truck Storybooks) Review

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(More customer reviews)Wonderful, fast-paced, but still very detailed, description of how a rescue helicopter works.

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A rescue helicopter pilot spends his day saving people caught in dangerous situations such as fires, floods, and hurricanes before returning home for his daughter's birthday party.

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