5 comments about Snake Pilot: Flying the Cobra Attack Helicopter in Vietnam.

1. This is one good book and a good read. Good account of Vietnam and a good account of he thrill of flying choppers. Recommended



2. Excellent reading for a former Cobra Jock. Keep the faith and may see you at VHPA someday



3. I took a special interest in reading this book because Randy Zahn and I shared many of the same mission experiences.
   He flew the 'High Bird ' while I was the radio operator on the ground for the Charlie Troop Blues.
   Randy holds back no emotions in his book which he and many others felt while serving in that 'unpopular war'.
   By all means A Must Read!
   
   
   
   Rob Struck (Blue India) 1970
   Charlie Troop 1/9th



4. This is a teenagers recollections of the helicopter war in Vietnam. Most of it is reconstructions of letters and tapes he sent home to his folks. I'm trying to think of a kind word to say about it, but I can't.



5. outfrigginstanding! read this book! ! thanks for your service and sacrifice randy....and for putting your rvn experience on paper...steve heinz...qui nhon...60/70

5 comments about Gunbird Driver: A Marine Huey Pilot's War in Vietnam (Blue Jacket Bks).

1. Hollywood tends to portray conflicts by making an icon of the weapon involved. Think of the Colt Peacemaker of the Western gunslinger. Or the Tommy gun of the Thirties gangster. Or the Huey helicopter gunbird that has dominated our vision of American wars starting in Vietnam and continuing right on through this evening's news broadcast. Talk about your icons.
   Yet until now not a lot has been written about the UH-1E, the Bell helcopter with its Lycoming engine and with its side-mounted M-60 machine guns and its nose-aimed rockets. Less still is known about the people who wielded them for the first time as a serious weapon of war in Vietnam. Author David A. Ballentine's book is noteworth because it can be read on several levels. it is a memoir to be sure, but unlike the standard issue series of anecdotes that come from military retirees. What it is, instead, is a back porch conversation, with plenty of saltiness and lots of appropriate expletives such as what one might get listening to the man himself.
   The story line covers Ballentine's time as a young Marine lieutenant pilot flying a Huey with an observation squadron during 1966-1967, a year before the Tet Offensive. The book is an easy read for the ordinary civilian despite the military acronyms and technical idiosyncrasies of the Huey as a piece of machinery. Ballentine gives the aircraft its own personality, one with plenty of foibles and flaws, but also with a certain workmanlike solidness that makes both machine and the men it carried understandable and admirable.
   The more military oriented reader can find plenty of action and adventure to his taste. Ballentine and his unit provided suppressing fire when troops went into operations and when they came out again. It covered for medical evacuation helicpoters that took out the casulaties. Counter-fire was a constant hazard and Ballentine's craft caught its share. One of the more interesting facets of this book is that even if you've never ridden in a helicopter, his portrayal of the Huey makes the reader confident he could sit in the second seat and know right where the dials and pedals were located, perhaps even to take the stick if hostile gunfire equired. This is no mean feat of writing.
   This is a book worth reading and pondering. Vietnam may have been a long time ago but the story is still going on.
   James Srodes, author, Washington, DC



2. What struck me about this account of communicating what it was like to be a Marine aviator During the Vietnam War was David Ballentine's amazing recall of minutia to the finest detail of events that occurred over 40 years ago! Stationed in "Ky Ha". I corps, South Vietnam, Ballentine discuss squadron life during the 1966-1967 period of the war prior to the January, 1968 "Tet Offensive". At this juncture of the war, most Americans felt that the war was winnable. Chickenhawk Despite his air group being assigned to the northernmost military subdivision of South Vietnam, the reader encounters the intracacies of "Mag-36", the air group that Ballentine was attached, as well as missions that were flown at Khe Sanh, the DMZ (the "Demilitarized Zone" which separated hostile North Vietnam from U.S. supported South Vietnam), the area west of Phu Bai, and even covertly into Laos. Across The Fence: The Secret War In Vietnam Ballentine instructs the reader that the type of helicopter flown in Vietnam was a model made by a company called "Bell", and it's powerful 1,00 horse power turbine engine was provided by "Lycoming" Without Parachutes: How I Survived 1,000 Attack Helicopter Combat Missions In Vietnam There were 3 models of the helicopter he flew, the "UH-1" a/k/a the "Huey". Huey: The Story of a Helicopter Assault Pilot in Vietnam There was the "D" and "B" model, as well as the "E". To The Limit: An Air Cav Huey Pilot in Vietnam The "D" is stilll in use today, and was mainly used for troop lift. The "B" model was used as a gunship for land use, and the "E' model was used strictly by Marines out at sea. Ballentine teaches the reader that there are many veterans still alive today thanks to the well constructed and highly crash survivable cabins of these versatile Hueys. The Huey was duel controlled, with the pilot always sitting on the right, and the copilot on the left. In terms of firepower, this was an awesome machine. With the knowledge that there were 2 "M-60"s on each side's cabin door for the crew chief and door gunner, as well as 2 front mounted "M-60" for the pilot and copilot, it a true mystery as to how the NVA was able to persevere against this areal weapon. Doorgunner (Soldier of Fortune) You had a total of 6 "M-60"s firing at one time pumping out 500-600 rounds a minute! The Huey also carried either 7 or 19 rockets , one rocket pod for each side of the craft. Cleared Hot!: A Marine Combat Pilot's Vietnam Diary (Special warfare series) The Huey carried enough fuel for up to 2 hours of flight, and "ferry tanks" could be added in the cabin to extend range and flying time. This book is deep and rich in anecdotes about missions and combat assaults Ballentine was involved in. Price of Exit The most common missions detailed in this book involved flying armed escort for troop insertion and extraction from battlefields, medical evacuation and pickup of wounded, and escorting ground convoys. Pucker Factor 10: Memoir of a U.S. Army Helicopter Pilot in Vietnam Ballentine's unit was also involved with small unit insertion and extraction of special recon teams ("Special Forces" groups called "S.O.G. i.e. "Studies and Observation Groups"), aerial reconnaissance of the enemy, and "V.I.P. Hauling" i.e. transporting "big wigs" i.e. generals, entertainers, politicians, etc. Running Recon: A Photo Journey with SOG Special Ops Along the Ho Chi Minh Trail Other missions Ballentine flew were "TAC" (tactical air control) of jet attack aircraft as well as overall coordination of major aviation operations, missions involving spotting the enemy and adjusting outgoing artillery gunfire for both land and naval offshore units, resupply of small units out in the bush in inaccessible by land outposts, test flights, and finally administrative runs for the delivery and pickup of people, aircraft parts and supplies. What I enjoyed most about this book were the rare stories that no textbook about the Vietnam War will ever tell, such as how Ballentine and his men made the best of a bad situation in relieving themselves of toiletry functions without modern Western lavatory facilities in remote jungle and hillsite outposts, the rat that was eating Ballentine and his men's shoelaces (he thought at first it was a practical joke!) and finally the Viet Cong "runner" who shot at Ballentine's Huey and ran away and survived, despite all of the pursuing Huey's 6 "M-60's" and rockets being fired at him! Also discussed is the heartwarming obligation one Marine helicopter crew had to another to ensure pickup and retrieval if another went down. There are many more many more of these quaint stories laced amongst campaigns, rescues, combat assaults, and more! I enjoyed this book so much that I put it in my pile labeled "to be reread". I am 100% sure, if you have any interest in America's war in Vietnam, that you will feel the same about "Gunbird Driver". Tremendous story! Good job, Mr. Ballentine!



3. Marine Col. David Ballentine has done a superb job of "opening up" his phase of the Vietnam War to all readers. He is often a master of understatement and yet his recollections come through with great clarity and detail. He has laid bare his 13 months in the Republic of Vietnam as a UH-1E pilot flying missions throughout the I Corps TAOR (Tactical Area of Operations), which was the northernmost military sector just south of the DMZ and North Vietnam. His work was primarily against a well-trained North Vietnamese Army; one that we all respected. I served with Dave for a year before Vietnam (VMO-1), then went over to RVN with and was assigned to a sister squadron at Marble Mountain (VMO-2) while he went to Ky Ha (VMO-6). His squadron mates in RVN had been my friends. We had many similar missions and experiences during our 13 months flying gunships, medevacs, recon insertions and retractions, tactical air control airborne and occasional VIPs. Many details of those experiences have been lost to me over time. It takes a genius to recall and express in detail the effects of war as seen from within. I can assure the reader that accuracy was not compromised in any way. Even though this was meant to leave a tidbit for his family, Col. Ballentine left me looking forward to more from his pen, computer or pencil. Let's have more, Dave. SAEPE EXPERTUS, SEMPER FIDELIS, FRATRES AETERNI



4. Good book. Reminds me of my time there. Some of it was good some not.



5. My father, Al "Koko" Kohanowich was shot flying combat operations with VMO-6 from Ky-Ha on Feb 23rd, 1966. David Ballantine was the replacement pilot sent when Dad was shipped out. I have spent the past few years researching the history of VMO-6, and this will be a welcome addition to that research. Dad's got a copy now, and I'm ordering one as well.

5 comments about In The Company Of Heroes.

1. You may be familiar with the story of Blackhawk Down. This is the incredible story of Michael Durant, whose helicopter was shot down over Somalia in 1993. With a broken back, compound fracture of his femur and other assorted injuries he was kept as a prisoner-of-war by warlord Mohammed Aidid. A fascinating story of thought and emotion of someone who lived it.



2. This is an excellent book, but I would suggest reading Mark Bowden's Black Hawk Down before reading this book so you will have more of an understanding of what went on. With this being said I commend CW4 Durant for writing this book to give us a better understanding of the terrible ordeal he went through.



3. In the Company of Heroes is a very gripping tale about Mike Durant, a helicopter pilot shot down during The Battle of Mogadishu and then taken prisoner by the enemy. He recollects his capture and chronicles every event down to the finest detail. Throughout the duration of the book, Durant sends his readers on an emotional rollercoaster, culminating in a memorable and touching ending. Durant sugarcoats virtually nothing and his ability to shine light on the excellence of his fallen comrades and fellow soldiers involved in the operation is certainly admirable. Durant is a class act and a good man, no doubt about it.
   
   Not only does Durant give us information about The Battle of Mogadishu and his capture, he also gives us interesting recollections about his military career, from a rough experience in SERE school to a high risk mission in Panama. He manages to keep the reader's interest through these chapters, before returning to his capture.
   
   Despite the gripping tale about Durant's time in enemy hands, as well as an interesting and informative scope on his military career, perhaps the most impressive aspect of this book is the honor Durant gives to his comrades in the military. His memories of close friends lost in Mogadishu and his description of them (particularly his friend and fellow pilot Donovan Briley) allow you an inside look on his pain and helps you understand one of the horrible drawbacks of war.
   
   In the Company of Heroes is a great read for anyone looking for a good book, but it is a must read for anyone who enjoyed Black Hawk Down, or is looking at a career in the military, possible as a pilot. Compliments to Michael Durant and two thumbs up to this book!



4. Michael Durant does a fantastic job describing his experiences. He provides great insight into various operations and schools within the US Army. For example, he describes his missions in operations: Just Cause, Gothic Serpent, and Desert Storm. He also refers back to SERE school where he parallels what he's been taught to his real world experience.
   
   All in all, an absolutely captivating story told with great detail.



5. Mr Durant survived the horror of fierce battle, and for that he is a hero. I disagree with his warm comments about Henry Ross Perot, i.e. that had Perot successfully won the presidency in 1992, he would have been a more capable commander and chief during America's contribution in Somalia. It is important to remember that it was intended to be a peace keeping mission. Perot has served veterans well but his at times impulsive nature would have been to the detriment of the US had he become president. I'm NOT asserting that Clinton did a good job as commander and chief, Durant is right that tank support should have backed up the mission, and indeed it is reasonable to conclude that tank support could have saved the lives of more personnel. I can't help but wonder if Durant's crew would have survived if he hid them in the tail boon of the helicopter. However, the benefit of hindsight in a life or death situation is not a fair assessment. Yet I wish those mini guns had the A/C power they needed after the crash, as Gordon and Shughart could have possibly held the mob off completely with those. Again, wishful thinking does not change the reality of those killed in combat, but the bravery of Durant, Gordon, and Shughart is a credit to the US Armed Forces.
   
   Nicholas R.W. Henning - Australian Author

No comments about Commercial Pilot Test Prep 2010: Study and Prepare for the Commercial Airplane, Helicopter, Gyroplane, Glider, Balloon, Airship and Military Competency FAA Knowledge Exams (Test Prep series).

5 comments about The God Machine: From Boomerangs to Black Hawks: The Story of the Helicopter.

1. Mr. Chiles has produced one of the finest books on a very intergal part of our society. I know how important the helicopter is as I flew many hours in them while in Vietnam as a 19 year old Airborne Infantryman working for a Long Range Patrol Team, 1966 & 1967. Mr. Chiles' research was very thorough as he provides background and insight into this amazing piece of aeronautical wizadry. I for one am very impressed and appreciative of Mr. Chiles approach to the subject as the helicopter has changed so many aspects of our lives. Good book, one to own and well worth the time to read. Thank you Mr. Chiles for all the hard work.



2. James R. Chiles' The God Machine takes an important place among a very small literature on a vital piece of modern technology - the helicopter.
   
   Writings about or involving helicopters are plentiful. A Google search using helicopter and history turns up more than 10 million hits. Doing the same for just books in Amazon.com turns up over 12,000 and almost a thousand at Barnes & Noble. However, when you try to find just those that make any real effort to cover the breadth and depth of the subject -- the ideas underlying, development, application, and impact of this technology - numbers drop to a handful. Among those, most are either dated - which only takes a few years, given the pace of change in the world -- or focus solely on military aspects. So, even if it did nothing more than just try to cover the waterfront, The God Machine would be a valuable book.
   
   In fact, Chiles has gone well beyond that. He's presented key issues and a fair amount of technical information in terms that almost any lay reader can understand. An example is his discussion of the problem of controlling a helicopter in a hover - the invaluable characteristic that distinguishes it from almost all other aircraft. He explains how this problem frustrated early visionaries and inventors and how it was finally overcome - down to the specific hardware involved and how it works this magic.
   
   In taking a broad view, Chiles also discusses the huge gaps between vision and reality that have been a persistent part of the story. One of these gaps involved the idea of a simple, cheap device that would displace the family car and reduce increasing congestion on highways. This vision butted against the reality of a technology that defied finding a practical combination of cost, capability, and reliability that could put the product in the hands of the masses. He shows how these same factors restricted ownership and use to the wealthy, companies, and public agencies meeting special needs. He shows how various inventors tried, always unsuccessfully, to overcome these obstacles.
   
   Chiles also shows how the helicopter achieved a unique place in meeting special needs - especially for the military and in such activities as arctic exploration, servicing offshore oil platforms, civilian search-and-rescue, and real-time news gathering. He also shows how evolving social and political contexts have shaped attitudes toward helicopters - especially opposition to their noise, as well as concerns about government spying on private citizens.
   
   Finally he shows, as in the case of helicopters rescuing mountain climbers in Alaska, how availability of this technology has sometimes led to a false sense of security and personal recklessness that the public winds up paying the bills for.
   
   While this book lacks citation to sources for specific information, as one who has worked extensively on history involving helicopters, I know that Chiles has also made accessible to general readers information found only in some rare and expensive sources. Beyond that, he's drawn on interviews with and direct observation of helicopter pilots and users - to the extent of having learned to fly a helicopter himself. Anecdotes flowing from these sources give his writing an immediate, human touch that increases entertainment, as well as informational value.
   
   No book will ever be the last word on rotorcraft, but The God Machine certainly meets a real need. If you want to or can buy only one book on helicopters, this is the one.
   
   [Dr. James W. Williams is the former U.S. Army Aviation Branch Historian and author of A History of Army Aviation: From Its Beginnings to the War on Terror (2005)]



3. 
   
   From humankind's early aspirations to fly by flapping wings of wax and feathers to the roar and flap-flap-flap of today's sophisticated helicopters in war, civilian transport, construction, logging, mercy flights and search and rescue, Jim Chiles pens a sophisticated and entertaining history of "The God Machine." All of the technical matter necessary to understand choppers, how they developed and how they fly, comes clearly and easily to the non-mechanical readers as well to helicopter engineers, thanks to Chiles' skilled exposition and his deep research into the wingless mechanisms we often see in daily life, news reports, and adventure films. "The God Machine" promises to add value to any library, including those in homes where parents leave good books out to tempt offspring into reading and therefore expanding their mental life. In short, "The God Machine" is a fact book for all, a worthy read on a fascinating subject, a book that uplifts your knowledge and raises your awareness of one of humanity's engineering marvels.



4. I agree with the other reviewers, there is a paucity of good books on helicopter history. Unfortunately this does not remedy the situation. Perhaps it should be subtitled "stories of the helicopter" and even more specificially "American stories of the helicopter." "The God machine" was Amerocentric, disjointed, and in several instances, painful to read. If the narrative had been tightened up even a little it probably would have been entertaining, but as it was I found myself being annoyed by spelling errors and incorrect verbiage. I think Mr. Chiles' editor should be fired. If you want a solid primer on helicopters look at the Wikipedia page.



5. This is one of the best and up to date books on rotocraft that I have read. It is an extensive, thorough work which is engaging and informative. I like how the author develops rotocraft theory and traces the origins of the machine from the simple early developments to modern technological advances. The pace of the book is effective and it logically flows to ensure that clear, concise coverage is given to all areas and stages of development of helicopters in both a technological and an historic perspective, which is rarely seen in books on rotocraft. It is also quite entertaining and is a great book both for the aviator and the general population. I highly recommend this book.

5 comments about Marine One.

1. The latest from James W. Huston. As a helicopter pilot and physician, I thoroughly enjoyed the flow, plot, and details. I discovered him earlier this year, and I believe I have read all his books, and enjoyed each and every one of them. I read 'em faster than he can write them. His clever use of Constitutional details, by several twists of the same phrase gave him a number of new plots. Appreciate his flying details from his Tomcat and TopGun days. Keep 'em coming!



2. SPOILER ALERT:
   
   There was a lot that I did enjoy about this book even if all the aviation/technical facts might not have been spot on. It kept my interest all the way through but....
   
   I definitely agree with some of the other reviews - there was NO character development on most of the characters in the story. I have no idea what the main character (Nolan) looks like or what his personal interests are. Same goes for his legal associate, Rachel, who he spends the entire story with. (As I type this, I can just hear some of the rough and tumble guys out there 'who needs all that in a good old action book? Well, I am female. I love action, adventure stories. And guess what? I spend a ***LOT*** of money every year on books.) I noticed he dedicated this book to his own wife and family but if he treats them like he did the character wife in this story, it is a wonder he is still married. The wife's name is mentioned a few times and only ONCE in the whole book does he actually speak to her or have any interaction with her and it is towards the end of the book that you find out he has children. Now if my investigator (and best friend) had been ground up into hamburger I do believe I might be a little worried about my family and might be speaking to my spouse about it. Not our hero! No worries about anyone he works with, either, except one short blurb that they should be careful and check for car bombs. He just blithely goes blundering on, seemingly with no one's welfare being considered, despite having a multitude of alphabet agencies after him from around the world.
   
   Also, another review mentioned all the dangling plot threads. Who DID kill Tinny Byrd? Did the First Lady and Collins have an affair or what was the explanation of their little tete a tetes? Why did Collins and his wife have separate bedrooms, repeatedly brought up in the book but never explained?
   
   As I said at the beginning, I mostly enjoyed the book despite its faults. But there were enough negatives about it that I won't rush out to read another of James Huston's books soon.



3. Marine One
   
   
   Huston is a master storyteller, often combining political suspense with fast-paced courtroom drama. His latest thriller is also his best. It grabs the reader from the first word and does not let up. On the first page the President's helicopter, Marine One, crashes and kills the President and everyone else on board. Attorney Mike Nolan, a reserve Marine helicopter pilot himself, is hired to represent the French manufacturer of the helicopter in a criminal investigation and a wrongful death lawsuit by the First Lady. Nolan knows that in order to prevail, he must find out what caused the helicopter to crash and why the President chose to fly to Camp David in a horrible storm.
   
   Huston's bio says he is an aviation attorney in real life; he clearly is an expert on aviation and litigation. He uses his expertise to tell a brilliant story, filled with political intrigue, suspense and excellent courtroom drama. Once I started reading this outstanding book, I could not put it down. It is a sophisticated thriller that stands above others in this genre. I strongly recommend it.
   
   Nita Woodruff
   Macon, GA



4. I thought that this was going to be some kind of thriller due to all of the quotes on the book, but no... this is a pondering investigative legal book.
   
   I dont have too much to say about Marine One. Not much happens. In the opening pages the US president dies in a horrible helicopter crash. The rest of the book is dry legal wrangling that is about as exciting as chopped liver.
   
   I think that the legal part could have merited a higher review if it had been cleverly conceived. But again... no.
   
   Huston spends hundreds of pages building up a yawning legal argument, only to introduce at the very end a totally out of left field rabbit from a hat. The cavalry rides in under the guise of a last second totally beyond all hope bit of evidence. Yawn again.
   
   Im not a huge fan of books that tell one story only to change face in the very last pages and give you an ending that would otherwise be impossible.
   
   Skip this book!!!



5. I enjoyed the book but as with other reviewers I wish it went into more detail about many of the questions that were brought up. A few more pages would have made a big difference in my overall rating.

5 comments about Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide Fifth Edition (Jane's Recognition Guides).

1. I really don't know what to think about this book... it seems to me that the cooperation between Jane's and the Smithsonian isn't working at all.
   
   If I took my old (late '80 and mid '90) recognition guides or the mini-guides published by Harper-Collins in the '90 and compare these with the new revised editions of the 2000, I can't feel anything but disappointment.
   
   The back cover says: "The essential guide to the world's aircraft".
   Essential is the word here.
   
   Graphically beautiful - the photos are outstanding nothing to say about it - but it's all.
   I found more data and specs in the early pocketbooks than in this all new edition, not to talk about the booklets published by Airlife in their "Vital Guide to" series, maybe less complete in the number of specimens presented, but absolutely more satisfying from the point of view of the data presented per aircraft shown.
   
   Seeing the steep price tag ($ 24,95 for a new copy) I'm really beginning to think about looking elsewhere to find what I need.
   For the moment being, I bought also (but I'm still waiting the delivery) the original Jane's All The World Aircraft (unfortunately an old - 1990' vintage - edition `cause the most recently published are absolutely out of discussion with their prices in the $ 250+ for a used copy).
   Hope this one - being a pro-guide - will be more useful.



2. As the title suggests, this book may be useful to take to an airport or an airshow and identify the aircraft present at those locations. The information presented is somewhat limited, but sufficient to provide a detailed explanation on each aircraft. Each of the aircraft in this book have one page dedicated it, and the page contains color photograph or two, specifications, history and some relevant facts, as well as a three-view drawing of the aircraft, which is useful in its identification. The drawbacks I found are that not all modern aircraft are in this book (the E-2 Hawkeye is missing, for example), but overall, it is very up-to-date.



3. This book is part of the Jane's Recognition Guide series. Other
   recognition guides include: Airline, Space, Train, Vintage Aircraft,
   Guns, Special Forces, Warship, Tank. Great aircraft recognition book
   with the following chapters: Civil Jet Airliners; Civil Prop Airliners;
   Civil Utility Aircraft; Business Jets and Turboprops; Private Light
   Aircraft; Civil Helicopters; Combat Aircraft; Military Training Aircraft;
   Combat Support Aircraft; Military Helicopters; Glossary of Acronyms and
   Terms; International Civil Aircraft Markings; National Military Aircraft
   Markings. Has a color photo of each aircraft along with information such
   as: History; Accommodation; Cargo; Max Speed; Range; Dimensions;
   Variants; Operators; Armament; Features. A future edition may include
   aircraft such as: Kawasaki XP-1; Grumman F-14A Tomcat (Iran); AIDC AT-3
   Tzu-Chiang; Canadair CL-41/CT-114 Tutor; Fouga Aerospatiale CM-170
   Magister; PZL-130 Orlik; Rockwell (Boeing) T-2 Buckeye ?; DHC
   (Bombardier) DHC-4A Caribou; Ilyushin IL-18/20/22 Coot ?; Bolkow
   (MBB/Eurocopter) Bo 105; Boeing C-22 (B-727); Boeing C-40 Clipper; Boeing
   C-32A; Boeing P-8; UH-72A Lakota; Boeing YAL-1 Airborne Laser; Northrop
   F-5N; Boeing OC-135B; VH-71 Kestrel; Boeing 787; Ilyushin Il-28 (H-5);
   MiG-17 (J-5); Xian JH-7 (FBC-1); T-6 Texan; T-28 Trojan; Harbin SH-5,
   PS-5; Beriev Be-12; Beriev A-40, Be-42; Airbus A400M; An-28 Cash;
   An-225 Mriya; Boeing E-4B. An idea would be to create two books from
   this one-one civil aircraft and the other one military aircraft-with more
   aircraft and information. Related books include: Jane's All the World's
   Aircraft; Jane's Aircraft Upgrades; Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World
   War I; Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II; Jane's American Fighting
   Aircraft of the 20th Century; The Naval Institute Guide to World Military
   Aviation; past editions of Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guides; The
   Encyclopedia of Modern Aircraft (2006).



4. Book is great, really helpful. Lists the different aircraft in each of it's separate categories (commercial jet, civil utility, etc.) and they're in alphabetical order, making things easy to find. Really useful. It lists all the different models of each plane, production, specs and everything else you need to know. Great guide.



5. Jane's is the best in the business I've ever seen.
   I highly recommended Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide Fifth Edition.
   It has been a great addition to my library.
   , Shaun

5 comments about The Night Stalkers.

1. Night Stalkers grips you and hangs on. Durant's Faith in his God and his fellow soldiers is inspiring. The only "survivor book" that tops it is Marcus Lutrell's "Lone Survivor".



2. Not as gripping and entertaining as his first book In The Company of Heroes, This book was disappointing by comparison, and read like a history book.



3. 
   As other have noted it is more historical than In The Company of Heroes and that is perhaps its strength.
   
   Durant and his co-authors trace the evolution of the Night Stalkers from the flaming tragedy of aborted Iranian hostage attempt that doomed the Carter administration. The dilemma of the Iranian operation was that it required both long range helicopters that would not look out of place on a carrier deck and warrior pilots. The mistake was to focus on the machines over the pilots.
   
   To reach full effectiveness in the operations which require air assets the special forces community needed a dedicated air component rather than borrowing assets for various missions.
   
   Night Stalkers provides a great history, information on a number of very challenging missions and details of the warriors who made it happen.
   
   Highly recommended.



4. Yes....hard to read for me.....a new Night Stalker mom......will eventually but until then my husband is reading it and tells me what he's read.....he really is enjoying it, learning a lot......likes the way the author explains everything. Learned some things about history we didn't know before.



5. The author, Michael Durant, tells his story of captivity as a prisoner of war in Somalia (Battle of the Black Sea). This book is a great compliment to Blackhawk Down by Bowden. Durant also sprinkles his story with other missions he was part of while a U.S. Army helicopter pilot. The book is historically accurate and the author (with co-author Steve Hartov) writes in a cohesive and flowing manner that is easily understood. I regret waiting so long in buying and reading this book. An excellent story that is well presented and narrated. One of the better books out there that combine history, warfare, and biography.

5 comments about Apache: Inside the Cockpit of the World's Most Deadly Fighting Machine.

1. I really enjoyed this book.Learned alot about the war in afghanistan and U.K. apaches and pilots.Had to reference glossary alot cause of all the abbreviations but author writes well and keeps the story exciting and moves right along.If you like helicopters and war stories this is for you.



2. Ed Macy is as humble as he is courageous. Apache is an outstanding account of what it takes to fly the Apache Helicopter and a book about a very courageous pilot.
   
   The writer provides an in-depth look at the Apache's capabilities, performance and what is required to be able to fly it successfully.
   
   The book is also an excellent story of the courage of the pilot and his comrades in trying to save another comrade.
   
   And the book is well written, interesting, with the right amount of detail and moves at a good pace. Highly recommended to anyone with an interest in the Apache helicopter or wanting to read what is essentially the diary of a courageous and capable warfighter.



3. I'm an airplane guy, not so much into helicopters. I want to learn more about the air fighting in Afghanistan. I finished reading 2 books about fast jet air war, one by a Rafale pilot and "Joint Force Harrier". Both were very interesting but not riveting. Riveting is the least you can say about Ed Macy's book! It put into perspective very clearly the difference between the almost impersonal fast jet war and the very (extremely?)personal, close contact with the troops war of the Apache pilots. It is also very well written, combining missions info with day to day routine (Rocco anyone?). I reread twice the last few chapters to make sure I didn't miss anything. [...]



4. An excerpt from this book was printed in Air & Space Magazine, which is why I ordered it. I guess the rescue attempt for which these folks are well known in the UK was little covered elsewhere ; a shame, since it was such a gutsy move.
   
   The book is well written and accessible to readers with a non-military,or even non military aviation background. There is enough technical information to satisfy the military folks in allied fields, and the jargon/acronyms used are not impenetrable, and whose absence in any case would subvert the accurate portrayal of the job.
   
   The rescue attempt is by no means the total of the book, but is one of the outstanding missions in a job where few operational missions are 'routine', and effectively describes the capabilities of the crews and the the machines, with no histrionics, as is the habitual understated British manner. Credit to all involved, from the support folks to the aircrew themselves. And a timely reminder, without involvement of a political viewpoint, that the UK Military, as challenged as they are by historically (and continuing) botched procurement decisions, has folks who are at the top of their game, and make a significant contribution.



5. After you read Ed Macy's description of the Apache pilot's requirements for multi-tasking, eye - hand physical coordination, timing, G-force endurance, heat tolerance, and the myriad of instruments to monitor early in the book, you almost feel unqualified to read any further! These pilots are Super Human! How could you possibly read a book requiring such expertise in aviator skills, and still acquire targets, monitor weapons and ammunition totals, and fight in an all out war! But you take on the challenge and read on. Macy straps you into an Apache AH MK1 and takes you on the ride of your life!
   I REALLY got into this book! You feel the heat, the grit of prop-washed sand, smell the oil and metal. You get some insight as to how it feels to be living in a war zone.
   You experience some of the military politics, the camaraderie and team work with fellow pilots, and the adrenaline rush as you take off to engage the enemy.
   Just wait until the bullets start flying!!
   This book has maps to help you find your way on various missions and follow the action, a fantastic port and starboard view of the Apache aircraft with descriptions, that allows you to become familiar with it's parts, electronic equipment, and weapons . Things every armchair or experienced aviator needs to know.
   The book builds up to a very tense nail bitter mission - only you have no time to bite your nails - you're too busy flying. I found Ed Macy's experiences in Afghanistan to be thrilling and captivating, and I could experience it all without the fear of actual bullets piercing my dear old body. (Although I did find myself getting out of my recliner a few times and doing a damage assessment of my body during the course of reading this book)
   As a former military aviator ( Reconn aircrew) I ate this story up with a spoon and hated to see it end. If you like books of this genre, you will love "Apache".

5 comments about Chickenhawk.

1. I'm a former Navy helicopter pilot and I read Chickenhawk the first time while I was on active duty in the mid-1980s. It's a great war story for anyone, but for a helicopter pilot with some time in the Huey, I felt like I was in the cockpit with the author. I also learned some things about handling a helicopter in Robert Mason's book that I wish I'd learned in flight school -- it made me a better, safer pilot. Now twenty years later, I've reread the book, and it is just as exciting and hard to put down as it ever was. If you'd like to read a great war story, this is it. Even better if you've ever flown a helicopter or have an interest in them. Keep your turns up!



2. The Valley of Death
   Yea that I fly through the Valley of Death I will fear NO man. Like E.B Sledge's With The Old Breed, Warrant Officer Robert Mason's Chickenhawk is a war time classic and mandatory reading for anyone who want to know about how the war was really fought in Vietnam. As a combat rescue pilot I can attest to Mr. Mason's accurate accounts of his personal experiences. The Vietnam war was NOT pretty, often confusing, and filled with self-doubt, yet heroism was displayed on a daily basis as men and women fought not just for their country but mainly for their unit buddies. Mason does a magnificent job of recounting how life in the most austere conditions can be weathered through camaraderie of spirit. Being shot at on a daily basis either breaks a man or makes him tempered steel. There is no good combat, but with friends and buddies even the most horrific of battle can be endured. Robert Mason has done not only his country, but also all those who have ever fought a wonderful service in writing Chickenhawk. It ain't pretty but it's the truth-If you can handle it.
   Not for the squeamish. Graphic violence and language.
   Very strong recommend for those who want to know what fighting, dying, and living in combat is all about. Terrific read at all levels. Thank you Robert Mason, I salute you.



3. This is one of the best books I have ever read on the Vietnam War. It is as good as Michael Herr's "Despatches" or "The Ten-thousand Day War". Pilot Mason made me feel as if I was actually there through his vivid and complete descriptions; from the start of training, through to combat and on to the consequences of his experiences. The tension of formation landing in a 'hot' LZ must have been a white-knuckle ride. The author gives clear insights into the different demeanours of the pilots through the descriptions of their actions in war, from self-less heroism through to having to ask myself what sort of person kills wild elephants from a helicopter with rockets? The author also allows us to view the wartime lives of 'the Grunts', Crew Chiefs, Door Gunners etc. His descriptions also made me realize one would have been fighting the natural environment of Vietnam such as the heat, the mossquitos, the rats etc. as much as the enemy. The descriptions of flying combat missions non-stop for 24 hrs are a real insight to the demands of war. It is not all doom & gloom though, with the descriptions of Ringknocker's more 'flexible' approach to command. Realistic, straightforward, clear, unambiguous and easy to read. Author Robert Mason puts you in the Huey's second seat at the controls with him. "You got it".



4. I have read this book, half a dozen times, never tire of it, a very powerful story, graphically written.



5. I first read this book 22 years ago and was amazed by the action in this book. I gave some serious thought to getting a helicopter pilot license, but life got in the way and that has not happened. I just came across the title recently and decided to buy it again. Wow, did I forget a lot in those 22 years. This book is an excellent read.
   
   The book tells the tale of Bob Mason and his military flying career. He was a Huey slick pilot in Vietnam. The writing is fantastic, but sad. It covers a very dangerous and stressful time in Bobs life. I guess I would be pretty stressed out if I had "the little people" shooting at me every day. I cannot even begin to cover the detailed missions where the writing is so intense it makes you feel as if you are right there with him. If you like action, you will like this book.
   
   The books ends at a very low point in Bobs life, after he is discharged from the Army. He spirals into heavy drinking, nightmares, and lots of prescription medications to try to find some peace and get some sleep. That sounded like a tough time in our history because even civilians on the street would call him a "murderer". He was a helicopter pilot, he did not shoot people (even the people trying to shoot him) I never could understand why civilians would punish a soldier instead of the politicians that are actually running the show. But thats another story for another time.
   
   I highly recommend this book.
   
   Maybe its time to look into that helicopter pilot license again?
   
   Chris