interesting depiction of incredible training and reactive flying
593572
Obviously the author has some biases. Which he rightfully earned,and is not hesitant to share! His stats on the support to fight personnel in the AF was eye opening ad his defense of manned flight versus predators is understandable although. Technology keeps leaping forward.  I must admit that the descriptions and acronyms sometimes were difficult to maneuver and made me feel like he was almost about to lose me. This will not be a problem for those who fly. I am so proud of this true A Mercian hero and is book was viewed by me as a piece of history!
3885097
Pretty unbelievable flying stunts.  Standing on the wing of an airplane without holding on to anything in order to manually re-fuel?  Yeah -right! Other than that - quite interesting.
1422925
If you've ever wondered what it's like to be behind the stick of a combat aircraft, read this book! The dogfight scenes are so realistic, I could almost feel the g-force pinning me to the chair as I was reading. The author, a former fighter pilot himself, uses stripped down prose peppered with Air Force lingo to paint a taught picture of aerial combat.
But ultimately, "Never Lark Nor Eagle" is a great story that follows the life and times of a fighter pilot through twenty years and three wars.  Carl "Bing" Morro, the story's protagonist, is a charasmatic and likable hero who has the potential to become as an enduring a character as James Bond or Jack Ryan. Yet the author is careful to keep Morro grounded in humanity. We watch him grow from a cocky young kid to a battle-scarred combat officer, all the while retaining his same likeable charm throughout the book.
The supporting characters are as richly drawn as well. They will definitely evoke an emotional reponse. One character irritated me so much, I kept waiting for him to get shot down! This is the level of skill by which the author pulls you in. You actually care about these people, and that keeps the pages turning.
The story is an engaging blend of action and drama set against an amazingly accurate historical backdrop.
Take it for a test flight.
4595483
I rarely give books 5 stars, but this is one that really deserves any accolades it gets. Mason gives you a feel for flying as he takes you through how to fly a chopper with the aide of excellent diagrams, which i referred back to nearly all through the book. The real interest is in his descriptions of flying in combat, whether evacuating wounded or flying into 'hot zones'. It brings you into the action as much as any book can. This is not comic book fiction. This is a man's story of his war, and what a war it was!!!
3518209
This documentary is an outstanding look into the competitive nature and complex design process of building modern military jets. Yes, many aspects of the jets top performance are classified and will be for a long time (along with the F-22) since it is currently the best technology out there and we don't want that as common information. Anyone interested in military-contract aeronautical engineering, the design and competition process, and test-pilot/engineer development will love this relatively short film.
3173743
Thus far an exceptional look into what inspired the "Father's of Flight" to seek airborne their dreams.
2337275
As a former C-5 flight engineer myself, I enjoyed this book immensely. I read The Mullah's Storm (also a riveting tale) before I read Silent Enemy because I thought the latter would make more sense after having read the former. Although both books involve the same two protagonists, the author did a great job of laying out two entirely separate plots.
  Having accumulated nearly 3600 flight hours (and one hit from an SA-16 SAM) as a C-5 Instructor FE, it immediately became obvious to me when I read the sample pages before buying the book that the author was intimately involved with the C-5. I often found myself, in my mind, helping Parson and his crew troubleshoot and work each system malfunction. It brought back fond memories of my flying days, especially my simulator training! (I'm retired now.) I was impressed with the technical accuracy of the problems encountered by the aircrew as well as their solutions, although there were a few things I might have done differently had I been on Parson's crew. The author's superior writing ability makes these situations easily understood, yet still suspenseful, thrilling, and entertaining for the layperson unfamiliar with aircraft systems. The one thing I liked most about this book is there is no need for far-fetched, ridiculous situations like the Delta Force climbing down the interior of the air-refueling boom into the C-5 to save the day, no F-117s launching out of the aft cargo doors at altitude, or any nonsense like that. This book is a thrilling page-turner that shows tremendous respect for the world-class men and women who selflessly and proudly serve in all branches of America's military. I look forward to Mr. Young's next book.
3186541
Great clips into an exciting trip and a synopsis of what it's like to train with one of the greats.
3456537
This book focuses on one of the numerous World War One German squadrons of fighter aircraft. It provides in some very balanced and descriptive detail the exploits and fates of many pilots and their unique aircraft. I enjoyed reading not only the simple facts and figures about the unit and its personnel, but also the exciting personal accounts provided by the participants on both sides of the conflict. I appreciated in particular how much effort the author put into doing the research to accurately and objectively provide a narrative which brings to life events long forgotten and out of the public's mind. Also, the color plates are a wonderful part of the story of this brave and daring group of flyers. The plates should provide some building inspiration and incentive to modellers of Great War aircraft as the designs and markings are varied and pleasing to the eyes. The author and illustrator have added yet another great title to Osprey's amazing series of titles on military history; Bravo!
871870
I was lucky enough to fly several models of this wonderful aircraft over the period of several years. It was a joy to fly. Faster than a speeding bullet nothing was even close in its day. The book does a really good job of explaining the aircraft and cablabilities complete with pictures and all the specs. A great read for one interested in reading about jet combat aircraft of that era.
1908083
This is a nice short film about the amazing technical skill and amazing flying abilities of military pilots. If you see this movie you will enjoy the flying movements and sensations that you get like you are actually in the plane.
2002542
The A 10 Warthog has always fascinated me as such an unusual aircraft, basically a huge Gatling gun on wings. This pilot's story conveyed to me the unique way to fly this plane and to use it's capabilities to best effect. A good read if a little short but I guess that's what is says on the box!
4625717
Sometime studying the opponent is much more instructive than glorifying the victor. As long as this book is concerned, the riveting description of German training, tactics and traditions is really exhaustive.
It is surprising to see how long the duty tour was for a German pilot and how dedicated they were to their job, under the word of honor and chilvary that permeated the Luftwaffe tradition. Notwithstanding this credit and a self taught decency, despite the terrible strain of combat, the portrait of their character and lifestyle is really vivid. But even if this psychological trait is instrumental to understand the German aces achievement in battle, the most interesting feature of the volume is the comprehensive examination of pilot training practices, mental preparation and flying skills. A large discussion of combat tactics and fighting methods is presented for each ace, well depicted in the contest of climate, theater of war and available equipment.
Beautifully researched, the book is quite easy to read and each chapter is a clearcut account of all threads leading to a conclusive analysis of how German aces outscored the Allied by a wide margin.
2183851
I enjoyed this book with its fascinating story of skills and high-tech weaponry in helicopters across different areas of operations. Loved it.
2143880
Ive never flown a helicopter, but after reading Chickenhawk I reckon I have the experience.

The author is at his total best when hes recalling his maneuvers getting in and out of hot LZs (to you and me, thats landing zones where the enemy is shooting at you) and I could probably read about every single landing and takeoff detailed in here ten more times and not feel its been a waste of time.

So this is first and foremost a story of derring-do and an ode to flying.  Anti-war it may be, but Im pretty sure Chickenhawk has inspired generations of pilots.

Its that good!

Its anti-war, that said, and never better than in the following passage from pages 445-446:
While the First Cav slipped unceremoniously back to An Khe, the 101st decided to end the operation with a parade.  There would be no spectators except for the news reporters  unless you want to count the men in the parade as spectators, and of course they were.
Hundreds of bone-weary soldiers gathered at the artillery emplacements and began the five-mile stretch back to the airstrip.  They marched, in parade step, along the dusty road.  Insects buzzed in the saturated air.  No virgins threw flowers.  No old ladies cried.  No strong men wept.  They marched to their own muffled footsteps.

And its cynical, witness this passage from page 361:
The platoon leader, a skinny second lieutenant, came over and shot the sh1t for a while.
Find anything, Riker asked.
Just some old campsites.  The lieutenant patted his blouse for cigarettes.  I offered him a Pall Mall.
Thanks.
We hear the VC don't want to fight the Cav.
Cant blame them, can you? said the lieutenant.  Every time they do, we clobber the sh1t out of them.
Yeah, as long as we have helicopters, Phantoms, and B-52 bombers, I thought.  I said Maybe the war is almost over.

And its about anti-heros.  Its very title, comes from pages 242-243:
Do you ever think about quitting? Gary asked.
Sometimes.
Me too.  Sometimes.  Guess that makes us chickens.
Maybe.  But we do go fly, don't we?  Thats got to make up for feeling chicken.
Yeah, I guess it does.  He paused.  And when Im flying the assaults, I start feeling brave, almost comfortable in the middle of it all.  Like a hawk, maybe.
I do, too.  When Im in the middle of it.  But times like now, Id quit at the slightest excuse.  So what am I? A chicken or a hawk?
Youre a chickenhawk.  Gary smiled.
Yeah.  There was silence.  Yes, I thought.  Were both scared out of our minds.  It felt like we were near the end of our wait on death row.

What sustains the book, what connects the flying and the thinking is the authors humor.  Youre reading a book about war, devastation and rotting human flesh, but most of your time reading Chickenhawk is spent laughing out loud.

A lot of it is in the style later perfected by Quentin Tarantino, whereby improbably good, complex English is put in the mouth of people in everyday situations, like this dialogue from page 80:
Just remember, said Farris, of the thirty-three kinds of snakes over here, thirty-one are poisonous.
How do you tell them apart? asked Resler.
I think that with those ratios, you could afford to come to a prejudicial, sweeping generalization  like, kill them all.  Farris turned and left.

A lot if it is pure slapstick, like this little gem from page 118:
You cant get the clap, Mason.  Youre immune.
What do you mean immune?
Its one of the advantages of being an officer.  We get nonspecific urethritis. Enlisted men get the clap.

All the humor notwithstanding, you cant help noticing that the book gets darker as it progresses.  Youre not only witnessing the authors flying and derring-do, you're also there as he is being broken as a human being, succumbing first to the various temptations, suffering the consequences and losing his mental health and of course eventually dragging his family into it.

You won't be envying his wife, Patience (how poignant is that!) by the time youve finished Chickenhawk.  And you won't think war is glorious.

Regardless, you may well feel this urge to go fly.

I did!
1715368
Walt Boyne's "Roaring Thunder" is an entertaining flight through the origins of jet aviation. As a long-time jet pilot in the same B-52s Col. Boyne used to command, I knew some of this history, but Boyne brings this colorful - and true - tale of the jet to life through the eyes of his central characters, the Shannon family.

Their flying and business experiences in the pre-WWII aviation industry, followed up with some harrowing combat scenes set in the Second World War and Korea, serve to narrate the revolutionary changes that jet engines brought to military and commercial aircraft.

You'll meet the German and British fathers of the turbojet engine, von Ohain and Whittle; the brilliant Lockheed designer Kelly Johnson, Boeing test pilot Tex Johnston, and the jaded Luftwaffe ace, General Adolf Galland. These historical characters, animated so well by Boyne, give us a "you are there" rush as aviation history unfolds before our eyes. This is a jet-powered story that soars high and races along at the speed of sound. Strap in and take off!
751189
Written nearly 20 years after the events described, Sagittarius Rising is surprisingly filled with great day to day details of Cecil Lewis' experience with the Royal Flying Corps during World War I. The book is easy to read and maintains interest with very few private life tangents.

For those who are pilots, the most amazing information is how little instruction was given to pilots before they soloed, and how few hours solo time a pilot would have before being sent to the front.

The flying and air battle accounts are vivid. In one part, he relates how during an early patrol alone, he spotted a yellow cloud enveloping the trenches. Even though he was already safely at 3500 feet, he instinctively pulled back to climb as quickly as possible. He said that he became physically sick as he contemplated the horrible death being visited upon the soldiers below. At this point, and a few others, Lewis then goes on a slight tangent describing his political view on the war.

Lewis' take on the war, 20 years after the fact, is clearly jaundiced against the justification for war. It is interesting to note the contrast between authors like McCudden and Biddle, who wrote during the war, and Lewis who wrote after popular opinion had shifted markedly toward pacifism. Between the lines you can clearly read the opposition to any `new' continental war, and the author's discounting the threat posed by Germany in 1936 (implied only).

The biographical sketch on the author points out that he went back into the Royal Air Force during World War II, so perhaps his views changed again once the menace posed by Hitler was clearer, or maybe his views matured to draw a distinction between the entanglements that broadened the first world war, and the life or death struggle for national suvival in the second. Unfortunately, there is no update or 'new' introduction or afterward to let us know.

The author does spend significant time on his personal life. In fairness to the reader though, he warns that the next section might not be of interest to readers primarily interested in the war and/or aviation. This is another difference between Sagittarius Rising and other World War I aviation accounts - Lewis describes his life after the war. He went to China working for Vickers to train the Chinese Air Force. The description of the political situation and corruption in China is interesting, but the state of the Chinese Air Force and how totally unqualified, but well-connected, students were taught to fly is tragic. No less tragic is how the competent pilots in China lives were squandered in poorly though out ventures. The episode in China is just a couple of chapters and definitely worth the read.

All readers interested in early aviation and/or World War I will find the entire book informative, and interesting.

One challenge for the reader is the many references to types of aircraft, and some paragraphs are confusing unless you have a World War I aircraft reference book. Unfortunately, many references are just to the manufacturer (e.g. Bristol or Avro) rather than the specific model. Sometimes, the author refers to another name for an aircraft than the official name. A good reference book can help you sort through it and tie it to the description. Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War I was adequate.