Naval Aviation

willijt · 02-15-2011, 09:10 PM

Years ago I read Stephen Coonts' "Flight of the Intruder". I couldn't put the book down. It still remains one of the top 5 on my all time best list. A couple days ago I began Coonts' "The Intruders" - a follow-on book featuring Navy Pilot Jake Grafton. Time has turned on itself. Here I am, years later, caught up in yet another carrier-borne adventure featuring the venerable Grumman A-6 Intruder and Grafton - and loving every minute of it. This book is a gem. Bravo Zulu to Stephen Coonts.

edbro · 02-15-2011, 09:19 PM

Tis a shame there aren't more books about AF aviation. That's where the real men are! Of course, I might be a bit biased if you notice my avatar.

dworth · 02-16-2011, 11:10 AM

Stephen Coonts did a fair few of the Jake Grafton novels. I remember reading them as a teenager, though the later ones weren't as good. Haven't read any of them in ages. I also have a copy somewhere of the Flight of the Intruder flight sim (which came with a copy of the book) and there was a film too IIRC.

Coonts also did a non-fiction novel 'The Cannibal Queen' - in which he toured the US in a restored Steerman bi-plane - that was enjoyable.

willijt · 02-16-2011, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dworth

Stephen Coonts did a fair few of the Jake Grafton novels. I remember reading them as a teenager, though the later ones weren't as good. Haven't read any of them in ages. I also have a copy somewhere of the Flight of the Intruder flight sim (which came with a copy of the book) and there was a film too IIRC.

Coonts also did a non-fiction novel 'The Cannibal Queen' - in which he toured the US in a restored Steerman bi-plane - that was enjoyable.

I just purchased his "Final Flight" tonight and I'll get to it in time. I am also eyeing the one you mention, "The Cannibal Queen". And I also fired off an email to him to say hello and to thank him for the fun and enjoyment his books have given me.

willijt · 02-16-2011, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edbro

Tis a shame there aren't more books about AF aviation. That's where the real men are! Of course, I might be a bit biased if you notice my avatar.

Me, I'm a retired military pilot and in the course of my career I did both sides of the fence. I have to say that the marriage of an airplane to a ship is one that is rife with challenge and surprises. I admire naval aviators, and enjoyed being one of them for a few years.

edbro · 02-17-2011, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willijt

Me, I'm a retired military pilot and in the course of my career I did both sides of the fence. I have to say that the marriage of an airplane to a ship is one that is rife with challenge and surprises. I admire naval aviators, and enjoyed being one of them for a few years.

I'm retired now also. Actually, my present job is for a company that builds flight simulators for the military. I do "flight" testing of the Navy's F/A-18 sims, which includes a lot of simulated carrier landings.

willijt · 02-18-2011, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edbro

I'm retired now also. Actually, my present job is for a company that builds flight simulators for the military. I do "flight" testing of the Navy's F/A-18 sims, which includes a lot of simulated carrier landings.

Good for you. Sounds like a fun "retirement" posting: doing something that actually taps into your skill set, benefitting others and having fun at the same time - all at very low risk. Carrier landings. Oh yes, that would make your heart beat just a bit faster.

Wordeater · 03-04-2011, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edbro

Tis a shame there aren't more books about AF aviation. That's where the real men are! Of course, I might be a bit biased if you notice my avatar.

Why limit yourself to fiction? There are a ton of non-fiction accounts.

I'll suggest getting a copy of the all-time classic......Thud Ridge, by Jack Broughton.

Naval Aviation? Feet Wet, by Paul Gilchrist.

Helicopters? Chickenhawk, by Mason.

Heck, I could go on forever here.
Non-fiction,Military/Military Technology is all I read.

WE

02-15-2011, 09:10 PM	#1
willijt Zealot Posts: 111 Karma: 483614 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Device: Sony PRS-505, Kindle 2, Nook	Naval Aviation Years ago I read Stephen Coonts' "Flight of the Intruder". I couldn't put the book down. It still remains one of the top 5 on my all time best list. A couple days ago I began Coonts' "The Intruders" - a follow-on book featuring Navy Pilot Jake Grafton. Time has turned on itself. Here I am, years later, caught up in yet another carrier-borne adventure featuring the venerable Grumman A-6 Intruder and Grafton - and loving every minute of it. This book is a gem. Bravo Zulu to Stephen Coonts.

02-16-2011, 11:10 AM	#3
dworth Zealot Posts: 140 Karma: 2094632 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Bradford, UK Device: kindle pc	Stephen Coonts did a fair few of the Jake Grafton novels. I remember reading them as a teenager, though the later ones weren't as good. Haven't read any of them in ages. I also have a copy somewhere of the Flight of the Intruder flight sim (which came with a copy of the book) and there was a film too IIRC. Coonts also did a non-fiction novel 'The Cannibal Queen' - in which he toured the US in a restored Steerman bi-plane - that was enjoyable. Last edited by dworth; 02-16-2011 at 05:29 PM.

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02-15-2011, 09:19 PM	#2
edbro Banned Posts: 640 Karma: 4911 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Grapevine, TX Device: iPad4	Tis a shame there aren't more books about AF aviation. That's where the real men are! Of course, I might be a bit biased if you notice my avatar.

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