I haven't reviewed all of books recommended by Amazon on the left. Their computer picked these selections based on keywords like aviation and flying, but some of them look like good choices. My personal book reviews are below. Please scroll down.
Galloping on Wings –With the P-51 Mustang
By Howie Keefe
The P-51 is always the aircraft I love to see the most at air shows. In this interesting and highly readable book Howie Keefe talks about flying, about P-51s in every role, about his career as a pilot, and about air racing.It is all good stuff, but I particularly enjoyed his stories about flying around the country getting to the races.His stories on navigation and real-life cross country flying are well worth reading.
I highly recommend this book as a gift for any pilot or as a purchase because it’s something that a pilot will read –at least in parts—again and again.
I do not recommend many books by JOHN NANCE. He writes stories with aviation themes, but generally they have such wacko plots that I have difficult time making it to the last page. Nance's real problem as a writer is that he handles dialogue at a 6th grade level.
But, there are a few books by Nance that I do recommend. I really enjoyed "Headwind". "Skyhook" is good, but some of the characters don't seem real and there is just a little too much "deep and dark conspiracy" going on for my taste. In a recent book, "Fireflight" he wants you to keep a lot of characters straight during a choppy beginning, but the flying scenes are superb! He finishes strong with a good mystery stirred in for spice.
A new book by Nance, "Saving Cascadia" picks up an environmentalist / "Gaia's revenge" theme. This time the terrible dialogue is NOT saved by great flying scenes. "Saving Cascadia" is something you could pass with no loss.
I have this shirt in my closet in several colors because it is the best I've found. The pockets are just the right size for charts, checklists, cell phones, and even an EPIRB. I recommend it for flyers, boaters, and outdoor guys. This shirt is much more practical than other aviation/fishing shirts and vests and it keeps you cool. Great price! Highly recommended "can't miss" gift!
The Cannibal Queen by Stephen Coonts
Yes, this is the same Stephen Coonts who wrote “Flight of the Intruder” and other excellent fiction books with aviation themes.The title of this book is unfortunate because you aren’t likely to reach out and pick it up in a bookstore or library.But, you might change your mind if you knew that The Cannibal Queen is the name of a vintage aircraft and that this is a true first-person narrative by Stephen Coonts.A title like “I Flew a 1942 Stearman all around the US Visiting Great Authors Who Fly and Seeing Great Stuff” would be more accurate – if a little long.
Great plane+great author+great adventure = great book.Gee, what more can I say?If flying an open cockpit aircraft around the US doesn’t appeal to you, then don’t read this book.And go away.But, if it sounds like a neat thing to do, then here is your chance to do it vicariously through the words of an excellent author and experienced pilot.Highly recommended.
The Wild Blue by Stephen E. Ambrose
There are many writers who do excellent military history, but Stephen Ambrose is their dean. In this book he follows a very interesting character, George McGovern, yes the Senator and Presidential Candidate McGovern, through his World War II career as a B-24 pilot. You learn a lot about the B-24, you learn about combat flying, and you learn about this very interesting man who went on to become an important political leader. Very well done. Interesting and exciting. Strongly recommended. (Note.. it's also amazingly cheap through some Amazon outlets!)
Saucer and Saucer Conquestby Stephen Coonts
Yes, the very same Flight of the Intruder Coonts has taken a flight of fantasy. These two books are fun for any pilot. The story is that the heroes find an ancient flying saucer while on an archeological dig. They just add water and the thing flies. To give Coonts credit, their flights are limited by the mundane laws of physics and aerodynamics. Given the one suspension of disbelief, his science is good. These books are written tongue in cheek. Take the humor as it comes and you'll enjoy it! I recommend these two books for anyone of any age from 10-110.
"The Prince of Beverly Hills" and "Reckless Abandon" by Stuart Woods. Stuart Woods, an "aviation" author/? "What are you thinking?" I'm guessing that Woods recently learned to fly. I recognize the signs. So, to his credit, he gives his heroes planes and runways that make them all the more appealing.
The latest books from Woods are good fast reads. "Reckless Abandon" combines two of the solid characters Woods has created for his books: Stone Barrington and Holly Baker. They work well together in a mature way. "Reckless Abandon" is a good detective story with high society, changes of scenery, a touch of sex, and some flying thrown in for good measure.
(Aside: I don't know how flying fits into the classic elements of a great story --God, sex, royalty/money, mystery-- but Woods knows and practices the basics with good skill)
"The Prince of Beverly Hills" has the same elements, but Woods changes the setting to just before WWII in Hollywood. The airplanes are there along with the glamour and mystery.
While I recommend any book by Stuart Woods you find no matter how old, military adventure readers will like "Deep Lie". It's a submarine story that never won much attention, but it's very good.
Stuart Woods -- enjoy!
I've checked these out and this is the one you want! The prop stopped and you're down in the Everglades. Ummm.. cell phone doesn't work. Want to get saved? This is the right device to depend on. Others cost less, but do much less. Satellite notification with precise GPS info and 121.5 beacon. It's worth every penny for flyers, boaters, hikers, etc.
You are always responsible for your own safety and actions. Florida is a great place to fly, but there are hazards as different as 1000 foot+ plus antenna towers (a LOT of them!), birds, high winds, poor horizontal visibiity, thunderstorms that come out of nowhere, and many other airplanes. The information on this site reflects the impressions and opinions of the author and is not guaranteed to be correct when you read it or when you use it. Nothing can substitute for planning using information from official sources. All articles copyright Frank J. Derfler 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and may not be used without proper attribution.