"REQUIRED READING" for Rotorheads

[Grandmaster235]

Starting a reading list for the helo guys. If these selections don't inspire, educate, and motivate, you, report immediately to Medical to make sure you have a pulse. All these are available on Amazon.com.

NONFICTION
Rescue Pilot by Dan McKinnon - Cold War veteran HUP-2 pilot gives an excellent portrayal of small-boy life and SAR ops.

Seawolves: First Choice by Daniel E. Kelly - Former Huey door gunner gives the aircrew perspective of SPECWAR and CSAR in the "brown water" navy in Vietnam.

FICTION
North SAR by Gerry Carrol - Great novel by former H-3 pilot about SAR and battle group ops at Yankee Station during the Vietnam War. Jet guys will like it too since the co-main character is an A-7 driver.

Feel free to add to the list! Let's hear from our USMC and USCG rotary brethren as well. Remember - to fly is human but to hover is divine!

LUCK = THE INTERSECTION OF PREPARATION AND OPPORTUNITY

 

[Rainman]

Don't need rotors to hover! Just a nice, stiff headwind (in case your Harrier of JSF is in the shop).

 

[phrogdriver]

"Bonnie-Sue" by Marion Sturkey. One of the few books about Marines helos in Vietnam. A little slow of a read, but very informative.

"Chickenhawk." Forgot the author's name. Best Vietnam helo book out there. Army huey pilot. Incredible stories.

"Low Level Hell," written by an Army Little Bird pilot from Vietnam.

"Blackhawk Down." Not so much about helos, but it does do justice to TF 160's efforts in Somalia.



Phrogs phorever

 

[tnutz]

robert mason wrote chickenhawk- good book...

 

[phrogdriver]

"Purple Foxes." I don't rememberthe author, but it's a semi-fictional account of a real Marine CH-46 squadron in Vietnam.

Phrogs phorever

 

[Frumby]

Read "Valley of Decision, The Siege at Khe Sahn." It is an account of ground and air working together to survive. Read page 91 of an heroic helicopter pilot rescue of a recon team. The pilot is my father!
Frumby

Attack Pilot
Major USMCR

 

[ghost_ttu]

That is awesome Frumby!!!!!

Eliminate distractions, focus on your goals and visualize what you hope to accomplish.

 

[Q-ball]

Can't remember the author, but "Cleared Hot" is an awesome book about a marine helo pilot in vietnam.

Marine Helo Pilot

 

[thartley]

Q, you start flying yet?

 

[Q-ball]

next week hopefully, you?

Marine Helo Pilot

 

[Winnie]

How about this one which will teach you a lot of how it works?

Cyclic and Collective,
More art and science of flying helicopters
By Shawn Coyle

Very interesting for those of us who like to understand better the machines we love and fly!

I Love the smell of Jet Fuel in the morning

 

[phrogger]

"A Mild Form of Insanity" by Mike Tuson...

British Navy Pilot who started out fixed wing in 1956, then went helo. Got out and was a merc for the Sultan of Oman's Airforce from 71-73. The book covers his flying experiences from military, oil field support, VIP's, and flying for a TV company during the Iran/Iraq Tanker War in 87.