NO MARGIN FOR ERROR: The Making of the Israeli Air Force [Hardcover]

Ehud Yonay (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 13, 1993

Describes the development of the Israeli Air Force from a handful of old surplus planes battling enemies of the newly created state of Israel into the sophisticated fighting force of the present day.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Fans of the movie Top Gun (Israeli-born Yonay's previous literary foray into this field) will love the war stories in this volume. From creaky, oil-leaking Noorduyn Norsemans to sleek F-16s and Mirages, this compilation of anecdotes and episodes flies from the birth of the Israeli Air Force in 1948 to its dramatic raid on Iraq's Osirak Nuclear Reactor in 1981. Unfortunately, that's all it really has to offer; don't look for detailed analysis of air strategies or force development or technological planning. This is not a think piece but rather an outshooting, outclimbing, bombs-away adventure story that should appeal to a wide range of readers.
- John Yurechko, Georgetown Univ., Washington, D.C.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 426 pages
• Publisher: Pantheon; 1st edition (April 13, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679415637
• ISBN-13: 978-0679415633
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,229,629 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The finest book I have ever read about the Israel Air Force., July 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: NO MARGIN FOR ERROR: The Making of the Israeli Air Force (Hardcover)

This is the first book that I have seen which describes the air war during the Six Day War, The War of Attrition and the 73 War. The personal stories make this book a must read. I met Iftach Spector before reading the book. How I wish I had read it first before meeting him. I have so many questions I would like to ask him. As a combat ready Air Force F-16 pilot I found this book extemely informative.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible (and true) Story of Israel's Air Force, March 5, 2003

By 

D. Smith "former National Security Analyst" (Durham, NC, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: NO MARGIN FOR ERROR: The Making of the Israeli Air Force (Hardcover)

I read this after a friend of mine, who had met the author, handed me a copy.

I have to admit, I nearly turned my nose up at this book when I read the cover description that it was "the true story of 'Top Gun.' " I expected a flashy, poorly researched and superficial collection of stories that wouldn't pique my interest.

I should have trusted my friend's opinion more -- the book and the stories it contains are absolutely fascinating, even for someone (like me) with little interest in (or knowledge of) Israel. Though Yonay doesn't use oral histories as source material, the stories have the captivating personal aspects that make Stephen Ambrose's WW2 histories so compelling. They are funny and gut-wrenching, impressive and terrifying, all at once.

Quite honestly, this is one of the best non-fiction aviation narratives that I have ever read. I would highly-recommend it to anyone.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very accurate portrayal of Israeli aviation., February 6, 1999

By 

Joseph Funk ([e-mail]) (Hoffman Estates, Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: NO MARGIN FOR ERROR: The Making of the Israeli Air Force (Hardcover)

I enjoyed this book so much I gave it to my father-in-law in Israel, who was actively involved in building the Israeli Air Force and Israel Aircraft Industries from their onset, and knew the people and events depicted in the book first hand. After reading it, he said it is a very accurate portrayal.