Customer Reviews

Wings of Fury

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've always dreamed of being a fighter pilot....this book really conveys what I imagine it might really be like...it goes beyond "top gun" or some of the other movies of that ilk... If you know any technical details about how jets really work, or even if you don't, this book really will give you a better sense of what really goes through a pilots mind both in combat and in training. As the subtitle says, the period covered by the book is vietnam up through and including the gulf war, and the author does a good job of putting his recounting of pilots stories into context by discussing the contemporary American fighter tactics during each relevant period. You'll feel the pilots frusterations at the limitations of their radar or the information available to them, and you'll feel their excitement as they move in for the kill. Most of all though, I got a sense of the professionalism that is bestowed in our pilots through their training. In any case, I heartily recommend buying this book, you won't regret it. Check six!

There are many books about modern fighter aircraft, their weapons systems and the pilot training but this one stands alone, as it gives many practical details which are not known or not mentioned by the theorists. While reading this book I learned for the first time the drawbacks of the modern pulse doppler radars, the tactics that the opponents of the USA adopted in order to counter modern weapons like Sparrows and AMRAAMs, the harsh realities of fighter pilot training and duty and many descriptions of mock or real air to air battles against Libyans, Iraqis and Soviets. Well worth the time and the money.

Here's a review I posted on a flight simulator forum, for all of us PC virtual fighter pilots. I decided to post it here as well, for those who enjoy aviation and excitement but who don't really do much flight simulator flying.

"An adreneline rush injected straight into your heart. This is some of the best jet combat reports as told to the author by the pilots who flew them. If you like the movie 'Top Gun' but felt it wasn't technically correct, you'll love this book. If you loved 'Top Gun' simply because it featured combat jets going really fast, you'll love this book. Strap on your speed jeans and push the throttle past the final detente, because there's two contacts at angels 10 and they're jinking back across your beam..."

I just finished re-reading this book and enjoyed it as much as the first go-round. Author Robert Wilcox traces US Fighter pilot history from Vietnam to the first Gulf War. By interviewing the pilots themselves, using their words and stories, Wilcox is really able to make you feel like you were there from being at Top Gun Fighter school to landing on an aircraft carrier at night, you share what these ultra trained pilots have seen & done.

We've seen clips of fighter pilots shooting enemy aircraft down. Now, you get an idea what goes on to make that happen. The training is intense. Only the best of the best make it to fly F-14 Tomcats, F-15 Eagles, F-16 Falcons(Vipers) and F-18 Hornets. Advances in aviation, weapons, missiles create changes in tactics or strategy, but the need to train is a constant. US pilots have been the best when they learn the limits of their plane as well as the enemies.

Fighter jocks are cocky - and rightly so. You have to know you're going to win. This book shows that mindset, the adreline rush when going up against another pilot. Fractions of a second count. This is a very good, fast read. I highly recommend it to anyone who has an iterest in aviation, figher pilots. Tom Clancey can spin a great novel, but there is no substitute for the real thing. This is it.

If you've ever seen the movie 'Top Gun', or have been to an air show, or have flown a PC flight simulator, or have watched CNN's broadcast of Desert Storm, or watched any movie with a jet fighter in it, or have wanted to do any of these things, then you'll want to read this book. This is a recounting of some of the best jet combat incidents as told to the author by the pilots who flew them. The stuff is a direct adreneline injection through the heart. A great read for rush junkies, speed freaks, and combat pilot wannabe's. If you 'feel the need, the need for speed' then you'll love this book.

'I have two bogies at angels ten...' will mean something to you. It will mean that your heartrate is about to accelerate as those General Electrics start to spool up. You can almost feel the throttle being pushed up past the last detente as you slide the master arm switch to 'On'...

As a hardcore flight simulation fans, I am more interest on the exciting battle fields in the sky. I have read "Strike Eagle" before, I would like it more with comparsion. However, the last parts "Victory in the Desert" can satisfy me, just feel I stay at Eagle, Tomcat's... seat to fire a missile on the Migs to form a huge fireball to shine the dark.
The first three parts, it decribes some ACEs' background, stories, families, careers....Overall, it is a great book for flight readers. Check Six.

Wings of Fury: From Vietnam to the Gulf War-The Astonishing True Stories of America's Elite Fighter Pilots Good product, good value, quick service

I bought the book after reading the author's two previous books, Scream of Eagles, and Black Aces High. I liked the author's writing style and subject matter. As a retired Air Force/Air National Guard enlisted member, I can relate to his subject matter as I have been part of history beginning in Thailand in 1968 to my retirement in 2004.