Hard Landing (the book)

[Sean]

ChickenHawk

skydiverdriver:

As some of the other posts stated ChickenHawk is about a "Slick", UH-1 pilot in 1964. Even though we are all for the most part fixed wing pilots, you will get a lot out of the book. It starts off with Flightschool, training, basic aircraft stuff etc...Robert Mason is truly an excellent writter...you will truley believe you are flying along with him as his co-pilot. The middle of the book you are so hooked you can not put it down. It talks about IFR flying, flying above the ground at 50 feet, crashing...really do not waste anytime, go get the book, then write me a private message and tell me what you think.

At Flightsaftey a few of our chief pilots were old Military pilots and they all said, ChickenHawk was the only book they ever read that was 100% accurate.

 

[bobbysamd]

Another aviation book

I guess that while we're off the subject I'll suggest a book I read several years ago.

Takeoff, by Bonnie Tiburzi, ISBN: 0517552639. Bonnie was the first woman pilot to be hired by the majors. She flies for American. The book's worth reading, female issues notwithstanding but because her experiences with building time, hiring, furloughs, etc., in the '60s and '70s show that the more things change the more they stay the same.

There are a bunch of used copies available on amazon.com for $5.75 each. Enjoy!

 

[A Squared]

Robert Mason wrote a second book, I don't recall the name of it

 

[Andy Neill]

Could it be.....?

Chickenhawk: Back in the World: Life After Vietnam
by Robert C. Mason (Paperback - May 1994)

 

[dmiller]

Re: Aviation books

As an aside, anyone know what finally became of the author? At the end of the book he discusses charges against him for drug smuggling, etc. I think this was published in early 1980s. Author is Robert Mason.

.

Try Robert Mason's Website

He has a couple of other books, really amazing guy.

 

[Andy Neill]

Robert Heale Mason of Karate/Guitar fame
Robert C. Mason of Chickenhawk fame

.....or you might want to visit the Andy Neill website at

http://www.andyneill.com/

Course it's not me, but we share the name anyway.

.......and now that dmilller has the right website up, it makes this post irrelevant.

 

[English]

"Tracon" by Paul McElroy is a suspense novel about a mid-air collision between two airliners caused by faults in the ATC computer systems and TCAS. This author writes as if he was once an air traffic controller - the lingo and factual information is dead-on. The book is a paperback availble for under $10. I read it last summer and couldn't put it down.

 

[Pilotadjuster]

Robert Mason

Thanks for the site!

Recently "reread" (ok, book on tape - im in the car waaay too much) Chickenhawk and was hoping there was a follow up of some sort. Was thinking he was a pretty amazing guy as well.

 

[Sean]

Robert Mason

Guys thanks for all the great info. I never knew Mr. Mason had other books let alone a website...good stuff!!!!!

 

[Goffer]

My Two Cents

I'm about half way through "Fate is the Hunter," by Ernest K. Gain. A man's trials and triumphs in late 1930's air transportation. A great book, which is why I'm surprised no one has mentioned it.

 

[DIAMONDDD]

I just read "Fate is the Hunter" this past week. I loved it! Made me feel a little inadequate as a pilot, though. The stuff those guys went through! I hear that was his best book and the others he wrote weren't as interesting. I just picked up "North Star Over my Shoulder" but haven't started it yet. By the way, in "Fate is the Hunter", he dies in a farming accident at the end.

 

[Pilotadjuster]

Fate is the Hunter

Oh great! Im about 1/4 through and now I know how it ends!

--was he using a DC2 to plow the field...?

Great book as well!

 

[DIAMONDDD]

--was he using a DC2 to plow the field...?

No, he had just started milking a cow. It turned out, it wasn't a cow but a Stud horse and he got kicked in the head!

 

[enigma]

Hard Landing

Hard Landing almost reads like a novel. It's very readable.

It's been awhile since I read it, but I seem to remember that the facts were documented, and those facts certainly are contrary to the perceptions that many of us have/had about our business.

For myself, what I took from it was a sense of perspective about the "forest" that existed at the time the book deals with. I believe that most of us tend to focus on the "trees", instead of the entire environment that existed at the time. Essentially, our industry was thrown to the wolves by a bunch of politicians who were looking for an "issue" that they could push and reap some publicity for themselves. Deregulation was dropped into the laps of the airlines with no regard for the problems of it's implementation; and Hard Landings does a good job of detailing the situation.

Next. My list of Pilot Must Reads
1. Island In The Sky by Ernest K Gann
2. any book by Ernest K Gann
3. The Pilots Burden By Robert Buck
4. Stick and Rudder by Wolfgang Langesw.....(cant spell it,
sorry)

regards

 

[BoDEAN]

Is this book mainly for corporate pilot's or people pursuing career in that aspect (opposed to commerical bound?)

 

[Sean]

Fate is the Hunter

By the way, in "Fate is the Hunter", he dies in a farming accident at the end...funny I just got done reading the book. Great book. Fate is the hunter & ChickenHawk are my (2) Favorites.

 

[Mr. Irrelevant]

Loved reading Fate is the Hunter, particularly his story about clearing the Taj Mahal by only a couple feet in high density altitude conditions during WWII.

Also would recommed "On a Wing and a Prayer". I can't remember the author's name. He was a navigator for the 100th BG in WWII out of England. Some really incredible stories about their missions and life in England at that time. Their pilots brought their B-17 back from a mission with by actual count, 1200 holes in the plane. Mind-boggling.


Mr. I.

 

[bobbysamd]

Stick & Rudder

Yes, absolutely, Wolfgang Langewiesche's book, ISBN: 0070362408, is a "must read" for any pilot. It explains aerodynamics in English and is a classic.