Bogeys and Bandits: The Making of a Fighter Pilot

Rating:
Summary: An excellent account of life in the F/A-18 world
Review: This book was a fascinating look at the state of Naval Aviation today. The nay-sayers who claim this book is fiction need to get their facts straight. As a former F/A-18 pilot and Navy jet instructor pilot, I personally flew with four of the students, and also know one of the other students from my time in the Navy. And, for the record, I am 95% sure that one of the male pilots' names was fictional, as I flew with someone who matches the description very well and finished training at the same time as the others. This book correctly conveys the attitudes, fears, and exhilaration of flying the Hornet, as well as the problems with the double standard in today's Navy. A must read for anyone with the slightest interest in flying for the Navy today.

Rating:
Summary: Impossible to put down
Review: This is a really great book. It was impossible to put down. A great mix of aviation, technical aspects, human aspects. This is the book I thought "Air Warriors" was going to be. Robert Gandt not only understands aviation, but knows how to write. I can't recommend "Bogeys and Bandits" highly enough!

Rating:
Summary: Compelling story
Review: This is not a story about Tom Cruise in Top Gun. Mr. Gandt takes the reader on a compelling journey into the lives of intelligent and committed pilots learning to do an incredibly difficult job. You will have a love/hate relationship with some of the pilots making you wish you could share your own personal insight with a friend that you never met. Mr. Gandt's ability to write combined with his knowledge and background of the subject make for a book that reads very fast and leaves you waitng for its real life sequel.