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Summary: Amazing book. I can feel like I really fly in Vietnam
Review: The incredible narrative of the author keep my attention from the first page. I can feel the fear of a mission, the fear of been shot by a bullet. I really fly every single mission with Mason. I can teel that I learn to fly with him. Been a helicopter pilot helps understanding the evolution on Mason skils when flying on Vietnam. The most surprising part of the book was the last page.
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Summary: You can almost feel it.......
Review: I first read this book in 1991, and that also by accident. I was at a garage sale helping my grandmother when I saw this book in a shelf with many others. Since I love airplanes and helicopters I started to read it. After the first page I told her that this book was mine. I've always wanted to know how it was like in Vietnam, and I could almost feel it by reading this book. I'm not an emotional guy, but this book made a couple of tears drop. Sometimes I took the book with me to school and read it in class, and when I did not take to book with me I could not wait to come home. My grades slumped a bit when I first read Chickenhawk because I forgot all about the homework. Since then I've read the book at least 10 times, and it is as chilling as the first time.On a personal note I've wanted to tell Mr. Mason that I salute him, on his efford in Vietnam and by writing the best book ever.
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Summary: I've read this book 5x now. It's excellent!
Review: Years ago I stumbled upon this book in paperback. Read it and gave it to a friend. Years later, I wanted it in hardback to make it a permanent part of my library, did a uwed book search and found one in good condition out of Mass. My point? It's just an excellent read. By the end of the book I'm sure that some may have fooled themselves into thinking that they might actually know enough to fly a helicopter! The author really conveys a lot of information very well. In about a year or so, I'll pick it up again and read it all the way through. It's just that good a book. I salute you Mr. Mason.
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Summary: An excellent Book
Review: Engrossing and very worthwhile read that casts a different viewpoint on the conflict than most books. Highlights particularly the problems encountered by pilot and other veterens of Vietnam and their return home. The strong descriptions make this book really grab you.
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Summary: Accurate but extreme personal views in the last half of the
Review: The first half of the book is extremely accurate, however the last half depicts his personal feelings about the situation. As a pilot in the sister Battalion (229th), the attitudes were not as he indicated. I personally resent the fact that he made me feel like maladjusted misfit! But it worked for him, didn't it???? I appreciated his accuracy--just don't think all felt the same way.
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Summary: Recommended to me by Vietnam Veteran pilots
Review: Being a flight nurse on a helicopter, I have the honor and pleasure of working with several Vietman Veteran helicopter pilots. When I asked them what was the best book to read to help me understand what it was like to fly as a pilot in Vietnam, they recommended this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I feel I better understand some of their ideosyncrasies since reading this book.
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Summary: This is probably the best book I have read - ever!
Review: This is a powerful book; it has to be read to be understood. You need to read it to understand the (In the UK) seldom-discussed Vietnam War. There is precious little material in the UK about the war and i found the book by chance. It proved to be a brilliant book and I loved it. I have read it many times since i first got it, in 1998.
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Summary: History is not academic: it happened.
Review: I developed a fascination with helicopters as a child, flying in them in the New Zealand mountains (there's lots here) when I read Mason's book in 1987 at age 18 I thought "what great stuff, detailed descriptions of flying Hueys" etc. But I had to read it twice: Once for the helo stuff and again, years later for the REAL stuff: The effect of that war on Mason and everyone else. He writes in a very pragmatic way, a manner which I think takes both great skill and, with Mason's humility and total honesty: The reader is NOT patronised in any way. On the contrary, I hope he continues to get the acclaim and patronage he belatedly deserves. I visited Vietnam and Laos last year, went to Khe Sahn (a tourist attraction now!) etc. came home and re-read Chickenhawk. His message for me was: We are easily hurt in many ways; why break something that didn't need fixing ?
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Summary: Human and powerfull; doesn't get more real than this.
Review: A friend of mine, in the midst of getting his commercial pilot's license, heard that I was a huge fan of helicopters. He had had this book for ages, it took me forever to give it back! Robert Mason brings you right into his life. You feel the flight, emotions, fear and frustration. It has something for everyone; human interest, detailed flight description, detailed mapping of the war. You'll probably be surprised to know that I am female and love this book! I am just about to order my own copy.
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Summary: Spectacular real-life thriller
Review: An incredible read, makes you feel you are there. It's a thriller, with the added fact that it really happened. I also recommend the sequel, "Chickenhawk: Back in the World", and his fiction books, "Weapon" and "Weapon: Solo."
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