Rating: 
Summary: Great book, but for other reasons
Review: I really enjoyed this book, simply because it was written in Crichton's compelling style and had an intriguing story-line. The technical material was interesting, but no matter the calibre or credentiala of an author, I never treat a novel as a textbook. Besides, whether the airframe material was authentic or not is irrelevant to what I saw as the main theme of the book: the industry's struggles with its popular image. This is, I think, typical for Crichton -- to encase what is essentially a story about human responsibility in a technical and dramatic framework. *Terminal Man* and *Jurassic Park* deal with the question of whether scientists *should* do something, simply because they *can*. *Lost World* deals with the idea of responsibility in the area of extinction. *Congo* is essentially a study of three different approaches to exploration, asking the question of which is more responsible. *Sphere* is riddled with "Should he (or she) have done such and such" questions. The only Crichton work that pops to mind which which is different in this regard is *Eaters of the Dead*. Does *Airframe* deal with this issue well? I think it does. Aside from any technical or literary quibbles, I found the questions of corporate responbility to their customers and employees, of press responsibility to the people they cover and to those to whom they report, and of personal responsibility in the face of crisis situations (positively in Casey Singleton, negatively in Captain John Zheng Chang) fascinating.
Rating: 
Summary: Flight of the Stereotypes
Review: Michael Crichton's latest script--er, novel was written in just about the time it takes to read it. The technical information is well presented, and, one hopes, accurate. Because that's all there is, folks. The characters are two dimensional, the plotting convoluted, and the payoff disappointing. Having said that, it's serviceable cotton candy--Crichton is a most accomplished purveyor of contemporary pulp fiction, and is no doubt cruising through his next bestseller at this very moment. One suggestion--skip the chapters, replace with scene numbers. It'll save the script girl some work.
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Summary: Crichton delivers suspense while teaching at the same time!
Review: I just finished with Airframe and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed it. Though not as good as Disclosure, it is worth the time spent. Crichton delivers a nice "twist" near the end which comes as a pleasant surprise. I did, however, feel his closure at the end a bit abrupt. It felt as if he was hurrying before he ran out of pages. The Technical information was wonderful! Crichton has prepared me well for the next time I fly. His explanations were clear and precise and the real wealth for me in this story is how much I learned. From now on, when I look out my cabin window and see those "slats" moving back and forth on an airliner, I'll remember Crichton......and know what's going on....and why!
Rating:
Summary: Good book-- a critical portrayal of the media
Review: Michael Crichton has written another great page-turner in Airframe. It is a more coherent and riveting book than some of his previous novels. The success of the story is achieved not through an exhaustive dissertation on airplane technology but through his unforgiving portrayal of an unscrupulous media interested not in investigating news and uncovering truth but in menacingly carrying out an agenda that distorts and misrepresents the realtity of an airplane accident for the sake of sensation and ratings. After reading Airframe, I have no problem riding on airplanes-- but I'll never watch 20/20 the same way again!
Rating:
Summary: GOOD AMERICAN STANDARD
Review: Pros: A good book full of suspense and a sympathetic female main caracter in a technical environment. I had fun to read it in a few days. Like in his best novel (Disclosure) Crichton provides (or seems to provide) some inside aspects of professional life in technical companies. Moreover, when looking at recent news, parts of the plot have become reality. Cons: Crichton's language and his dramatic means are limited. You find repeats of certain phrases a bit too often within the text.
Rating: 
Summary: Almost as factual as Dr Seuss.
Review: Not as factual and not as entertaining as the good doctor. As an aerospace engineer, the only reason I finished the book was to see how inaccurate a book could be. The concept of flight testing an aircraft after it has exceeded design allowables is inane. Even the desciption of an aircraft plant was impossibly exaggerated. Maybe Mr. Crichton should have gotten a tour.
Rating:
Summary: great book!
Review: Airframe was one of the top ten books that I have ever read! It adds a certain level of humor and successfully shows the manufacturer's point of view to an air accident.
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Summary: the best of 1997 & posably 1998
Review: i'm reeading the book at the moment and i'm thrilled it's seems like it really happend
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining but cynical
Review: The story was fairly well written and the technical data was actually fairly interesting. I was somewhat disappointed in the cynical manner in which Crichton portrayed all the main characters (except the heroine).
Rating:
Summary: Another Crichton book hard to put down
Review: For a reader like myself, that reads a few chapters each night, I had a tough time putting the book down to fall asleep. I have always enjoyed reading Mr. Crichton's books because each chapter is short thus providing me more opportunities to stop at a end of a scene. The recent United Airlines incident is parallel to Airframe. Has anyone seen the misprint of a title page "Video Imabging Systems" in this book?
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