Enjoyed reading this F-16 related book
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I recently finished reading a book by a former F-16 pilot titled “Inside the Turn Circle” By Retired Colonel - P.K White.
The author covers his early training days in the T-37 and T-38 also in the F-16A and later blocks in Germany. One of the airbases he is deployed at in Germany (forget which one) thy have a policy of engaging and sneaking up on fellow aircraft in mock dogfights. He describes the bombing modes of CCIP and CCRP, DTOS and strafing.
Very interesting book, not solely because of the flying, he also adds in various anecdotes on his life on the ground and, the comradery. A good read!
Anyone else come across this book, any book recommendations for fighter jet reads?
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@Snipe Take it you have read all the usual stuff like Vipers In the Storm etc?
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@Migbuster Nah mate - this is my first f-16 book.
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I have heard of Vipers in the Storm, will give it a go.
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@Snipe I agree a very good read! I also like the book “All Aces, No Jokers: The Wartime Memoirs of an American Fighter Pilot” by Thomas Littleton and “Hogs in the Sand: A Gulf War A-10 Pilot’s Combat Journal” by Buck Wyndham. you should check em out.
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@Snipe Viper Pilot by Dan Hampton is entertaining at least.
Boyd (Coram) - bio of John Boyd who had an influential role in F-15/16 development via EM theory. Also served in ww2, Korea (F-86) and Vietnam. Good read but pinch of salt in places.
Loud and Clear - I Spector. brilliant bio this guy was involved in most of Israels early history. Flew on the 81 Osirak raid
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@Migbuster I too enjoyed Viper Pilot. Sure he’s crass and has very pointed views. But he was a war fighter. He caused death and destruction. Would you tell a Viking his views and words were hurtful
Vipers in the Storm comes from a completely different angle. Rosie is one I would love to have a beer with… -
I reckon most of you fellas have heard of 'Fighter Combat: Tactics and Maneuvering" By Shaw? I was surprised how much of it I could understand and apply to BMS and Sims generally.
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@Snipe - It is good that you have been able to get that level of interest and utilise that in your hobby.
Looking at the hard copy of Shaw I have - first published 1985! -
Wow! That’s the earliest edition from the time of first publishing, I find I get a lot of use out of that book. Got mine from Abe books Australia about 10 or twelve years ago.
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@Quasi_Stellar said in Enjoyed reading this F-16 related book:
@Migbuster I too enjoyed Viper Pilot. Sure he’s crass and has very pointed views. But he was a war fighter. He caused death and destruction. Would you tell a Viking his views and words were hurtful
Vipers in the Storm comes from a completely different angle. Rosie is one I would love to have a beer with…@Quasi_Stellar .Did you hear Rosie just retired from the airlines, and literally rented a jet to fly everyone to Hawaii for the party?
@Snipe All good suggestions, here…
Also, for fictional-The 3 book Intruder series by Coontz
The 3 book Raven One Series by Miller
The 3 book Punk Series by Carroll
Real Life- Fox2 by Randy Cunningham
-Chickenhawk by Mason
-Thunderbolt by Johnson
-Thud Ridge by Broughton
I’m currently reading First In, Last Out : Stories by the Wild Weasels by Rock -
@Snipe
Thank you for your reading suggestion, since I love to read about military aviation, too. I have seen this book several times, but couldn’t motivate myself to buy it, because it doesn’t include a war deployment. But now I will give it a try.As suggested above, “Vipers in the storm” is an absolutely must-read. The different missions are very interesting to read and there is plenty of information about the then state-of-the-art Block 40 with FLIR.
And yes, Keith Rosenkranz is a guy you absolutely want to drink a beer with, very different to Dan Hampton:Nonetheless, “Viper pilot” by Dan Hampton is the second best F-16 book on my list. But he seems like a person with a very strong alpha personality and with some prejudices. Or like he says “how a real hard fighter pilot has to be”. He earned medals for very risky flying, which would have lead to grounding in Rosenkranz’ time in Desert Storm (strafing air defences). He also has some resentments about the HARM, which not always appear sensible (think he just wants to see stuff blow up with his own eyes) .
Also a very good book is “Magnum! The Wild Weasels of Desert Storm”. It is mostly focused on the F-4, but describes the hunter/killer teams with the F-16s very good.
Also suggestable:
“Strike Eagle: Flying the F-15E in the Gulf War”
“Hogs in the Sand: A Gulf War A-10 Pilot’s Combat Journal” -
@Atze-0 Your assessment of Vipers in the Storm vs Viper Pilot is spot on. Just finished reading both and you’re correct in that Keith Rosenkranz and Dan Hampton are very different people. They appear to be the Iceman and Maverick of the Air Force, accurate and methodical vs chaotic and egotistical. Both guys you definitely want on your side but you can only take so much of one whereas the other you can’t get enough of (which is which varies from person to person).
This thread has been great since I hadn’t read any good books in a while and I wasn’t able to put down either of these. Just got started on Hogs in the Sand so I’m sure my employer is going to appreciate my inattentiveness until I can finish it as well.
Redman
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Glad this thread has opened up some thoughts about flying reads from people - always like to hear what people are interested in in terms of reading about their hobby.
Some great suggestions for my next reads, though I read literature also, military aviation has always drawn my interest.
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@Snipe Great reference read…it improved my dogfighting abilities.