Product Description

Customer Reviews (25)

Not what I ordered
I ordered the Principles of Helicopter Flight - Syllabus. The picture shows that title. They shipped the non-syllabus version. They have different ISBNs.

Excellent
In preparation for the Army AFAST and general helicopter principals this book has been extremely helpful.It covers all the basics of helicopter flight and mechanics involved.I would highly recommend for someone trying to get into the aviation field.

If you are flying remote controlled helicopter, read this book first!.......before throwing away your money.
Simple and easy to understand. With plenty of review questions, just to make sure you understand what you are reading. Excellent!

Great Book For Helo Pilots!
I bought this book for my dad who just finished getting his private license. He loved it! It's a great idea for any helo pilots or pilots in training! full of helpful information!

Principles of Helicopter Flight
I'm using this book as my primary flight instruction book for helicopter flying. It seems to cover the aerodynamics principles much better and in more depth than others I have read.If you are searching for a book with real world helicopter stories and applications/techniques for flying a helicopter; then try another book.This is more like a college text book from which to learn helicopter flying. ... Read more

Product Description
An introduction to helicopter flying techniques, many of which are difficult to master, as well as a discussion of emergency procedure, human factors, advanced operations and even a section on careers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Great Book!
I ordered this book for a graduation present.It was the perfect gift and the recipient loved it!!

Most Excellent Authorship
For the past 35 years I have flown single engine fixed wing aircraft and for the same 35 years I have always wondered about how it would be to fly a helicopter.

After reading this book I still can't, but I now have some idea of just how "the other side" flies.I can now better appreciate the difficulty of maneuvering these aircraft and of the greater attention must be paid by the pilot even when flying straight and level.

I cannot say enough about the author.His writing is clear, concise, and humanistic, but never allows the reader a "parade rest" but, rather, holds the reader at full attention from page to page, well almost, until the book is finished.

Well written, worth twice the money.

Bill McConnell

Helpful book
This book provides a basic overview of helicopter flying.This is a good book for initial training.It is written with a down-to-earth (no pun intended) feel, so it was easy to read and helped simplify some complex issues that were confusing me.I would recommend this book for anyone who is beginning their flight training or someone who has been out of flying for a while and in need of a refresher course regarding the basics.

Excellent!
I will be attending Bristow Academy this Jan. and bought several books that they recommended to me. This is above and beyond the others. The author gives down to earth easy to understand explanations as well as many examples of many of the subjects discussed. For anyone that is looking to fly helicopters and is looking for a good book to explain a lot about them, DON'T MISS THIS TITLE!!!

Great for beginners -- needs some update
If you're like me, and I know I am, you haven't attended any flight training yet. If this is correct, you are the target audience for this book. It is well-written, in a conversational style that makes all the theory of the early chapters and the emergency procedures of the later chapters understandable on a first reading. I had just applied for the Army's Aviation Warrant Officer program when I ordered this book. I had slogged halfway through the Army's Fundamentals of Flight field manual when this arrived from Amazon. The theory matched point for point, which shouldn't be surprising since Mr. Padfield writes that he learned rotary aviation from the Army when he was an Air Force pilot.

The two major differences that make spending money on this book preferable to reading the free Army manual are: 1. the manual was apparently written for those who have already learned how to fly for the Army, and includes so many acronyms and abbreviations a complete beginner must constantly stop reading to look up the meanings; and 2. Mr. Padfield includes tips and tricks and helpful hints gained from many years and 9000+ hours of flying helicopters, all effortlessly included in the text giving the impression that he is sitting in the cockpit next to you helping you out.

The book includes many illustrations, photos and diagrams to assist the reader in better visualizing the ideas brought forth in the text. Also, as the text verbally illustrates the concepts, the repetitive nature of some of the motions helps the reader retain the knowledge (i.e., pulling up the collective and twisting the throttle combine to adjust power... since those motions are necessary for most operations, any time he mentions another operation, he verbally illustrates by mentioning how to adjust each control).

The only reason I couldn't rate the book 5 stars was the photography. The photos are all black and white, and by today's printing standards they are low quality. Since most of the pictures are mainly for general interest (i.e., various full-body shots of helicopters common in the 90s when the book was written), that's not normally an issue. The problem for me came when he was describing the controls and showing a low-quality, too-small grayscale photo that's not very clear. Also, it's been long enough since the book came out (at least a decade); some of the new gizmos he mentions would be available or common soon should have been implemented by now and even newer ideas brought out. An additional chapter updating these thoughts would be nice.

In general though, the theory is the same, making the book stand up well over the years. Of course, if you're already a pilot, I suspect you won't pick up much if anything from this book, aside from an appreciation for Mr. Padfield's writing style. Although some of the tips, particularly ones having to do with emergency procedures, may help some.

It's an excellent book (other than the photos), and I highly recommend it to the novice. ... Read more

Product Description
"In 1963…there was no way I could have known, sitting in a classroom on that beautiful campus in Ohio, that by raising my hand I would be going to war in Vietnam and that I would see things, hear things and do things that most people cannot imagine."—James Joyce.

The author was drawn into the United States Army through ROTC, and went through training to fly helicopters in combat over Vietnam. His experiences are notable because he flew both Huey "Slicks" and Huey "Gunships": the former on defense as he flew troops into battle, and the latter on offense as he took the battle to the enemy. Through this book, the author relives his experiences flying and fighting, with special attention given to his and other pilots’ day-to-day lives—such as the smoke bombing of Disneyland, the nickname given to a United States Army–sponsored compound for prostitution. Some of the pilots Joyce served with survived the war and went on to have careers with commercial airlines, and many were killed. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

It was ok...not great
This book is okay. Just okay....as long as you realize that it's not going to be anything more than a literary substitute for listening to kooky uncle James drinkin' beer and telling war stories on his front porch swing....which is exactly how the book starts.

I've read Chickenhawk by Robert Mason at least twice. As a student of the Vietnam War, a trained private pilot, and a fan of good writing about the Vietnam War in general, I can confidently say Joyce's book doesn't hold a candle to Mason's. It's really not even a comparison. Mason LOVES to fly and it really showed in his book -- his highly detailed description of flying of actual missions and what it was like learning to fly helicopters in flight school were fantastic. Mason has the respect and grace to intimately describe his comrades and let you get to know about the men he fought with, enough so that you're sad to find out they died or happy to hear they lived.

Joyce's descriptions of those he fought with are wanting...there are a few stories that grab you (the one about Major Burleson is a heartbreaker) but everything else sort of makes you feel like he didn't really pay attention while he was there, and that he was really only doing is so he could get a job flying buses for the airlines when he got back. He refers vaguely to crew chiefs and door gunners and co-pilots, but you don't ever get to know their stories and how they relate to Joyce. And his descriptions of battles and missions and generally most of his stories -- unless they're solely about him -- don't really give you much of a flavor of what was going on. In fact, if I hadn't read so much on Vietnam before (specifically, Chickenhawk and Hal Moore's We Were Soldiers Once...And Young, both of which focus on the First Air Cav in the early days of the war), I might not have known that he was a Cav pilot and flew in the most dangerous part of the country.

I don't mean to take away from Joyce's valiant service, but as his book goes, it's ok. So, if you want to know about flying helicopters, read Mason's book. If you want to know about flying helicopters in Vietnam, read it for a second time.

Would easily be 5 stars except for a major faux pas!
I loved this read. I felt I was with him on every life threatening sortie. I am so much more informed and grateful for his huge commitment to share this amazing set of facts - thank you! I know I'll read it again. I would have given it an easy 5 star rating if not for one major faux pas; he said that the Vietnam war (the goodies) was the US and other countries namely Australia and Korea; WRONG/ he either forgot or failed to research properly (unintentional I'm sure) and include New Zealand (Kiwis) as another country committed to the Vietnam conflict - insofar as infantry, artillery, special forces (NZSAS), training team and others (chopper pilots). All the kiwis were regular force volunteers- roughly from 1963 - 72/73, I was one of them; 1971. For the Kiwis that fell I had to put the record straight and because its a fact issue and should have been properly research (felt insulted) it cost him a star; but do not let this moaning old soldier distract or suggest that the book is non-factual; it is a wonderful read and apart from the one faux pas, it is a incredibly detailed and factual! I sincerely recommend it and thank the Author and his family for his amazing service and for sharing it with us! It is beautifully written and kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end (hate cliches; but yes, I couldn't put it down!); thank you.

pucker factor
outstanding read....very enjoyable book..if you want to know what it was like you have the book in your hands....steve heinz qui nhon....1969

Helicopter work
I liked this book because it typlified a lot of our service for a year.Some was exciting, some scary, some was just work and hard work it was.Not too glamorous, just serving. Never too relaxed to forget the pucker factor.

Ratings from a woman
As a woman reader I thoroughly enjoyed this book.I learned so much in this book, about flying, Vietnam, rats (UGH) I knew it was hard over there but didn't really realize some of the hardships till I read this book.The author's writing is very easy to understand, you don't need a dictionary beside you, and the humour was great.You got some really good laughs and some sadness also. I would highly recommend this book to anyone. ... Read more

Product Description

Acquire the Life-Saving Skills Needed to Eliminate or Reduce Most Helicopter Accidents

A vital resource for pilots, helicopter enthusiasts, and aircraft maintenance technicians, Fatal Traps for Helicopter Pilots analyzes all aspects of helicopter accidents, including flight basics, engineering, meteorology, flight training, and human factors. This life-saving guide shows how proper preparation can help prevent accidents by addressing causes such asaerodynamic problems, mechanical failures, poor loading, mid-air collisions, and more.

Filled with case studies and first-hand accounts of accidents, the book organizes accident types by primary causes, presenting proven methods for eliminating or reducing the possibility of each type. Greg Whyte, anex commercial helicopter pilot and professional aviation writer, draws on his own flying experiences and those of other flight veterans to provide a wealth of practical information and safety tips that are essential for everyone who flies, maintains or crews in helicopters. Filled with over 100 helpful illustrations, Fatal Traps for Helicopter Pilots enables readers to:

• Identify and address the common causes of helicopter accidents
• Explore in-depth examples of accident scenarios
• Examine the technical details of accident causes
• Review case studies and first-hand accounts of accidents
• Learn from the plain-English notes on avoidance and recovery

Inside This Aviation Accident-Prevention Guide

Customer Reviews (13)

Fatal traps for helicopter pilots
Very good, easy to read and understand. Informative with case studies, accident reports and technical info.

Great book!
It makes the current and/or future pilot think through risk factors before they do something risky.

Experience is what you learn just after you need.
If you are a helicopter pilot, you have to read this book before you do the same mistake. Do not ever think that "I have thousands of hours, I know every trick about choppers. You will be very surprised when you realize that you just missed your own funeral several times.

great
my dad flys and I got him this book. needless to say he liked it.

A "must read" for helicopter pilots!
This is a quick read and very informative. The thing I liked most about it was the fact that it was directly targeted to helicopters and not general aviation as most information is. It wraps up all the safety training you should have recieved. ... Read more

Product Description
FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Introduces helicopters, how they work, and for what purposes they are used. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Love Helicopters
I bought this book for my 4-year old son and we both love this book.Gives a nice overview of helicopter basics.Nice color pictures.

My son's favorite book....
My son is 3 1/2 and loves Helicopters, he got this book for Christmas. He loves it (he even takes it to bed to read to his stuffed animals). It's a small (in size) paperback book with realistic images of parts of the helicopter and different types of helicopters, including thier "duties." The book explains everything in general terms that any child can understand. I love it because it's very educational. So, if you have a child who loves helicopters, this is the book for them. ... Read more

Product Description
The dramatic story of Jason--the loner and the outsider--and his struggle to be accepted into the society of his classmates, The Boy Who Would Be a Helicopter shows that the classrom is indeed the crucible within which the young discover themselves and learn to confront new problems. "Anyone who was once a child, and especially those who were helicopters, will enjoy it."--David Perkins, Kansas City Star. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Textbook
I received the book in a timely manner and I knew the book would be a good read.I've read three other books by the same author and she's fabulous.I was not disappointed with this book either.Thank you to the seller for having it on hand.

Master Teacher
I believe the story relayed in this book is truly what the concept of 'no child left behind' could mean with a teacher and wisdom that honors each child for who he/she is, and meets them where they are to invite them into a larger "education".If more of our young children with different abilities could be allowed to live into their stories we might evoke happier endings for them.Vivian Paley;s insight, wisdom and ability to educe young stories has deeply inspired the foundation of my teaching.

The Boy Who Would Be a Helicopter
This book helps teachers to see how important play is, as well as how we each have a voice to tell stories.Children have a great imagination and this book helps to see a glimpse of it.

Book Review of the boy who would be a helicopter
After reading, Vivian Gussin Paley's book, the boy who would be a helicopter, I found it to be a very interesting account of her experiences in teaching young children.In particular, I was really impressed by the way she engaged the children in telling their stories through acting them out, since this not only allowed the children to learn, but also Paley had the chance to learn more about the children through their stories.Of all the children, Paley was primarily focused on a boy named Jason because he was so different than the rest of her children. For example, Jason refused to play with the other children and when Paley tried to get him to join the group his typical response was his helicopter is broken at which point he would rush off to "supposedly' fix it.

What amazed me throughout the book was how Paley continued to encourage Jason to join them in their storytelling and refused to give up on him.In addition, despite Jason's differences Paley never labeled him.Quite honestly, I know teachers who would have labeled or viewed Jason as being a special needs child and wanted him out of their classroom.Yet, Paley was driven to help Jason and he eventually does make tremendous progress in her classroom.Of course, Jason's level of progress would not have occurred without Paley's patience and determination along with a positive learning environment, which sends an important message to teachers.Even at the end of the book, Paley never reveals what Jason's problem is or whether she feels he is in need of some special services.To me, I definitely recommend this book to any educator especially those who work with young children, since I think Paley has a real unique way of working with children and teachers could greatly benefit from reading about her classroom experiences.

Jeff Wagner

December 18, 2002

Book Review of the boy who would be a helicopter
Book Review of the boy who would be a helicopter

After reading, Vivian Gussin Paley's book, the boy who would be a helicopter, I found it to be a very interesting account of her experiences in teaching young children.In particular, I was really impressed by the way she engaged the children in telling their stories through acting them out, since this not only allowed the children to learn, but also Paley had the chance to learn more about the children through their stories.Of all the children, Paley was primarily focused on a boy named Jason because he was so different than the rest of her children. For example, Jason refused to play with the other children and when Paley tried to get him to join the group his typical response was his helicopter is broken at which point he would rush off to "supposedly' fix it.

What amazed me throughout the book was how Paley continued to encourage Jason to join them in their storytelling and refused to give up on him.In addition, despite Jason's differences Paley never labeled him.Quite honestly, I know teachers who would have labeled or viewed Jason as being a special needs child and wanted him out of their classroom.Yet, Paley was driven to help Jason and he eventually does make tremendous progress in her classroom.Of course, Jason's level of progress would not have occurred without Paley's patience and determination along with a positive learning environment, which sends an important message to teachers.Even at the end of the book, Paley never reveals what Jason's problem is or whether she feels he is in need of some special services.To me, I definitely recommend this book to any educator especially those who work with young children, since I think Paley has a real unique way of working with children and teachers could greatly benefit from reading about her classroom experiences.

Jeff Wagner

December 18, 2002 ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Worked for me
I used this book to study for my checkride oral. The book was a good review of all the stuff you already should know. My examiner asked a lot of questions that were taken directly from this book, which was great. ... Read more

Product Description
Monumental engineering text offers comprehensive, detailed coverage of every aspect of theory and design: elements of vertical flight, forward flight, performance, mathematics of rotating systems, rotary wing dynamics and aerodynamics, aeroelasticity, stability and control, stall, noise and more. Essential reading for any student or aeronautical engineer interested in the design and development of vertical-flight aircraft. 189 illustrations. Bibliography. 1980 edition.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Two perfect, one is secondhand??
I bought 3 books, the first two were perfect, however the last one was damaged and the back cover was was dirty and was marked with a pen. I think, it was used by someone, perhaps second hand.

Comprehensive Textbook

This is a comprehensive textbook which covers in detail most of what an aeronautical engineering graduate interested in this subject will find useful and handy. This is not a book for the novice but for those with good engineering and mathematics background seeking in-depth knowledge of the helicopter design, rotary wing aerodynamics, stability and control, helicopter performance and many more.

For the target audience, the book is well written with clear explanations and sufficient detail.

The book has stood the test of time (having been published in 1980) although it can benefit from an update to take into account the latest helicopter designs.

Helicopter Theory
OK for a reference book, but much too bulky for any classroom. Mr. Johnson would do well to write an abridged addition. There does not appear to be any attempt to start with basic concepts and proceed to more difficult ones. Try to get a copy to review before buying it.

Advanced concepts
This book is quite difficult to understand and the concepts contained in it are quite complicated.With that in mind, and the fact that I did not understand most of it, I can't fairly rate it.I will however warn any potential buyer that a thorough knowledge of Calculus and Matrix Algebra is required to fully understand the text.

Excellent job
I picked up this book with the intent of getting some ideas for physics demonstrations that illustrate the physics of helicopter flight. Also, I was curious as to why helicopters are not made that are three, four, or perhaps ten times the size that they are now, and if chaotic dynamics could be present in helicopters. Over a thousand pages long, this book gave me what I needed and much more. Written for design and mechanical engineers who are involved in helicopter manufacturing, the book could be read profitably by anyone who is curious about the physical principles behind helicopters.

In the introduction to the book, the author defines a helicopter as an aircraft that uses rotating wings to provide lift, propulsion, and control. He then discusses briefly the basic physical principles that a helicopter needs in order to sustain vertical lift, as well as to move translationally. The design engineer must then weigh the factors that enable the helicopter to move against the maintenance and human factors involved in the use of the helicopter for transportation. The rest of the book is then an extremely detailed and fascinating account of the engineering analysis that goes into the design of a succesful helicopter. The author also overviews the history behind the helicopter, beginning with the Chinese rotor, circa 400 B.C. and with the first succesful flight with one passenger, and one meter above the ground, for about one minute, by Breguet-Richet of France in 1907. The author remarks that helicopter engineering currently emphasizes research and development than with invention. This is especially true in the military environment, with the Apache helicopter being a superb example of just how sophisticated a helicopter can be. It will be interesting to see how the technology and design of helicopters will change in the decades ahead. The trend might be towards pilotless flight for delivering military supplies or manufactured goods from one point to another, or perhaps helicopters that can morph into completely vertical or horizontal aircraft as the need arises.

The physics behind vertical flight is described by the author as 'momentum theory', which was developed for marine propellors in the late nineteenth century. As the name implies, this is just an application of the principle of conservation of momentum. The rotor disk of the helicopter feels a thrust created by the action of the air on the helicopter blades. It must therefore exert an equal and opposite force on the air. This forces the velocity of the air in the rotor wake to be opposite in direction to the direction of the thrust. Momentum conservation, energy conservation, and mass conservation then give a relation between the induced power loss and the rotor thrust. The author also gives details on the 'vortex theory', which is based more on fluid dynamical laws of the flow field of the rotor wake. Emphasizing the local aspects, it reduces to momentum theory in appropriate limits. The author also shows how momentum theory applies to the forward flight of the helicopter.

The author also treats helicopter performance analysis, which boils down to determining the power required and available for a range of flight conditions. The rotor forces and power must be calculated, and the author details two methods to do this: the 'force balance method' and the 'energy balance method'. The use of the computer has made this analysis considerably easier for the design engineer of course. The author gives a very interesting overview of helicopter speed limitations and how the helicopter could be landed safely after an engine failure, all of this being analyzed from a physics perspective.

The mathematics of rotating systems is included in the book, along with the differential equations of motion for the rotor blade. The motion of the blade is expanded into a normal mode representation and analyzed using Sturm-Liouville theory. The author though outlines other approaches to the blade dynamics, such as the Lagrangian formulation and the Galerkin method. And also, in spite of the ability of computers to solve for the aeroelastic equations of motion, the author considers their analytical solution for the cases where such solutions can be obtained. One very interesting part of this discussion was that of 'ground resonance', which is a dynamic instability involving the the coupling of the blade lag motion with the in-plane motion of the rotor hub. There is then a resonance between the frequency of the rotor lag motion and the natural frequency of the structure supporting the rotor. ... Read more

Product Description
Describes various models of helicopters used for military purposes, from the Sikorsky to the A160 Hummingbird. ... Read more

Product Description
"This story tells, in clear detail, how Sikorsky Aircraft developed, tested, modified, and produced one of the most successful helicopters in the world. Written by the man considered to be the father of the Black Hawk, Ray Leoni explains how Sikorsky used innovative designs with the right advanced technologies to meet the Armyís stringent specifications for aircraft performance, survivability and reliability. With its creative Black Hawk design, Sikorsky won an uphill, highly-contested battle for one of the worldís largest helicopter programs which reestablished the company as a leader in the world community of helicopter producers.Black Hawk variants have been put in service by every branch of the US Military and by over 24 countries around the world accumulating over 5 million flight hours. Through its combat service in the campaigns of Granada, Panama, Somalia, Afghanistan and Iraq, the Black Hawk has demonstrated unprecedented mission versatility and survivability and proven itself to be an outstanding war-fighting machine that will serve for a half century or longer. In the best tradition and vision of Igor Sikorsky, Black Hawks are performing world-wide rescue and humanitarian missions saving countless lives and providing relief from natural and manmade disasters to thousands of people across the globe.

The Army program began in 1972 with the issuance of Requests for Proposals for the Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System to the U.S. helicopter industry. Both Boeing Vertol and Sikorsky were awarded contracts to design and build prototype Black Hawks for Army side-by-side evaluation. Those awards set off an intense 4-year competition between the two companies that culminated in the final production selection in 1976. That competition focused on developing the best possible helicopter to offer for production selection by the Army following a 7-month fly off evaluation. During this critical evaluation, a night-time crash occurred of one of Sikorskyís three prototypes with 14 Army personnel aboard. This book shows the cause and results of that crash and describes how its consequences actually strengthened Sikorskyís competitive position. It also describes in considerable technical detail the problems encountered by Sikorsky during prototype development in vibration, speed performance, maneuverability and handling qualities and how they were solved in time for the production award. Many of the key people responsible for the success of the Black Hawk program are identified throughout this book.

Readers will benefit from the unique insights into the challenges of helicopter development as well as successful management strategies presented in this book." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A landmark book!
Ray Leoni's "Black Hawk: The Story of a World Class Helicopter," is the first detailed story of the development of the H-60. This ubiquitous multi-purpose helicopter, of which over 3000 have been built to date, is now serving with every branch of the US military, as well as with 24 foreign countries. Even if you have little interest in history, this book is for you. The lessons discussed here are as much about how to run a successful proposal capture effort - reshaping a company in the process - as about the particular trials and tribulations of developing a revolutionary helicopter. This is an excellent book for historian, student, designer and manager alike.

Leoni, considered by many to be the "father" of the Black Hawk, was uniquely qualified to tell the story of its development. Having started at Sikorsky in the ramp-up to the heyday of production during the late 1950s - reaching nearly 500 helicopters per year - Leoni witnessed the dismal decline in sales that bottomed out in the mid-1970s with less than one-tenth that output. When the Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System (UTTAS) program began in January 1972, production of helicopters for the Army was dominated by Bell and Boeing Vertol. Since Sikorsky was such a small part of the Army's production base - finishing the last of 94 CH-54 Tarhe flying cranes during this time - and because Sikorsky had lost the last two major Army competitions, the odds of Sikorsky winning the UTTAS program were widely thought to be near zero. But winning was seen by Sikorsky management to be a matter of survival, despite the long odds.

Promising research and development, however, encouraged Sikorsky management to take the chance, since all of the key new technologies - titanium main rotor blades, elastomeric rotor head, bearingless composite tail rotor, and canted tail rotor - had been test flown on helicopters larger than UTTAS. After winning a chance to build their YUH-60A demonstrator, Sikorsky invested heavily in their bid and was eventually rewarded in December 1976 with the Black Hawk production program - arguably the most important contract ever won by Sikorsky.

Leoni started on the UTTAS design team in 1971, conducting concept formulation studies; he led the team whose design was selected by Sikorsky management to be their UTTAS proposal. After contract award, Leoni became the program engineering manager, responsible for all Black Hawk engineering design and test activities, and in 1976, the overall program manager. Eventually, in 1991, Leoni would retire as Sikorsky's senior vice president for engineering and advanced programs.

Leoni takes an interesting approach to introducing the story: the first chapter is a detailed overview of the book, beginning with the utility of the helicopter for rescue missions and the need for air mobility during Vietnam; it continues with the initial UTTAS design competition and company strategy, followed by the flight test competition, and the selection for initial production, and finally the many variants and derivatives of the Black Hawk. The overview itself - 18 pages in all - is an excellent summary of the entire book, and calls out each of the following chapters as "hardcopy hyperlinks" to find the full story.

The book describes in considerable technical detail the severe technical problems encountered during flight testing - vibration, speed performance, maneuverability and handling qualities - and how they were solved in time to win the production award. The full stories of raising the rotor, finding the right tail and many other design and test challenges are told here. The most memorable flight test story is that of a "fortuitous" crash landing in a pine forest - no one was injured and, after cutting the stumps down to the ground, the Army replaced the rotor blades were replaced and the aircraft was flown out! This was the first demonstration of the incredible ruggedness of the Black Hawk.

This is truly a landmark book. In writing "Black Hawk: The Story of a World Class Helicopter," Leoni has done a great service not only to the helicopter community, but to the larger aerospace community as well. He has laid out in exquisite detail not only what worked, but what didn't. Many of the timeless lessons learned outlined here are applicable across a broad spectrum of the aerospace industry. One could only hope that every aircraft development program would write a book like this!

Excellent explanation of why the Blackhawk is the way it is
This book was written by a former V.P. of Engineering at Sikorsky Aircraft.It is a great historical record and technically detailed.It is also very current at this time (2009).This book is highly recommended reading with in Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.

Great book, full of much behind the scenes info
This is a very detailed yet easy-to-read story on all the technical aspects of the Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter - how it was designed and perfected into one of the most popular aircraft of all time. The author Ray Leoni will be making a presentation on his book at the National Helicopter Museum in Stratford, CT on Tuesday May 6th, 2008 at 7:30 PM. Call 203-767-1123 for more info.

BLACKHAWK A WORLD CLASS HELICOPTER
An exceptional book of Program Management for a complicated hi-tech aerospace product from R&D through Production, Delivery and deverse customer use.Excellent detail of problems encountered and solutions including understandable technical data with graphics. A book that will stay in a personal library and revisted many times. ... Read more

Product Description
U.S. Army aviators pioneered the first helicopter gun platforms in the early 1950s. Today, helicopter gunships are the most unique element of rotary-wing aviation, redefining the term close air support. As the ultimate development of the military helicopter, these largely
U.S.-designed-and-built aircraft reign supreme as the premier attack platforms of modern aerial warfare.
Helicopter Gunships begins with the Vietnam War as the ultimate proving ground that first utilized helicopter gunships and saw the development of other rotary-wing weapons systems as well. This book also explores fascinating post-war programs like the experimental Comanche, Blackhawk, and Apache. Through in-depth research and exclusive high-quality photos, noted author and helicopter expert Wayne Mutza examines in vivid detail the numerous weapon systems mated with a surprisingly wide variety of helicopters. Attention is also given to helicopter gunships developed by other Free World countries and Communist nations. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
This book is a modern treatment of the aerodynamic principles of helicopters and rotating-wing vertical lift aircraft. Part one covers the technical history of helicopter flight, basic methods of rotor aerodynamics, and performance-related design issues. Part two contains advanced topics in helicopter aerodynamics, including airfoil flows, unsteady aerodynamics, dynamic stall, rotor wakes, and rotor-airframe aerodynamic interactions. Part three contains chapters on autogiros and advanced aerodynamic analysis and a new chapter on the aerodynamics of wind turbines.The book is extensively illustrated and contains homework problems. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A must have for all rotorcraft engineers
As an aerospace engineer I have read many books on rotorcraft and I mustadmit that this is the most up to date and useful text on rotorcraft that Ihave had the pleasure to read. There are many aspects of the text thatstand out, however the one I found most useful, especially as a graduatestudent, was that the equations are derived from engineering basics and areaccompanied by clear explanations of the principles involved. The text andequations are also supplimented by clear diagrams that serve to enhanceunderstanding of the more complex topics covered. All in all a great bookand one that I would highly recommend to both rotorcraft students andpracticing engineers alike. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great Book
Being new to an air unit this is one book you need to read.Easy reading but full of knowledge.Must have if you are in an air unit

Tactical Helicopter Missions
THE BIBLE FOR POLICE HELICOPTER OPERATIONS! As a 'Helo Cop' my fellow helo-cops and I practice the principles outlined in this book everytime we fly.Furthermore, the teachings from this book are passed on to future generations of helo-cops. I personally met Kevin Means and he is an absolute professional and a true gentleman. His work will live on in history long after all of us have passed onto the big Police helipad in the sky! LOL!

Tactical Helicopter Missions
Great book and easy to understand. I use the subject matter every time I fly a fly a mission.It's a great training aid for new Tactical Flight Officers (TFO's) and Pilots. I refer to the different chapters often as I fly new TFO's on their first flights.

D.K.
OH-58C Pilot
Law Enforcement Aviation Coalition
Rockford, IL ... Read more

Product Description
Rattler One-Seven puts you in the helicopter seat, to see the war in Vietnam through the eyes of an inexperienced pilot as he transforms himself into a seasoned combat veteran. At the age of twenty, Chuck Gross spent his 1970-71 tour with the 71st Assault Helicopter Company flying UH-1 Huey helicopters. He inserted special operations teams into Laos and participated in Lam Son 719, a misbegotten attempt to assault and cut the Ho Chi Minh Trail, during which his helicopter was shot down and he was stranded in the field.

Soon after the war he wrote down his adventures, while his memory was still fresh with the events. Rattler One-Seven (his call sign) is written as Gross experienced it, using these notes along with letters written home to accurately preserve the mindset he had while in Vietnam. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

Eeerily Familiar
Italmost felt like I flew with the author, Chuck Gross.I,too,flew slicks in Vietnam.I arrived in June 1971 just as the author left.I flew out of Chu Lai as did Rattler 17.My call sign was Minuteman 17.His narrative brought back many memories, good and bad.Over the years I have heard stories of Lam Son 719 from pilots who flew in that conflict, but I never realized the magnitude and horror they survived.He does a great job explaining the intricacies of how a helicopter works and the techniques of flying incombat.

Great Read for History Buffs
In a chance meeting I met Chuck Gross at Panera's Coffee Shop in Hendersonville, TN. He was with a friend and had his book with him. I was with a friend who had also served in Viet Nam in an Army unit.When I noticed his book, I was intrigued and obtained a copy from him.Chuck's experience in Viet Nam should make us all realize what a debt of gratitude we all owe him and others like him who served our country bravely in a war that we never intended to win.Initially one's there for our country, but these men ultimately fought for each other as they have done in all our wars. His story in this book is a great testimony to that fact.

What we did
This was a very good representation of a "normal" life for a year in Viet Nam for a Huey jock.Most of it was truck driving, then an exciting week or so had you melting in your socks.But upon looking back that week or a few days is hard to believe.Brings back lots of feelings.

Remember those who served, to protect our freedom
I recently purchased a book entitled Rattler One-Seven written by Chuck Gross.Once I started to read this unbelievable account of this helicopter pilots involvment in the VietNam war I could not put it down.What these young pilots went through to insert and extract and suport rescue missions to bring back our ground troops during this confrontation is almost more than a mind can absorb.Chuck Gross was a young warrant officer (19 yrs old) from Minnesota.His in depth writing will take you to a time in history that many of us have forgotten.The daily fear of lossing ones own life, being caputured and the stories of friends and comrades who did not make it home is riveting to say the least.His writing is so in depth I gurantee you will ride that Huey with him and his crew, and you will share the tears, heartache and jubilation just as he did during his year of service.If you remember anything about Nam and the protests regarding this war you owe it to yourself to read this pilots account of what hell must really be like, and applaud these brave young men for doing the job that they were told to do.Whether you agreed with the war or not is not the issue, but what these soldiers did at our governments request of them. I hope you can reflect as I did when you read Chuck Gross's account.You will hold a special place in your memory for all of these brave men.Bill Turck, St Cloud MN

A must read for all to experience a time in history.
You have seen it in the movies, now read actual accounts of flying UH-1 Huey helicopters in and out of hot landing zones.

Author Chuck Gross details his 1200 hours of combat as a young aviator during the Vietnam war. He details the way it really was from the propective of being on the front lines during tense operations. Rattler One-Seven is a collection of his notes and memories written in an exciting format, which captured my emotion to read more.

He shares with his readers his thoughts and emotions as he carried out risky operations, putting his talents ahead of his emotion to complete the mission at hand. It is clear to me that Chuck was a fine aviator with high moral standards. This book tells the real life experiences in the eyes of a 19 year old Vietnam combat helicopter pilot. The challenges this pilot experienced which formed his skills and moral values into who he is today.

You will read chronological events as they were experienced; being a Newbie, busting your cherry, Special Operations including Lam Son 719, what it is like to be shot down, coming home and more..... Read it. As I read it I felt the combat as if I was there in the action.

A must read for all to experience a time in history. ... Read more

Product Description
He is one of the rugged few to know the secret thrill of combat flying... to experience screaming descents into hot landing zones to place assault troops.He has the clarity of mind to survive seven days of horror in a Vietnamese jungle swamp.And he's got the guts to battle his own brass when a botched operation spells disaster for the men under him.He is the Flying Dutchman, pilot of the U.S. Army's UH-1H "Huey" Iriquois helicopter - man of legend. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Great read.
This book is dated but still a great book. It gets right there with the helicopter pilot before and during his time serving our country in vietnam. It's funny and sad at times. I get every book on Vietnam pilots I can get my hands and have yet to be disappointed.

Slick
HUEY is a surprisingly good book, one of the better Vietnam novels I've ever read and one of the few told from the POV of a helicopter pilot rather than a grunt or a Special Forces commando. Written by Jay and David Groen, both veterans of the Vietnam war, it has a semi-autobiographical feel which lends it a lot of nuts and bolts authenticity and puts the reader square in the cockpit of that ubiquitous symbol of the Vietnam War: the UH-1 "Huey."

John Vanvorden is a 20-year old warrant officer who loves to fly "slicks." Green and eager, he arrives in The Nam late in the war and is assigned to an assault helicopter company - the guys who fly the infantry in and out of the jungle. He quickly discovers what everybody already knows: the war is a bloody mess and ferrying grunts in and out of "hot" landing zones is not for the faint of heart. Vanvorden's transition from "newbie" to battle-hardened veteran is not an easy one. New pilots are not only hazed without mercy, treated with contempt by ground crew and stuck with the most odious chores, they're also relegated to flying as "peter pilots", meaning the co-pilots of the chopper, until such time as they are cleared to fly solo in combat. Vanvorden doesn't care to be an FNG, and he likes even less slogging through VC-infested jungle when his chopper gets shot down, killing the pilot. Coming back to friendly turf, he's told he can go home to "the World" (America) and when he insists he wants to stay and continue flying, he's dragged before a pair of shrinks who tell him, "Son, it's not normal to want to stay in this country." (Sound of me laughing hysterically as I read).

Incidents like this, which seem to poke rude fun at the insanity of war, are commonplace, but the Groens don't shy away from the war's brutality and cynicism, either: the hazing of new pilots masks the universal fear of getting close to inexperienced replacements the older vets feel are dead men walking; constant fear turns some men to stone and destroys others mentally; corruption and contempt for life are nearly universal. Initially, Vanvorden regards the Vietnamese as sub-human, but on an extended leave he falls in love with a Thai girl, and later in the book befreinds a philosophizing ex-officer who was broken to the ranks for refusing to order his men into the bush. As Vanvorden matures, he also ascends the pilot ladder, becoming known as "the Flying Dutchman" for his skill at whisking grunts away from danger. This reputation puts him at odds with his company commander, a martinet bent on getting promoted at any cost, and following a disasterous operation which virtually destroys the company, Vanvorden embarks on a lonely one-man campaign to unseat his CO and "avenge" the deaths of his closest friends. The book's biggest battle, ironically, is not against the VC, but the Army's bureacracy - which Vanvorden discovers is a lot more powerful.

It's a pity HUEY is no longer in print. While it's no classic, it's a highly enjoyable read that gives readers a cockpit's-eye-view not only of the Kafkaesque nightmare of the Vietnam War, but of one man's painfu realization that being the best comes with some heavy duty obligations.

Great Book
It's amazing to think that this book made the New York Times Bestseller list in only 3 days on it's first printing and then sold out two weeks later.Lots of action in this story, and as the author told me "Fiction is often more real than Non-fiction."

I highly recommend this book!

Good story - but why not tell the real story?
"Huey" tells the story of an army warrant officer flying UH-1 choppers in Vietnam.It's a novel, but we're supposed to rely on it as a realistic story of the air war in Vietnam.Beginning with the arrival in-country of Jan VanVorden (quickly dubbed the Dutchman - to this day, I'm not sure if the author's use of that ominous name was all that intentional), "Huey" has VanVorden become one of his unit's most proficient and respected fliers.As a warrant officer, the Dutchman straddles the line between enlisted grunts and officers.Most of the book is episodic, tracing the year-long tour VanVorden must endure in Vietnam.Between suffering the incompetence of his superiors and the skill of the Vietcong, survival becomes nearly impossible (the story is told in flashback after the Dutchman is severely injured in battle).Some stereotypes seem hard to accept (chief being an army officer, the hero's superior, who seems to be as snobbish as some civil-war academy grad), and the story gets too gooey sentimental at times - but hey, it's a novel.The plot meanders around - clashes with superiors, partying with fellow chopper-drivers on leave, braving the Viet Cong and mastering the Huey - but that only makes the story more -re-readable.My chief problem was that the book clearly respects the Dutchman as a brave and proficient driver, then ignores how VanVorden became the master chopper driver (and why so many others were not as lucky).Also, the author seems to have had many noteworthy experiences in Vietnam himself - or at least had access to those of others.The story of chopper pilots in Viet Nam is a compelling one - why must it be fictionalized?

Love the book
HUEY is an excellent reading book that reveals the inner workings of being a Vietnam helicopter pilot.Back in '88 I checked this book out from the local library and never forgot it.I purchased my own copy in '92 and have been averaging 4 years between readings.Aside from one chapter on Buda which I always skip, the book is a real page turner. ... Read more

Product Description
t takes a mild form of insanity to expose oneself to the rigors of helicopter flight in the midst of flying bullets ¡ª at one point the author even had his toe shot off! ¡ª but Mike Tuson's rich and varied experiences as a helicopter pilot constitute a very full, if somewhat precarious existence! This is not a manual on how to fly a helicopter, yet, in a very readable and exciting narrative form, it will introduce the reader to all the theory and essentials of flight regarding fixed wing aircraft as well as, and especially, helicopters. Apart from involving the reader in the escapades, narrow escapes and accidents in his flying life, the author examines the advantages of helicopters over fixed wing aircraft. Which, for example, is safer if the engine fails, or if the aircraft has to be ditched in the sea?This is a book for the layman as well as the experienced pilot. In either case it is an entertainining and enriching experience. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Not what I expected, but a good fast read
I thought this would be sort of a chance for an old timer to pass on his wisdom to newly-minted pilots. That's why I got it...expecting to hear stories that would keep me out of trouble. It's not really that, but it's a worthwhile read for any aspiring pilot...or anybody who sits at their desk thinking they'd rather be getting paid for doing something "exciting". It's kind of the Seven Years in Tibet of flying helos, both stylistically ("lot of stuff happened, but it was all good adventure") and conceptually (Mike was there in the beginning).

For pilots...we have it good. Mike started flying airplanes because helicopters weren't widely in service at the time. And that time was when flying a copter wasn't completely figured out either. That alone is a pretty good story. When Mike leaves the military, the book takes what I thought of as a sort of aside into the political relationship between the Sultan of Oman and the adoo (I thought it was interesting that Mike chose not to capitalize "adoo"). There's some interesting flying, but it's mostly (and somewhat interesting) a bit of history. You do learn a bit about what it's like working away from home and family, although Mike's neglect in dealing more with this topic parallels its outcome.

The next chapter in Mike's career I thought was particularly useful (and, again, entertaining) for any Robbie-Ranger who wants to fly the fancy ship for a rich guy. Mike ends up doing that, and it really sounds like one of the most challenging of his jobs. He's faced with a pilot/boss who's more boss than pilot, putting Mike in what sounded to me like great opportunities to end his career in a crash or violation.

After this, the final chapters are anticlimactic, but also more realistic for aspiring pilots. Mike ends up back in the Middle East, this time flying for the oil companies. You get a better sense of his family life at the time, and how his earlier career choices affected him later on (eg, his experience in Oman led to the oil job, but limited him in model experience).

Overall, a great book. One of the few that I've read for fun since starting flight training. I read it in a matter of days and had a good time with it. Also ended up turning down a few pages that I'll go back to once I'm flying full-time.

A Mild Form of Insanity
An excellent read, a real insight into a largly unthought of world. Highly recommended! ... Read more

Product Description
U.S. Marine Corps helicopter crews found little glory waiting for them in faraway Vietnam. Instead they became locked in a savage struggle with tenacious Sino-Soviet pawns. The author, a former Marine Corps helicopter pilot, combines fascinating detail with grim realism. He uses After-Action-Reports, Unit Diaries, and hundreds of records from Marine Corps archives to build the outline for this riveting chronology. Onto this framework the author weaves personal accounts from the helicopter crews. Day by day he breathes life into this eloquent saga of Marines at war. Step through this unique looking-glass into the volitile crucible of combat in Vietnam. Taste the danger and fear, the madness and passion. Experience the love and brotherhood shared by aircrewmen and infantrymen. Their survival became their victory. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

This is a great book!
This book gives the reader a true feeling of what it was like to fly in Marine Helos during Vietnam.From the very beginning it was exciting to read.

Marion Sturkey does not try to glamorize Vietnam, combat or the Marine Corps.What he does is give the reader a true sense of pride in America, the Marine Corps and Marine Aviation.Anyone who thought being "Aircrew" in Vietnam was an easy task will soon change his mind. Bonnie-Sue is a tribute to not only Marine Aviation, but to all the aircrews, in all the branches of the services past and future.

Bonnie-Sue should be required reading for all active duty aircrews.
I highly recommend this book. It was a great read, Thanks Marion..
Semper-Fi

Memory jogger
Bonnie Sue, is a great descriptive account of life in a Marine 46 squadron, it reminded me of the people, the comradare, the smells, the sounds, the ups, downs, and everyday life in and around the squadron.I think that it would make a great movie.

A boring account of what really happened
The author obviously put a lot of time and effort into this book.The problem is that the book is filled with too much antiseptic detail and not enough emotion.The author is constantly referring to the identification number of the helicopters and reads from casulty cards.There is far too much detail and far too little of the on the edge of the seat action for the ametuer military history enthusiast.The book does discuss all of the action, but not in the riveting manner as say, E.B. Sledge in "With the Old Breed".This is a good reference book but not a page turner.

Fascinating View - Detailed and Worth Reading
As a former Marine sniper who was there when the events written in this book took place I found it fascinating to hear a chopper pilots view of the same events I lived through. It details what happened, why in many cases like Helicopter Valley, and what was going on for the guys in the sky. These guys were our lifeline and we loved them and this book details the sacrifices they made on our behalf. It is pretty long but well worth it if you are interested in understanding the war.

Tandem rotors
My father was a H-46 helicopter pilot in Vietnam, and after seeing this book in his bookshelf I had to read it.It is a very clear and uniform account of what helicopter pilots in Vietnam experienced.There are gripping stories of courage and carnage, and several scenes that stand out in my mind as testimony to the bravery, comraderie, and absolute horror that so many men have experienced in times of war.I loved the quotations throughout the book from all periods of history, but which really never grow old.This book helped give me some understanding of a time that has been confusing to me, (and I'm sure many others) and it adds the perspective of the people actually participating in the struggle.
"The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract.The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here."

Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg, 1863 ... Read more

Product Description
From the "perfect storm" to the South Pole, a stirring true-life adventure story by a celebrated helicopter rescue pilot
During the course of a 30-year career in helicopter rescue, Colonel Edward Fleming led scores of high-risk, high-profile missions, including rescue operations during the Halloween storm of 1991 described in Sebastian Junger's The Perfect Storm and the successful rescue of Dr. Jerri Nielsen from Antarctica after she developed breast cancer. Now, Colonel Fleming takes readers along for a bracing ride as he recounts the most thrilling episodes of his long career. With all the nail-biting excitement of a bestselling thriller, Heart of the Storm brings to life dramatic jungle rescues in the Philippines, the longest helicopter rescue mission in history to save crew members of a Ukrainian freighter 840 miles off of the coast of Nova Scotia, a nearly disastrous rescue off a listing two-masted schooner during an Atlantic winter storm, and many more—including the ill-fated "perfect storm" operation of 1991 and the exceptionally difficult Dr. Nielsen rescue. Fleming describes the many near-misses and narrow escapes he and his crews experienced, as well as many tragic losses he witnessed. Through it all, the courage and professionalism of Fleming and his crews aboard their "Jolly Green Giant" HH3E and MH60 helicopters shines through, making this suspenseful, richly textured book an exhilarating read for anyone who enjoys true-life adventure stories.

Col. Edward Fleming, retired (Eagle Bridge, NY), served in the Air Force and Air Force National Guard for 30 years as a helicopter rescue pilot and was the Commander of the 106th Operations Group, 4412th Squadron, in the Persian Gulf and the Vice Commander of the 109th Airlift Wing. Over the course of his career, he was responsible for saving 293 lives.Marketing Campaign ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Such a page turner, you have to keep reminding yourself it is all true
A really well written book that kept me turning the pages until late into the night.

One thing I especially liked was the way that he started each chapter with a review of what was going on in the world at the time - this really helped set his personal story in context of world events.

I can thoroughly recommend this book. The author puts you right in the cockpit, sharing the decisions that have to be made and the sense of personal danger he faced. He also doesn't pull any punches in recounting the bureaucratic arguments he faced and the dangers that these exposed his crew to. After reading the book I have a new respect for the Search and Rescue service.

Wow, that was good!
As a Search & Rescue volunteer, I'm hooked on true wilderness rescue and survival stories. I'm also fascinated by helicopters, although I always hold my breath when I'm told to get in one on SAR missions. So I was drawn to this book, which left me with an even greater respect for these rescue crews, who really do risk their own lives every time they take off.

So if you're at all interested in helicopters and the lives of those who fly them, particularly in the field of rescue, add this book to your reading list. Personally, I'd never realized just how difficult flying a helicopter is, even in ideal conditions. Needless to say, many--or perhaps most--of Fleming's missions detailed in this book were in anything BUT ideal conditions.

A good read
This book was better written and more interesting than Jack Brehm's book That Others May Live.

One note: While the town in Georgia is named Warner Robins, the base is named Robins AFB (not Warner Robins AFB). I lived there from 1979 to 1984, while my father was serving there with the USAF 5CCG.

As close to being there as you can get...
An authentic, engrossing account of a life lived in a difficult profession. From his humble beginnings as a new pilot (all helicopter pilots start out humble, the machine won't let you begin any other way), Fleming walks you through the early events that shaped his character, and would stand him in good stead as he embarked upon a life of calculated risk taking. There are two rescues in the book that will literally have you on the edge of your seat, one as a young pilot and another as a seasoned pro. I don't recall reading anything that comes close in authentically describing how man and machine can literally fly into into the face of peril, to save the life of a stranger. Heroic acts are not always spontaneously undertaken by unlikely people, some individuals spend their lives risking their own safety for others. Fleming truly deserves the title Hero.

Good Story, well written
I enjoyed this account by someone "who's been there."
Col Fleming gives a detailed and interesting account of what rescues by the Air Force are all about. The author places us in the aircraft with him and relates the joys and frustrations of rescue work.I would liked to have seen a little more on the PJs actions, but I understand the focus was on the author's "adventures as a helicopter rescue pilot."

Kudos Col for the insight from a rescue pilot's perspective. ... Read more