Bogeys and Bandits: The Making of a Fighter Pilot

For all you nay sayers, and well wishers alike you can contact me directly for my review. I can attest the the story is true. I have been attached to VFA-106 for the past 8 years. I was there before Mr. Gandt, while he was there and after he left. In fact I'm still in the squadron training students. If you have any questions I can answer them. [email protected]

This book really describes what it is like to learn the techniques of landing a high-tech Navy fighter--perhaps the toughest realm of aviation in all of the American armed forces. And Gandt's book describes the grueling ordeal of training, from study through the exasperating ordeal of landing on a carrier at night so perfectly. I am a BIG Tom Clancy fan--I have read most of his fiction and all of his nonfiction--but Gandt beat Clancy hands down with this book! As I write this, the chances of the United States taking military action against Iraq look very strong, and aircraft and pilots such as the ones depicted in this book might be involved. No matter what happens, however, I will be very appreciative of the aircraft, their pilots, and the U.S. Navy because of reading this book.

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.

BOGEYS AND BANDITS is the first factual accountof naval TACAIR in the Post-Tailhook "PC Era".Gandt's research is both extensive and accurate. His sources are unimpeachable (contary to what one critic here imagines). The main characters are better than any fiction could produce---because they're real people, real Naval Aviators. Best of all, Gandt does not shy away from the "women in combat" issue, as many would in today's PC-liberal climate. Refreshingly, he engages the issue head-on and up-front. Specifically he reveals some painful truths about preferential treatment in womens' flight training. He takes no position whatsoever---but he reports the facts with brutal honesty. Because of this I predict great whining (and the usual slander) from certain radical feminists, but the fact remains: Bob Gandt has done his homework, and has written a most excellent and enjoyable account of some true American Heroes.