Luftfahrt & Nautik

After graduating from flight college with a Commercial Pilot Licence in 1999, and with only $250 in his wallet, a suitcase, a typewriter, his flight bag and an abundance of grit, Gerard Mofet dove head first into the highly competitive world of aviation. He learned quickly that fulfilling his childhood dream of becoming the captain of a major airline would require skill, perseverance, sacrifice, courage, and a can-do spirit. In My Aviation Journey, Gerard shares his personal story and the challenges and experiences he faced, both the exhilarating and adverse, during his past twenty-five years of flying. Not just a remarkable success story, My Aviation Journey is also a road map to help prepare future pilots on where to start learning to fly, how to find that first job, how to prepare for all the evaluations and testing pilots must go through, and how to advance in this career. Get ready to feel inspired.

Admiral Eddie: The Story of America's Greatest Naval Aviator is the compelling series of stories relayed to the author by Eddie's daughter, Betty. Eddie McDonnell's rise to military hero, aviation expert, and wealthy investment banker are all chronicled. Eddie's story is one of triumph, brought about by his indomitable spirit and his personal quest for knowledge, adventure, and success. Fishing with Hemingway, hunting with Holden, and his relationships with the Hearsts, the Rockefellers, and Juan Trippe are illuminated. Yet, it is also a story of tragedy. His losses during both World Wars, his battle with his wife's depression and alcoholism, as well as his untimely death are all explored. Admiral Eddie offers everyone an opportunity to better understand what American exceptionalism is all about. It is a wonderful glimpse into history and a refreshing look at a member of the greatest generation.

From rural Michigan through Georgia Tech, Aviation Officer Candidate School, flight training, two Western Pacific cruises, and as an instructor pilot, Lt. McKenna met and overcame multiple obstacles in pursuing his dream of serving his country as a Navy carrier pilot. His story is told with humor, and a heartfelt belief in the importance of American leadership, morally and militarily. As an aerospace engineer, pilot, and landing signals officer, Lt. McKenna uses his extensive knowledge of aircraft and flight deck operations to take readers aboard an aircraft carrier as it launches and recovers aircraft off a pitching flight deck in what has been described as one of the most dangerous work environments on the planet.

In the dark days of 1942, the battle for the Solomon Islands was very much in doubt. When carrier dive bomber Robert D. "Hoot" Gibson sighted the Japanese fleet heading for "Hell's Island," he attacked the vanguard ships, sinking the heavy cruiser Kinugasa and two loaded Japanese troop transports in a battle royal that earned him the Navy Cross. He was also credited with the sinking of an I-Class submarine and shooting down two Zeroes, after going toe-to-toe with Japan's premier ace pilot, and he alone accounted for the deaths of thousands of Japanese soldiers and sailors.Hoot was a hero when America needed heroes and when America needed to turn the tide of the war from defense to offense. He was on the Yorktown at Midway and the Enterprise at Guadalcanal. Hoot was in three of the five carrier battles of the war, the first and last amphibious invasions of WWII, and thirteen major battles. A Hoot in Hell's Island tells Hoot's dramatic story and that of the American navy in the crucial battles of the Pacific War.

TURBULENT SKIESis an intimate portrait of the author's professional life over a period of nearly four decades. It describes from an insider's perspective the thrill of being in one of the most exciting career fields for women in the 1960s and 1970's - an airline stewardess. It captures in a unique way the fun and glamour of a way of life, which the author has dubbed "the wave" -- a wave of freedom and excitement that carried those lucky enough to be chosen for this profession forward through the years.But times change, and the author poignantly chronicles the toll of time as business realities forced changes in the airline industry and transitioned the job from "what it was" to "what it is" today. She further captures the national tragedy that occurred on September 11, 2001 and details the impact that terrible day had on the industry most directly affected by the events. She offers a deeply moving personal tribute to the flight crew heroes on those tragic United and American flights.The years following 9-11-01 saw crisis after crisis in the airline industry, which eventually resulted in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy for United Air Lines, one of the world's largest commercial airlines. The difficulties brought on by the changing business times are chronicled in the lives and attitudes of those who labored in an industry fighting for survival.The author dissects her own physical and emotional agony over the course of the next two years that culminated in a premature retirement from the airline -- an action driven by a combination of physical ailments, a deteriorating work environment, an adversarial relationship between labor and management, and a concerted effort by the leadership of the bankrupt airline to drive out senior employees to achieve cost savings. She chronicles in a very personal way, the process she went through in coming to grips with this agonizing decision regarding the future and how she dealt with the significant life transition she subsequently endured. The book is written as a series of intimate personal thoughts and short stories, which span nearly 40 years. Readers will find themselves experiencing a range of emotions as they move through the episodes and thoughts in this book. At times, they will be amused, while at others, they will be deeply moved. The book concludes with a series of perspectives on the current business environment and offers insights for corporate management about how front line workers perceive their lives, their jobs, and the choices their management made for them -- regrettable choices that airline workers are paying for even today. It also offers suggestions to management on how things need to be improved for the future.While this book is written about the airline industry, it captures the emotional stress and frustration of many American workers in the depressed economy that followed the events of September 2001. Her insights will resonate with readers in a variety of professional fields.

Spitfire Pilot is the exhilarating and moving memoir of D. M. Crook, an airman in the legendary 609 Squadron - one of the most successful RAF units in the Battle of Britain.Beginning with his fond recollections of his halcyon days in training - acrobatics, night flying and languorous days spent playing sport and nights off visiting Piccadilly Circus - Crook goes on to recount in thrilling detail the dogfights, remarkable victories and tragic losses which formed the daily routine of Britain's heroic aerial defenders in that long summer of 1940.Often hopelessly outnumbered, the men of 609 Squadron in their state-of-the-art Spitfires committed acts of unimaginable bravery against the Messerschmitts and Junkers of Germany's formidable Luftwaffe. Many of Crook's fellow airmen did not make it back alive, and the absence they leave in the close-knit community of the squadron is described with great poignancy.Spitfire Pilot offers a unique and personal insight into one of the most critical moments of British history, when a handful of men stood up against the might of the German Air Force in defense of their country.This definitive edition, the first for more than sixty years, includes a new foreword by David Crook's daughter and Air Vice Marshal Sandy Hunter, Honorary Air Commodore of the 609 Squadron. The book also has an introduction by Professor Richard Overy.

He thought he was flying high. He was in control of his world and no one could have convinced him otherwise. Until all control was taken from him.Laird Ashley Doctor is living proof of God's grace. He witnessed a vision that wasn't applicable to his faith, and now he is a miraculous testament that God gave his only Son for those who believe.<BR>This book is more than a story. It lays the foundation for new believers. It offers confirmation that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. And it offers hope that there is a wonderful life beyond circumstances.<BR>Laird "Lad" Ashely Doctor: grounded from flight, but grounded in faith and in what he can do.<BR>

This book is the story of Elmer C. Jones, a young man who grew up during the Great Depression and who joined the military in 1943, becoming a member of the Army's Air Corps in 1944. He was the radar observer of a B-29 Superfortress bomber crew flying 28 combat missions over Japan in 1945--13 bombing missions and 15 photographic reconnaissance missions, including the longest mission of the war: 4,650 miles in 23:00 hours. He accumulated 489:50 combat flying hours during the war.

I never considered I would become an airline pilot. It was always " too expensive "or "took too much time", or I would not be hired "with-out a four college degree". Perhaps because " I wore eye-glasses..." I was content to offer Flight Instruction in my community, and did quite well teaching new low time private pilot students, and Advanced certificate pilots. I have been employed by six airlines, and the only reason I was hired at each one was because the airline needed pilots to operate the airline! I began researching the commercial pilot status and numbers, and realized there truly is a pilot shortage world wide.In my book I speak about the training and preparation that go into obtaining a pilot license. I will take the reader on an actual Airline Transport Pilot check-flight, describing the sensations and maneuvers required for the Captain candidate to master. We will fly a simulator during our training, and I will relate a humorous story that helped to break up the monotony of performing the same flight profile over, and over again. I will explain the various aircraft systems as they pertain to flight, so perhaps a non-pilot airline passenger may feel more informed of how an aircraft operates. I will also address the aircraft performance factors that may actually aid the passenger in selecting routes and times, to ease their occasional travel delays. Lastly, I will relate a few "super-natural " instances that by my only explanation the Christian Lord was watching over my flight. I have truly been blessed in my life by becoming a commercial airline pilot!

A balanced, well-documented portrait of a brave and controversial airman who commanded a training air force for Nationalist China. Born in rural Louisiana in 1893, Claire Lee Chennault worked as a teacher before joining the army and becoming a commissioned officer. Although he was initially rejected for flight school, he continued to apply and was finally accepted in 1918. He eventually became the lead pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps' precision flying team.During this time, Chennault developed air-to-air combat techniques that he believed should play a decisive role in warfare. However, his opinion contradicted the official Air Corps policy that military aircraft be used primarily for strategic bombing. Chennault's frustration and dissatisfaction with this stance was so great that when Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek offered him the opportunity to lead advanced fighter pilot training in China, he quickly left the American military and accepted the position in 1937. There he played a key role in the formation of the American Volunteer Group (AVG), popularly known as "the Flying Tigers."The aviators of the Flying Tigers fought against Japan on behalf of China before and during World War II. Early war newsreels showing them defending Burma mythologized the fighter pilots, and Chennault became a romantic hero to the American public. In 1942, the AVG was deactivated and Chennault returned to active duty with the Air Corps, but his disregard for traditional military procedure earned him many enemies among his peers and superiors and he eventually retired.This book was originally published in hardcover in 1987 by The University of Alabama Press. It was hailed as the best of several biographies of Chennault. Reference and Research Book News stated, "This book is of far better quality than the others previously released. The research employed by the author and the depth of detail give the reader an accurate picture of this controversial and charismatic man."<BR> <BR>