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Genuine praise from the cockpit and the armchair. No hype. Just honest reactions from those who know flight.
My 33 years living in Alaska, where flying, as a passenger, is almost a daily requirement gave me what I thought was a deep well of aviation knowledge. I learned, from reading Smith's memoir, that well wasn't deep at all. Finding that my aviation knowledge level was a mere puddle was actually quite enjoyable. Buy and read the book to have the same experience.
Author Smith does a terrific job with his memoirs, which he subtitles "The Evolution of American Aviation", covering the second 50 years of aviation. With a varied background in military, general aviation, commercial (airline), glider, seaplane, and air show flying, he is well qualified to comment on aviation changes. Add to that well written stories, told with humor, and you have a book that is hard to put down. It is a keeper for my aviation library.
Don Smith has done more in the field of aviation than anyone on the planet! This book walks you through an amazing aviation life through a lense of fun, safety, and professionalism. This is an easy read and will make you addicted to the world of flying fast airplanes! Give yourself a few hours because you won't put it down!
What a refreshing memoir on how a boy in Texas fulfilled his dream to become a pilot. Great stories on how and what it takes to progress from learning to solo to flying cadavers to becoming a fighter pilot in the USAF and then becoming an airline pilot. There are few books that tell the realities of what its like as a modern day pilot. It's not that romantic and glamorous version that so many think it is. Don Smith's memoir is a fantastic read. Funny, eyebrow raising and sometimes sad. Don came along at a very unique time: flying the century series fighters to the B-777 he has seen it all and describes the good, the bad and the ugly so well. Don was on the forefront of what today's aviator uses in managing error and decision making. As one of the original inventors of Crew Resource Management, Don describes how the Aviation Industry adopted CRM and how Don took the concept worldwide. Fascinating read.
As a Vietnam Super Sabre fighter pilot and 35 years as an airline captain, I am awed by the range of this fabulous book. The author has a vast professional career in multiple areas of aviation experience. They range from Air Force fighter interceptor pilot, test pilot, airline captain, accident investigator, general aviation, gliders, and airspeed records to name a few. This book highlights 50 years of his adventurous aviation career. The book is a "must" for anyone interested in aviation history.