Helpful Score: 1
"National Best Selling Author" who wrote "Cuba" and "Under Siege".
"A unique novel that opens the world of the naval aviator as no book has before."-Tom Clancy,Author of "The Hunt for Red October"
"A vivid, extraordinary story that puts you into the cockpit of the A-6 and into the heart of the pilot who flies it."-Frederick Downs,Jr.Author of "The Killing Zone"
This is the riveting novel of America's powerful, high-tech Intruder attack planes, and the men who flew them in Vietnam. It's all here: the terror and exhilaration of wartime flying, and the frustrated rage at sudden death. It's a story that could only be told by a pilot who lived through it and finally decides to do things his way, on the riskiest mission of all.
"A unique novel that opens the world of the naval aviator as no book has before."-Tom Clancy,Author of "The Hunt for Red October"
"A vivid, extraordinary story that puts you into the cockpit of the A-6 and into the heart of the pilot who flies it."-Frederick Downs,Jr.Author of "The Killing Zone"
This is the riveting novel of America's powerful, high-tech Intruder attack planes, and the men who flew them in Vietnam. It's all here: the terror and exhilaration of wartime flying, and the frustrated rage at sudden death. It's a story that could only be told by a pilot who lived through it and finally decides to do things his way, on the riskiest mission of all.
A riveting story of America's powerful high-tech Intruder planes and the men who flew them in Vietnam. It is a story told by a pilot who lived thru the riskiest mission and decides to do things his way.
Strong, vivid writing
I liked the book. The movie was lacking.
This was an interesting read. Coonts really got into the emotions of the pilot. But dont think this is a touchy-feely book, there is enough action to rival Ludlum. Instead of just the hero side, the author gives you the whole picture.
After too many senseless missions Jake Grafton is an A-6 Intruder pilot ready to explode. With a renegade bombardier, he is set to fly deep into North Vietnam on a hell-bent strike for honor and victory.
"FLIGHT OF THE INTRUDER is to the Vietnam war what the Bridges of Toko-Ri was to the Korean war. Stephens Coonts puts his readers into the cockpit of the A-6 and into the heart of the pilot in a vivid, extraordinary story of courage and determination.
Very good. I enjoyed the small details and facts that were worked into th novel and found it very entertaining.
The first of the Jake Grafton series, this story finds Jake on a carrier off the coast of Vietnam. Jake begins to question the ethics and morals of the war, is frustrated with the tasks he is assigned.
Lots of action about carrier based aviation and a close look at the workings of a US Navy carrier operation.
Jake also meets Callie, his future wife, while on leave, but the book ends inconclusively about his future with her. Stephen Coontz really knows how to set the hook.
Lots of action about carrier based aviation and a close look at the workings of a US Navy carrier operation.
Jake also meets Callie, his future wife, while on leave, but the book ends inconclusively about his future with her. Stephen Coontz really knows how to set the hook.
Action, politics, and someone who wants to make a difference.
So much better than the movie!
Jake Grafton is an A-6 Intruder pilot during the Vietnam War who flies his bomber on sorties past enemy flak and SAM missiles, and then must maneuver his plane, often at night, onto the relatively small deck of an aircraft carrier. Former Navy flyer Coonts gives an excellent sense of the complexities of modern air raids and how nerve-wracking it is, even for the best airmen, to technically solve sudden problems over and over, knowing that even a twist of fatea peasant wildly firing a rifle from a fieldcould wipe out the crew. Grafton alternates between remorse over the fate of his unseen Vietnamese victims on the ground and a gung-ho "let's win this war" sentiment that lashes at both policymakers who select less-than-important targets for the dangerous missions and advocates for peace back in the States.
With this well-crafted first novel, the publishers of The Hunt for Red October again demonstrate a sure eye for picking winners in the thriller genre. Jake Grafton is an A-6 Intruder pilot during the Vietnam War who flies his bomber on sorties past enemy flak and SAM missiles, and then must maneuver his plane, often at night, onto the relatively small deck of an aircraft carrier. Former Navy flyer Coonts gives an excellent sense of the complexities of modern air raids and how nerve-wracking it is, even for the best airmen, to technically solve sudden problems over and over, knowing that even a twist of fatea peasant wildly firing a rifle from a fieldcould wipe out the crew. Grafton alternates between remorse over the fate of his unseen Vietnamese victims on the ground and a gung-ho "let's win this war" sentiment that lashes at both policymakers who select less-than-important targets for the dangerous missions and advocates for peace back in the States. The action, though, is realistically detailed and absorbing.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY REVIEW
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY REVIEW
From back cover: The A-6 intruder pilots--and elite cadre of Navy fliers, rowdy on shore, restless on ship, hunters in the Vietnam skies. Jake "Cool Hand" Grafton is one of the best; a quiet man strapped into the cockpit of a million-dollar killing machine, slamming through the air just beneath the speed of sound. But after too many senseless missions, too many pointless deaths, Grafton is a man ready to explode. Suddenly, with a renegade bombardier named Tiger, he's flying his Intruder deep into North Vietnam, on one last, hell-bent strike for honor--and victory.
I read this book when it first came out, in only a sitting or two, and the storyline and characters still stick out in my mind today. I love Stephen Coonts material, and although this was his first effort, it still stands up as a very well written yarn, and the points he was making about trying to fight a war with our hands tied behind our back still ring true to this day. Just insert Kharzai of Afghanistan in for the Russians, and you'll totally understand the point. So Kudos to Coonts for authoring a book that is still fresh in my mind over 25 years later. It's well worth the time you'll invest, and who knows, it may turn you into a Coonts fan. He's done plenty of good writing since then!
Bristles with the same authenticity...that helped catapult THE HUNT FOR THE RED OCTOBER to the top of the best-seller lists...Coonts' plots are the real McCoy and his compassion for them sustains his story from the first page to the last...a sometimes exhilarating, often nightmarish tale. The Kirkus Review.
The A-6 Intruder pilots--an elite cadre of Navy fliers, rowdy on shore, restless on ship, hunters in the Vietnam skies. Jake "Cool Hand" Grafton is one of the best: a quiet man strapped into the cockpit of a million-dollar killing machine, slamming through the air just beneath the speed of sound. But after too many senseless missions, too many pointless deaths, Grafton is a man ready to explode. Suddenly with a renegade bombadier named Tiger, he's flying his intruder deep into North Vietnam, on one last, hell-bent strike for honor--and victory!
The A-6 Intruder pilots--an elite cadre of Navy fliers, rowdy on shore, restless on ship, hunters in the Vietnam skies. Jake "Cool Hand" Grafton is one of the best: a quiet man strapped into the cockpit of a million-dollar killing machine, slamming through the air just beneath the speed of sound. But after too many senseless missions, too many pointless deaths, Grafton is a man ready to explode. Suddenly with a renegade bombadier named Tiger, he's flying his intruder deep into North Vietnam, on one last, hell-bent strike for honor--and victory!
havent read it, my son did and enjoyed it
