kg wrote:
Exactly what I needed! Thanks MTV!!

Z... and others... it's available through the Seaplane Pilot's Association for $12 (member price, $18 to non members) plus shipping.

Information that would have been useful 12 hours ago...

Oh well, I guess I have an original first run now.

Zzz wrote:

kg wrote:
Exactly what I needed! Thanks MTV!!

Z... and others... it's available through the Seaplane Pilot's Association for $12 (member price, $18 to non members) plus shipping.

Information that would have been useful 12 hours ago...

Oh well, I guess I have an original first run now.

Yeah.. sorry about that Z. I wasn't trying to rub salt in your wound... just thought it might be good info for the masses. Your book will probably be better than my cheap one.

jerrybenda wrote:checked your recommended books on KSL Classifieds apknite. Their prices are so good and have reasonable. Thanks.

You going to delete this spam to Zzz? Or do we get to flog them to?

A1Skinner wrote:

jerrybenda wrote:checked your recommended books on KSL Classifieds apknite. Their prices are so good and have reasonable. Thanks.

You going to delete this spam to Zzz? Or do we get to flog them to?

We can flog them. User banned. Human spammer posting from a Vietnam IP. Apparently promoting a site called APKnite.com, which lets you download non-Google Play managed Android installers. Can't imagine KSL using these methods to spam. Who knows.

It's not usually a good idea for regular people to install anything on their Android devices outside the Google Play store. Even then, there is some dangerous software lurking.

The Stolen Years
The True Story Of A Pilot's Seven Year Layover In A Madagascar Prison

This book is about John Wight, who happened to be my DPE for my PPL. The book was written by his wife, Jean Wight. The story is quite interesting, he was flying to South Africa with two passengers, but had to divert to Madagascar due to inclement weather. They accused him of being a spy, so they kept him as a political prisoner, he endured awful prison conditions for 7 years. The Madagascar government attempted to trade him for Nelson Mandela. Quite an interesting read, I'd recommend it.

“Sea Stories” by Admiral William McChrystol. A little aviation involved. The author was Chief of Special Operations when bin Laden was killed.

My favorite quote had to do with the Secretary of State asking how many of these types of operation (helicopter interdiction of terrorist) he’d run before. His response, somewhat casually was, “thousands”. Secretary said “really?” He said he did some quick math and replied “yep, thousands”.

A very interesting read about some tough dudes.

MTV

So, my closet neighbors, mid 30's or so in age, about 1/4 mile away and a couple hundred feet above and off to the side of my place, have been there about a year now. An existing home, originally built by a friend, they bought it, did a big remodel, and settled in. The first time my second closet neighbor ( who is an inactive gen av pilot, and son is a commercial fling wing pilot) introduced me to them, I recall being told that the lady of the family's father, used to fly up in the Salmon area as a commercial pilot, or words to that effect. My takeaway was, "cool, aviation friendly neighbors", and I welcomed them to the 'hood. Little did I know.

Just yesterday, I got a text from them, the "new guys", asking if I'd be up for a simple welding project on some deck handrail, as my other neighbor mentioned i weld and they needed to find someone. I rode my fat e bike up there, and got lined out on what was required (about 20 minutes of fab and welding, and they can bring the components to my shop, for me to do at my convenience), and we went thru the social dance of her saying " we'll pay you whatever you need, don't want it for free," and me saying, "no problemo, piece of cake, looks like fun, maybe bring a cold six pak down," and then she handed me a book, and said, "my father wanted me to give you this."

Turns out, the book is "NOTES FROM THE COCKPIT, A MOUNTAIN PILOT'S PERSPECTIVE", written by her father, R.K.Dick Williams, an 18,000 hour pilot, most of it in the Idaho wilderness area. Once home, I opened it, and quickly realized what had just happened was like someone saying, "you're a pilot, so is my father," and it turns out he's Chuck Yeager!" Forget the fact I'm jacked that my closet neighbor's dad is the author, the book, at even a brief (so far) glance, looks GREAT, and has lots of pictures, and is written in a not so serious tone, with a lot of humor.

My so far quick look brought out this little gem relating to ski flying : "It still amazed me the way I could be dressed in shirt sleeves in well below freezing temps, and be soaked in sweat before having a successful departure from a place like Cold Meadows, at 7,000' elevation." My own experiences, while wearing no hat and I swear steam coming off the top of my head, while negotiating a tricky mountain ski landing and turnaround, made that real relateable, I never cogitate so hard in any other flying then mountain ski flying.

Anyway, it's on Amazon, seems to be a great read, and with a great writing style, making the pages zip by.

Added to the cart - thanks!

courierguy wrote: Turns out, the book is "NOTES FROM THE COCKPIT, A MOUNTAIN PILOT'S PERSPECTIVE", written by her father, R.K.Dick Williams, an 18,000 hour pilot, most of it in the Idaho wilderness area. Once home, I opened it, and quickly realized what had just happened was like someone saying, "you're a pilot, so is my father," and it turns out he's Chuck Yeager!" Forget the fact I'm jacked that my closet neighbor's dad is the author, the book, at even a brief (so far) glance, looks GREAT, and has lots of pictures, and is written in a not so serious tone, with a lot of humor.

...


Anyway, it's on Amazon, seems to be a great read, and with a great writing style, making the pages zip by.

That's pretty cool. We featured Dick's book on here a few years ago, with some excerpts: https://bck.pt/cwb2a

Amazon link: https://amzn.to/2RaHlDX

Hey Curierguy, did your neighbor tell you her father is also co author with Amy Hoover In their book "Mountain, Canyon, and Backcountry Flying", and her brother is Capt. Patrick (Man Bear) Williams, Air Force F-22 Raptor demonstration pilot?

She did casually mention that her brother was also a pilot. Sounds like that's Liberace's mother saying "my son plays the piano."

I haven't had such a fluky, coincidental brush with aviation bad asses since the early '70's. When my girlfriend and I had our monthly formal dinner (butler served, no kidding, those were the days) with her mother and elderly stepfather. The old boy, I found out years later, was Lindbergh's brother in law, Dwight Morrow Jr.! He, even knowing my then current obsession with hang gliding, and even after I recounted at one dinner how I had recently obtained a one time permission to fly off a mountain site in the Carmel Valley on a ranch owned by the Stuyvesant family (yes, THAT New York family) and afterwards a long time ranch hand mentioned the only other guy to fly a glider off the same peak was Chuck L himself, (he knew a good glider site when he saw it, as did I) never saw fit to mention his own connection to aviation royalty, even after I told of the L connection I had just had. Her not bragging up her brother reminds me of that, a real cool and admirable lack of braggadocio (thank you Spell Check) combined with maybe a little paranoid secrecy

Read the Dick Williams book a while ago. An exceptional story well told.

tcj wrote:Hey Curierguy, did your neighbor tell you her father is also co author with Amy Hoover In their book "Mountain, Canyon, and Backcountry Flying", and her brother is Capt. Patrick (Man Bear) Williams, Air Force F-22 Raptor demonstration pilot?

My neighbor lady dropped off the little welding project, and I immediately mentioned she had just told me her dad was a pilot, not A PILOT! Then the brother came up, "he's a pilot too," she had said earlier, right!

My hangar is on a lower level then my shop, down a flight of stairs with a door at the bottom. When I give the nickel tour of my compound, most are suitably impressed when we walk down the stairs, open the door, and, gasp, there sits an airplane. She of course was not, ha ha. They have a little rug rat, my newest neighbor I guess, and I had asked her before the quick tour if she had the kid in her car, and she mentioned that she'd left her home, as her uncle was visiting. More aware now of who this family is and does, I asked "what's he do, is he an astronaut?" She laughed, said no, a chemist, BUT, yeah he is a pilot.

I have another book I'm in the middle of, but keep picking up Richard's book and no matter where I open it, it's immediately engrossing. When done with it, and if I think he can handle it, I will let him know he is welcome to use my strip the next time a daughter visit is needed, I of course don't think he would have any issue with BUT I am also sure it will get his full attention. What are the odds his kid would move next to a guy with a strip like mine, with his flying background? Kismet.

I just picked up a copy of "Wings of Cessna" by Edward H Phillips.
Pretty interesting.
Where this one shines is notes / photos re development of various models,
some of which never went into production- at least not as originally designed.
A good example is the model X-210 of 1950-51, a precursor to the C180.
Basically a C190 modified with a square tail, high-lift flaps,
and a 240hp Continental 6-banger.
There's also a photo of the C210 prototype, circa 1956-
looks like a C180 with retractable gear & a big dorsal.

Apparently there is a book out about Kitty Banner Seemann- I have not read it although I am loosely aware of her career and legacy in Talkeetna. I'll have to keep an eye out for a copy. Here's a hell of a photo of her that I stumbled across today:

You could shoot a movie based on that picture, there is a lot going on there!

Everyone's taste in books can be different, but I found a book by Burke Mees, Author of "Notes of a Seaplane Instructor" entitled
" The Lost Art"

This is an adventure novel that has real instruction on Tailwheel flying, published in 2011
It has to be read cover to cover as the Prologue and Eplilogue add to the story.

Its short at only 105 pages and I laughed the whole way through while reinforcing my knowledge of flying tailwheels.

I have tried to find more copies as I wanted to give them out as Christmas presents to all my tailwheel buddies but have not been able to find it anymore. The copy I have was purchased through the Seaplane Pilots Association.

If you can find a copy of this I think it is a great afternoon read and would be goof for aspiring tailwheel pilots as well.
It won't be everyone's cup of tea, but I loved it

For the WWI buff the Time Life series Wings of War has some great first hand accounts from the pilots who flew from WWI thru Vietnam ( I think) I only have 18 of the books thru Korea (1933 thru 1962) I enjoyed everyone of them.

With some time on my hands (semi self isolated as I have permission to travel for work but am off until this weekend) I revisited this thread to find some books to read for the next couple of weeks. I just ordered 5 from Amazon.... now I have something to look forward to next week.

Equally as entertaining was looking back at some of the names of the contributors from the past. A few names that I remember who have moved on to other adventures I suppose.

I just ordered:

Sourdough and Swahili, primarily because it was aktahoe's grandfather (how did I miss that before?). I quit hunting years ago but I figured it would broaden my horizons. I choked a bit on the price but... oh well.

Heroes of the Horizons, because I liked other books by Gerry Bruder.

Touching the Ancient One, sounded good.

Bush Flying, The Romance of the North, Robert Grant... also sounded good.

Picking Up the Pieces, McCartney... also sounded good.

Ordered "The Lost Art", referenced above, from the Seaplane Pilot's Association. Edit for book review.... I hated it. Made it through page 20, should have stopped reading sooner. Only saving grace is that I supported the Seaplane Pilot's Association.

"Angels in the Sky by Robert Gandt," while not backcountry, is a good war story with lots of dog fighting stories by those who were there.

Once thought I knew WW2 in the Asia/Pacific. Nope... This is a very impressive work! (first Volume of three planned)

https://www.amazon.com/Tower-Skulls-His ... merReviews