Real life helicopter pilots (Literature)

[Wolfman]

Hi folks,

last weekend I met Matthias of the DCS team at LLTM and we talked a little, about how little people know about real life helicopter operating procedures, training and stuff.

He told me he read some books of apache pilots and I was wondering why nobody has posted up some literature covering this topic. This would give people more hindsight to what is actually required to fly an combat helicopter.

 

So please post links of pdfs or titles of good combat helicopter avation literature here.

 

ps: thanks to matthias for the talk and attending LLTM '09 :thumbup:

 

pps: I know people like to :joystick: instead of :book:, but I guess there are others that feel there's a lack of pilot stories, too.:pilotfly:

 

Wolfman

[Acedy]

Vietnam/Huey:

Tom A. Johnson: "To the Limit"

Robert Mason: "Chickenhawk"

 

Afghanistan/Apache:

Ed Macy: "Apache"

[EagleEye]

Vietnam/AH-1

Randy R. Zahn: "Snake Pilot"

 

Vietnam/OH-6A

Hugh L. Mills: "Low Level Hell"

[Wolfman]

Thank you very much, that'll keep me busy for a while... :book:

 

Check six

Wolfman

[Kula66]

Afghanistan/Apache:

Ed Macy: "Apache"

 

An ok read ... makes you realise the incredible workload on a modern attack helicopter pilot. I really wonder how a single seater can manage it all.

[Ed Macy]

Hey EagleEye

I like your choice. I used to carry a copy of 'Low Level Hell' around in my jacket and hand it to the new kids in the squadron. I told them it was the bible for recce pilots and they’d be tested on it. They gave me a few scares out flying after reading it but it sharpened their mind on how to operate as a recce pilot and what the sacrifices were.

Lessons;

Ed Macy, Recce Pilot: Failure is not an option. The mission WILL fail without accurate and timely information on the enemy.

Ed Macy, Attack Pilot: Don’t turn your back to the enemy without your wingman facing up.

Billy Spencer, Attack Pilot: Never leave a man behind, better to die trying. 15th Jan 2007

Ed Macy

www.edmacy.com

www.harperplus.com/apache

www.twitter.com/edmacy

[Celo63]

Glad I came across this post. I really enjoyed Chickenhawk by Robert Mason and read it about 3 times I think. Been looking around for some more good heli books and will try to get hold of all that were mentioned here.

 

Ed, nice to see a man of your calibre participating on the ED forums and that everyone is making you feel at home. Great bunch of people here :)

 

I look forward to reading your books and the other titles listed here. I have a deep respect and admiration for all who put their lives on the line for "king and country" but feel a special connection to the helo pilots since I'm a bit of a rotorhead myself. I feel privileged to share in your experiences through reading.

 

Respect.