I have a soft spot for naval aviation and albeit the language style is a bit too much to the 'pop-side' for my taste I actually like the book. It leaves you in no doubt that the days of 'kick the tyres, light the fires' are no more. As well as the extremely extrovert, testosterone laden, hard drinking fighter jocks from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Surely fighter jocks still has to be aggressive but an element of science has been added. Pure talent doesn't count anymore.

Can't help thinking of the WWII JGs, leftenants and flight officers who as mere teenagers set to fly the temperamental first line fighters of the time. And of how much that has happened since then (Wonder if the F-35 will ever be a success I ask a bit polemically ;-)

Bottom line: Go ahead, read the book if you have the remotest interest in fighters and naval aviation.
( )

A condensed view of the pressure and risks involved in the everyday life of fighter pilot training. A good insight for the non pilot. ( )

Because we both enjoy watching Battlestar Galactica, my husband suggested I read Bogeys and Bandits to get a better handle on some of the terminology and procedures of military aviation. This book, which follows a class of strike fighter trainees through the qualification process, does provide a good sense of what it is really like to be a fighter pilot. Gandt does a nice job of balancing the technical details of flying with the personalities of each pilot.

Stylistically, this book is a little rough around the edges. Gandt jumps around from person to person and chapter to chapter in a relatively disorganized way, and there are more than a few typos and grammar mistakes. However, these things don't take away too much from the compelling subject matter.

An interesting read for those interested in naval aviation, but probably not something with a large general audience. ( )

NF