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Viper Force: 56th Fighter Wing - To Fly and Fight the F-16    by Robert Renner Amazon.com order for
Viper Force
by Robert Renner
Order:  USA  Can
Zenith Press, 2011 (2011)
Hardcover, e-Book

Read an Excerpt

* * *   Reviewed by Bob Walch

Its official name is the F-16 Fighting Falcon, but those who fly the fighter aircraft have dubbed it The Viper because of its resemblance to a snake when seen from head-on in the landing attitude. No matter what you chose to call it, this is one of the deadliest high tech aerial fighting machines to ever take to the sky.

In this riveting look behind the scenes of how the pilots who fly this plane are trained, former Air Force pilot Robert Renner uses their own words to explain how these pilots acquire their highly specialized flying and fighting skills.

The author stresses that great fighter pilots are not born; they are made in the highly selective flight training schools like the one at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona where Viper Drivers undergo their rigorous training.

'This book describes the rigors and thrills of strapping on a Viper ... as well as the challenges and experiences of flying the USAF's most versatile multi-role jet in an operational fighter squadron,' writes Renner.

As you take to the air and follow the training, John Dibbs will capture the pilots in the air and on the ground with breathtaking photography. Over 200 mostly full page color photos, make this as much a pictorial history of the training process as a narrative one.

The entire package is so attractive and informative that anyone who is curious about military aircraft or interested in high performance fighters will want to own this book. I also have a feeling that, if anything, the value of this book will only increase over time, so you might as well purchase it now and save a few bucks!

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