The best books on military aviation and its effect on the modern political era

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve had an interest in military aviation and the impact this had on US and world geopolitics since my college days, and devoured these books at the university library. Once I started my professional career and could afford to buy my own, my library of techno thrillers grew. This reading enriched my knowledge, entertained, and provided ideas for writing my own books. As a book reviewer for Readers’ Favorite, I try to pick – among other genre – works that deal with this theme.


I wrote...

F/X-26

By Stefan Vučak,

Book cover of F/X-26

What is my book about?

A radical new sixth-generation air superiority fighter…Betrayal and murder…A fight for survival. 

The future of air combat lies in unmanned, remotely controlled vehicles. All Ogdan Kostan had to do was prove it. He demonstrated the fighter to the Air Force, a vital step in having the Pentagon accept it in its budget submission to Congress. The aerospace lobby immediately launched a campaign to destroy the F/X-26, as it threatened their own programs for the next-generation fighter.

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of The Intruders

Stefan Vučak Why did I love this book?

In many ways, this book epitomizes qualities of a good techno-thriller: personal development, exciting aviation scenes, a place in US power projection, believable characters.

I particularly like the flying sequences told by a pilot who used to fly Intruders in a manner totally believable. I enjoyed the interaction between the two principal characters, sprinkled with heart-stopping drama. I found myself turning pages, wanting more, nodding with satisfaction when the author delivered.

By Stephen Coonts,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Intruders as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In the sequel to The Flight of the Intruder, ace Navy pilot Jake Grafton faces a tough new challenge as a peacetime warrior in 1973 when he is assigned the task of teaching a group of inexperienced Marine pilots the art of carrier aviation. 250,000 first printing.


Book cover of Flight of the Old Dog

Stefan Vučak Why did I love this book?

From the first page, I loved the cool, unflappable main character, handling his B-52 BUFF and overcoming obstacles that threatened his mission.

A genuine techno-thriller, I became totally immersed in the book, enjoying every plot twist. I also relished the interaction between the principal characters, which was not always smooth but blended into a believable story of courage, persistence, and dedication.

This book led me to read further works by this author, and most did not disappoint. This was a perfect book to curl up to on a cool evening with a tumbler of whiskey at my side.

By Dale Brown,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Flight of the Old Dog as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Newly repackaged, here is the runaway bestseller that launched Dale Brown's phenomenal career.

"A superbly crafted adventure." (W.E.B. Griffin)

"Suspenseful and spellbinding." (Clive Cussler)


Book cover of Warriors

Stefan Vučak Why did I love this book?

This book is a thoughtful, in-depth expose of a US Navy aviator that set me thinking about Middle East conflicts and politics. I absolutely loved how the main character grasped an opportunity to prove his theories about how to train aviators for aerial combat.

I enjoyed the skillful narrative on flying, personal relationships, and inevitable politics. The author’s unmatched depth of subject-matter knowledge made the book eminently readable. I couldn’t put it down. This book has a prominent place in my collection. 

By Barrett Tillman,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Warriors as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Military


Book cover of Trophy

Stefan Vučak Why did I love this book?

I was inexorably drawn into this book, as it fulfilled all my expectations of what a good military aviation techno-thriller should be. It had excellent flying sequences, personal drama, some romance thrown in to add flavor, and rivalry with another skilled pilot.

When I come across such a book, I don’t let go, and I did not let go of this one. It opened an enthralling world into what it takes to teach fighter tactics to already experienced pilots, told from a totally entertaining viewpoint that never descended into dull narrative. I loved the flying sequences, making me believe I was there in the cockpit with the pilot.

By Julian Jay Savarin,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Trophy as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Book description to come.


Book cover of Road to Gold: A Sweetwater Sullivan Naval Aviation Adventure

Stefan Vučak Why did I love this book?

If I wanted to learn what it took to become a US Air Force aviator, I found the perfect book. I had several good chuckles at what raw recruits endured at Pensacola at the hands of no-nonsense instructors. A fail at boot camp meant getting washed out.

When the story’s main character graduated to flying single-engine propeller aircraft, I was in the sky with him and his close friend. Transitioning to jets made my day, as did an occasional amusing amour. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and gained valuable information for my own writing. However, I could not help but wonder whether real life would actually be that romantic.

By William H. Labarge,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Road to Gold as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"ROAD TO GOLD" : WHAT IT TAKES TO EARN THOSE COVETED "WINGS OF GOLD"Celebrating the 100TH Anniversary of Naval AVIATION BY: Bill "Sweetwater" LaBarge, Navy Carrier Pilot and New York Times Bestselling Author.From basic training to deadly battle in the skies, he followed a path of high risk and proud tradition.Matt "Sweetwater" Sullivan's dream of becoming a Navy pilot could not possibly have prepared him for the body-numbing pace of basic training with a class of bewildered beginners. With grit, verve, and determination, Matt would survive the "Pensacola Pressure-Cooker" and go on to Saufley Field to meet the grueling demands…


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Thorn City

By Pamela Statz,

Book cover of Thorn City

Pamela Statz

New book alert!

What is my book about?

Dressed to kill and ready to make rent, best friends Lisa and Jamie work as “paid to party” girls at the Rose City Ripe for Disruption gala, a gathering of Portland's elite.

Their evening is derailed when Lisa stumbles across Ellen, a ruthless politician and Lisa’s estranged mother. And to make matters worse, Lisa’s boyfriend, Patrick, crashes the party to meet his new boss, Portland's food cart drug kingpin. Lisa makes a fateful choice that traps her, Jamie, and Patrick in Ellen’s web. In this gripping thriller, Lisa must reconcile a painful past and perilous present.

Thorn City

By Pamela Statz,

What is this book about?

Suspected murder, eclectic food trucks, and artisanal cocaine: just another day in Thorn City.

It’s the night of the Rose City Ripe for Disruption gala—a gathering of Portland’s elite. Dressed to kill in sparkling minidresses, best friends Lisa and Jamie attend as “paid to party” girls. They plan an evening of fake flirtations, karaoke playlists, and of course, grazing the catering.

Past and present collide when Lisa stumbles across Ellen, a ruthless politician who also happens to be Lisa’s estranged mother. Awkward . . . When Lisa was sixteen, Ellen had her kidnapped and taken to the Lost Lake Academy—a…


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