KCR: The Intruders (novel) by Stephen Coonts

Cover of The INTRUDERSThe Intruders continues the career of Stephen Coonts' favorite character, Jake "Cool Hands" Grafton. After end of Vietnam War, Grafton was assigned to a carrier mainly training jarheads (US Marines) flying Intruders, and he's paired up with a marine, and together, they have all sorts of adventures on and off the carrier. It ends with an encounter against a bunch of pirates.

This is more of an adventure novel than a military novel, as there isn't much fighting. However, Coonts knows his carrier ops, and this has more stories about carrier ops, shore leave, and stuff, plus the jokes, the friendly joshing between Navy and Marines, and more.

If you read Flight of the Intruder, you should also read The Intruders.

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• KCR: Flight of the Intruder (novel) (crankyreviews.blogspot.com)

KCR: Skunk Works by Ben E. Rich (non-fiction, memoir)

Image via WikipediaSkunk Works, by Ben E. Rich is a detailed look into the founding of the operation at Lockheed Martin's elite operation, esp. the design of SR-71, U-2, and the F-117. There are stories to tell about each of these elite planes.

If you are at all interested in the story behind the planes, read this book. It has a lot of revelations, about the compromises, and technologies that went into the designs. They have to reinvent the envelope based on what's possible.

Did you know that Lockheed Martin had a proposal for a smaller bomber than the B-2? And it would have been on budget instead of the mess B-2 eventually ended up as?

Rating: read it

KCR: Stealth (movie, war, terrorism, scifi)

Image via Wikipedia

Flag of North Korean Army

Stealth is one of those big-budget productions that looks good, but full of holes... typical Hollywood production. The problem is it left a lot of "reality" out and the result requires you to leave your brain behind when it is supposedly about near-future.

The short summary: US Navy has deployed 3 experimental fighters called Talons, and they are amazingly effective. They were joined by an even MORE experimental plane, called EDI, and unmanned plane driven by Quantum computer AI. They attacked a terrorist HQ. They returned, but EDI was hit by lightning, which seem to trigger a change. Later, on another mission attacking rogue warlord with nuclear warheads, EDI disobeyed direct orders and went rogue. The three fighters chased it but one crashed into a mountain, another was damaged and ejected over hostile space. Third somehow convinced EDI to fly with him back to Alaska, but plane was damaged by crash landing. It is where the pilot discovered there's a huge coverup and he must risk it all to save the pilot behind enemy lines...

Geography is a major problem in this movie. If you need details, please consult the Goof section on IMDB for this movie. Computer goes rogue and was talked down was cliche. None of the pilots actually ACT like pilots... they talk way too much. I mean, who the **** talks about her ejection, giving blow and blow accounts of her falling out of the sky? ****. Then the idea of one person outsmarting an entire patrol of North Korean military, armed with everything, with just a PDW, is just idiotic and unrealistic. Then there's the problem with of Gannon flying EDI without a G-suit.

So, remember, leave your head at the door for this movie.

Rating: Rent it

KCR: Sky Fighters (movie, aviation, terrorism)

Image via WikipediaSky Fighters is basically a French take on "Top Gun", with a dose of Iron Eagle thrown in.

The plot is kinda thin: at an airshow near Paris, a brand new Mirage disappeared after an airshow. Two FAF jets were asked to investigate, and they found the Mirage tucked beneath a 747. They started dogfighting, and in the tussle, the rogue jet was shot down. It was then revealed that the pilot was supposedly part of top secret group and the pair of pilots was then drummed out of the FAF, believing they killed one of their own. Later, it was revealed that a terrorist organization may have infiltrated FAF and may have secretly replaced that pilot with one of their own, intending to steal the plane. When the pair was tasked with doing a "cannonball" race against the Americans as private contractors, something is clearly not quite right... Just how far up did the terrorist organization penetrate? Who can be trusted?

Clearly, you don't watch this movie for the plot, but for the flying, and they are pretty darn good. You thought the flying in Top Gun was good? This is better. Really. They may have sped up the film a wee bit, but the planes got closer than they did in Top Gun... a lot closer.

If only the plot would make more sense, sheesh! If I want flying footage I'll go watch a real airshow or documentary.

Rating: rent it