a frustrated Navy pilot, flying A-6 Intruders during the Vietnam War. Jake Grafton, or "Cool Hand" as he's known, is one of the Navy's best pilots. Flying the deadly Intruder, two seat bombers that were launched from aircraft carriers, Grafton is sent on bombing missions against the North Vietnamese almost daily. Unfortunately, it is widely known within the Naval Community that the targets that they are bombing, on more occasions than not, are nonexistent, worthless targets.



After the death of his BN (Bombardier Navigator, then man who sat in the other seat), and the death of a pilot, a close friend, on these worthless missions, Grafton is a man ready to explode. But there is one man whose inner demons, and vengeful thoughts rival Cool Hand’s own. His replacement BN, Virgil "Tiger" Cole.



Together they hatch a plan to strike out against the North Vietnamese, risking arrest, and even charges of treason. Filled with delightful action sequences, strong characters, and dripping with authenticity, Flight of the Intruder is must read for any action/adventure fan, or enthusiast of fighter pilots, and planes.

the humor interwoven into this thrilling story. I'll give you part out of the book for the best example. In this bit ‘Mad Jack the Jungle Quack’, the Aircraft Carriers doctor, is flying with Grafton from the Aircraft carrier to a nearby land base.



Grafton regarded the doctor with an irrepressible smile. The medical man looked slightly ridiculous with his girth encased in forty pounds of flight gear. He looked, Jake thought, like a giant pear or even-and Jake smiled more broadly-an egg with legs. "Okay, Jack, you've flown in these pigs before?" Mad Jack nodded affirmatively. A sheen of perspiration was visible on his forehead, and the pilot decided his passenger looked paler than usual.



"Have you ever had a cat shot? No? Well, you're in for the thrill of the month. This will be about the most exciting thing you've ever done with you clothes on. Just keep your hands in your lap, don't touch a single switch, knob, or anything at all, and do like I tell you." Mad Jack bobbed his head. "The only time you'll have to do anything is if I tell you to eject. The command will be 'Eject,eject,ecject.' Three times."



"And if I say 'Huh?' I'll be talking to myself."



"If you say anything after I give you that command you will be all alone on your first, and probably last, solo in an A-6. And, of course, if I get too busy or forget to tell you and you see me eject, then you'd better hurry right along." More head bobs, nervous ones, Jake observed with a trace of satisfaction.

The technicality. At times it seems a bit overwhelming. If you're like me, and have very little or know knowledge of modern avionics, then you'll be easily confused at times in this book.



Fortunately those times are far, and few between, and these brief moments of confusion hardly take away from the story.



Also, another problem I had, at times I didn't feel like the author was being descriptive enough. I found myself having to reread a few parts, and make up the rest, just to be able to get a picture, in my mind, as to what was going on.

fly.

like I'd love to fly in a jet fighter sometime. Just not through the middle of Hanoi while my plane is being littered with Anti-Aircraft fire, Surface to Air Missiles, and flak.

was a Navy Pilot, so the story is very detailed, and realistc.

it's a wonderful adventure. You find yourself easily lost in this book, and the suspenseful action doesn't relent until the very last page.

"Strong, vivid writing...Stephen Coonts, a former naval aviator, has written a first novel of impressive power and authenticity...When Grafton is at the controls of his Intruder, the novel comes alive with a jolt."-Washington Post Book World



"Extraordinary! Once you start reading, you won't want to stop."-Tom Clancy

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Created Dec 01, 2002 at 7:03am • Submit your own review...