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The New York Times bestselling author of Viper Pilot and retired USAF F-16 legend Dan Hampton offers the first comprehensive popular history of combat aviation—a unique, entertaining, and action-packed look at the aces of the air and their machines, from the Red Baron and his triplane in World War I to today’s technologically expert flying warriors in supersonic jets.
One of the most decorated fighter pilots in history, U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Dan Hampton goes back 100 years to tell the extraordinary story of the most famous fighter planes and the brave and daring heroes who made them legend.
Drawing on his expertise, Hampton shines a spotlight on the pioneers who have ruled the air from World War I through the Cold War to today. He provides unique insight into gutsy pioneers such as Manfred von Richthofen and his red triplane, and the flyboys in the iconic P51 Mustang who faced the Nazi Lufwaffe. Here, too, is a thoughtful look at modern air warriors, including his own exploits in the high-tech f-16 Falcon.
Interwoven throughout this sweeping narrative history is Hampton’s personal account of traveling the world to find these storied aircraft. Strapping himself into the cockpit of such planes, he shares the thrill and experience of flying each. Exhilarating, told in his acclaimed high-octane style, Lords of the Sky is a fresh look at the development of aviation for history and military buffs alike.
Anonymous
Posted Fri Jun 27 00:00:00 EDT 2014
This exceptional author writes a thrilling history of the parallel development of fighter aircraft and their brave and intrepid pilots as nations
raced to adapt the ever-changing aviation technology to their war fighting arsenals. The author includes vivid stories of some of the
lesser known fighter pilots whose valor and courage in combat have not previously been adequately reported. As a former fighter
pilot, I read this great book in total awe of those who flew before and after me and of the author. James Daniels
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.MaureenG2
Posted Thu Jun 26 00:00:00 EDT 2014
A superb picture of an elite collection of warriors bound together by the adventure and fascination of flight in the wild, blue yonder from the hand of a gifted author and historian, written in a creative style that can be appreciated by any reader.
Biddie Bartlett
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.If you are a fan of fighter pilots, vintage aircraft or just an all around military/history buff from World War I and II, Vietnam, Korean, and even our most recent military campaigns that involve aircraft, then trust me, you'll definitely want to get your hands on the latest book from Dan Hampton. Lords of the Sky takes readers into the history of aviation from the very first planes designed and attempted to be flown by such legends as the Wright Bros and to Etienne Montgofier who piloted the first balloon air reconnaissance in 1783. The books really takes to heart every conceivable well known plane, engines, and pilots and showcases them in a great chronological order that even a woman can understand and truly enjoy.
The book isn't just about aviation either, is illustrates the reason for needing air support and just what is required before you simply attach a machine gun on to the top of your barn storming bi-plane. The details of flight from thrust, lift, drag and weight are critical components we take for granted when we board our commercial airlines and head for our tropical vacation destination. We learn how weaponry was added to this planes, and what the limitations of getting them to work entailed. From learning how not to shoot your propeller off, the dealing with the elements inside an open cockpit and what to do when you are wits end in the midst of a dog fight.
It is hard to realize that in the years leading up to World War I, no one really gave serious thought to armed aircraft. In fact, the U.S. War Department turned the Wright brothers down on three occasions for a military version of their contraption, and the British secretary of war stated in 1910, "We do not consider that aeroplanes will be of any possible use for war purposes." We have certainly come a long way since that day. From fighting air battles with low visibility, freezing cold temperatures and your only weapon being a carefully aimed brick were just the things that pilots had to contend with. In fact in WWI, most pilots average life span was only 2 weeks.
From the Red Baron, to the Royal Air Force, to the Mitsubishi Zero to Supermarine Spitfire, to the P-51 Mustang to the Grumman Hellcat all the way to the F-16 and F-18 SuperHornets, the aviation lover is bound to find something in this 600+ page hardcover book. "The Lords of the Sky is about the fighter pilot. It begins with the Great War, as World War I was originally known because the sky over the trenches was the birthplace of the fighter pilot. The development of fighter aircraft and the combat pilot was more closely tied to ground actions during the Great War than was the case in subsequent conflict. Aviation services were a fledgling military branch and closely attached to their parent armies. So the ground situation is explained in some detail to give the reader an explanation of why fighter development occurred as it did." (author note).
I received Lords of the Sky by Dan Hampton compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own, unless otherwise notated. Even though as a woman book reviewer, I love the way Dan wrote this book. It wasn't so over the top with airplane jargon and detailed descriptions that I would find myself completely lost. In fact, it was just the opposite. I felt myself drawn into the background of the military campaigns and didn't realize how difficult winning a war was and what some of the overwhelming odds faced our armed forces. It gave me a greater appreciation not only for our service men and women but for fighter pilots who are often faced with solo survival in the midst of high altitude flying over enemy lines. Well worth the money to invest in this book for fans of military, fighter pilots, and war heroes alike who are looking for something completely different. I rate this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars. Not since the invention of the encyclopedia, do you have so much information packed into one book!
PelotaRH
Posted Sun Jul 27 00:00:00 EDT 2014
The author is an excellent writer and evidenced exceptional knowledge combined
with diligent research. Unfortunately, too often he flies off-course with material
unrelated or barely related to the focus of the book: "Fighter Pilots and Air
Combat From The Red Baron to the F-16." We learn a lot we need not know
about the World War I ground war but when he get to WW II he mentions but one
American fighter pilot, Robert Olds. Nothing about Americas' outstanding
fighter pilots, the Marine Pappy Boyington, awarded a Medal of Honor. Or those
great P-47 pilots, Gabreski, Bob Johnson, and Hub Zemke. And Richard Bong in
the Pacific, a P-38 pilot also. awarded a MOH and the P-51 pilot, George
Preddy. I could name many others but that I'll leave to readers. Every
historian must decide what to include and what not to include. But why,
I must ask, did the author go into great detail about the German Ju-87 Stuka
and its pilots. The Stuka is not a fighter aircraft but a dive-bomber and one
incapable of defending itself against enemy fighters. In the Battle of Britain,
for example, it had to be escorted by Me-109s to and from a mission.
Yes, a very well-written and very interesting book. Unfortunately, he lost his focus
thus the book is not what it ought to have been.
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Sgt_Slaughter
Posted Fri Jul 18 00:00:00 EDT 2014
An excellent look into the history and evolution of fighter combat from its inception in WWI to the present day. The author is a highly decorated American F-16 Viper Pilot, and very capably tackles this project. An excellent read. All the big name fighter pilots are in here-Boelcke, Von Richtofen, Hartmann, Galland, Olds, etc. The only one he didn't have in here that I thought was a glaring omission was Richard Ira Bong (WWII P-38 pilot, highest scoring American fighter pilot in WWII with 40 confirmed kills). I can forgive this, because of the sheer volume of information and aces he highlights. He does not just do the German and American aces, but include overviews of Russian and Japanese aces. The bibliography is a treasure trove of further reading! Read this book!
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Fri Jul 11 00:00:00 EDT 2014
I Also Recommend:
Fighter pilots really interest me, so I found this book to be really interesting. Dan Hampton certainly knows his material and presents it in a very interesting fashion. I highly recommend Lords of the Sky for any aviation enthusiast.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Cat res at 4 want a new den? (Meow) hahahahaa cant stop the cats from doing reviews!
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Overview
The New York Times bestselling author of Viper Pilot and retired USAF F-16 legend Dan Hampton offers the first comprehensive popular history of combat aviation—a unique, entertaining, and action-packed look at the aces of the air and their machines, from the Red Baron and his triplane in World War I to today’s technologically expert flying warriors in supersonic jets.
One of the most decorated fighter pilots in history, U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Dan Hampton goes ...