Bogeys and Bandits: The Making of a Fighter Pilot

Longing to climb back into the cockpit of a U.S. Navy jet, former naval aviator Gandt persuaded an old squadron mate, now an admiral, to pull some strings. Gandt (Sky Gods) is a seasoned journalist who had more than just a joy ride in mind. With his friend's blessing, he rejoined the flight training program he had gone through more than a quarter-century earlier, to report on the progress of eight students hoping to qualify to fly the navy's difficult FA-18 Hornet. His compelling account of this experience, which centered at an air base near Jacksonville, Fla., is a sort of an aviator's Chorus Line, as presented by one who spent six months watching the students' progress and trying to climb inside their skins. One of the most fascinating students is a brilliant woman unafraid to play ""the sex card,"" and whose abrasive personality alienates nearly everyone around her, including the other woman in the class. Another is an African American man who is alternately burdened and encouraged by the fact that his father was one of the famed Tuskegee Airmen. Gandt describes the range of qualities possessed by elite fighter pilots. He manages to evoke both awe at and sympathy for these young yet distinguished aviators, so that readers will agonize over their defeats and cheer their triumphs. The icing on the cake is the satisfaction Gandt himself receives in taking his best shot at realizing a sentimental dream. Author tour. (June)