Snake Pilot: Flying the Cobra Attack Helicopter in Vietnam
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Product Description
Synopsis
Based on audiotapes he recorded during the war and sent home to his family, Randy Zahn's Snake Pilot recounts his experiences flying AH-1 Cobra helicopters during the Vietnam War. Unlike the pilots who flew the fast-moving strike jets, Zahn experienced the war "up close and personal," witnessing the grisly effects of the Cobra's firepower on enemy soldiers. He does not glorify killing but rather explains in sharp relief the kaleidoscope of emotions associated with combat and displays a sensitivity rarely found in memoirs written by battle-hardened warriors.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Zahn writes from the heart about his experiences in Vietnam, flying the Cobra attack helicopter, affectionately known as the snake. Within 4 pages you are in Zahns world, and he does not let go until you put the book down many hours later. Packed full of the funny stories and dark humour that constant run ins with death brings, makes this book hard to read without your laughter disturbing others around you. But Zahn's war was not fought without tragedy, and his sharing of the loss of his best buddy within the book, is done with dignity and great emotion. I cannot recommend Snake Pilot highly enough to anybody whose interests lie in military stories, rotary wing aviation or lovers of a good autobiography.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a great book! I have ready a lot of books about the Vietnam War and this is up there amongst the best. It's well written, doesn't spend too much time giving historial facts and figures about american divisions etc, but sticks to the authors experiences, thoughts and feelings. The fact that much of his memory he was able to get back from letters and tapes sent home only servces to make it even more real. I laughed, I cried and I gasped throughout the whole text. This is one of the few books on the war that I have read where I am left wanting more and would love to meet Randy Zahn personally to shake his hand and bombard him with questions.
Whether you have read much on Vietnam or not doesn't matter. Read this. If its new to you, it gives a human viewpoint of what one person went through, if you are a Vietnam War reader then this is a great read from a Cobra pilots tour. If you liked Chikenhawk, you'll like this.
Thank you Randy for writing this book.
Whether you have read much on Vietnam or not doesn't matter. Read this. If its new to you, it gives a human viewpoint of what one person went through, if you are a Vietnam War reader then this is a great read from a Cobra pilots tour. If you liked Chikenhawk, you'll like this.
Thank you Randy for writing this book.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is a "must-read" for anyone interested in aviation, the Vietnam War and/or the human condition. My interest in this book was spawned from being a helicopter pilot and in trying to understand what being involved in one of the worst conflicts in the last century was really like. Flying is the framework used to deliver the personal experiences of one very brave, dedicated and bright young man. He describes his experiences honestly and engenders respect and dare I say admiration from the reader from the beginning as he takes one through his introduction to flying, training and eventual deployment to Vietnam early on in the conflict. What shines through the deep darkness in his experience are the constants of friendship, teamwork and hope....... hope that they return home whilst their friends are being killed.
You experience the slow pessimistic desensitization he experiences along with the outbursts of passion, fear and often humour (mostly dark humour).
I couldn't care less about the politics of the war but listening to what these (barely) adults did is very moving. I am truly humbled by this guy and whenever I think I had a bad day, I think about what his bad day was............ then life isn't so bad.
It's different from ChickenHawk (Robert Mason) but equally as good.
Buy Snake Pilot it really is a great read !
You experience the slow pessimistic desensitization he experiences along with the outbursts of passion, fear and often humour (mostly dark humour).
I couldn't care less about the politics of the war but listening to what these (barely) adults did is very moving. I am truly humbled by this guy and whenever I think I had a bad day, I think about what his bad day was............ then life isn't so bad.
It's different from ChickenHawk (Robert Mason) but equally as good.
Buy Snake Pilot it really is a great read !
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
No Chickenhawk but worth a read
I must say that I agree with the reviewers that have said this is not as good as Chickenhawk. That however is not to say that it is not worth reading. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Cpt Callum
Compares well with Chickenhawk
Created from diaries and cassettes recorded at the time.About a "guns" helicopter
pilot rather than the "slick" of Chickenhawk. Read more
pilot rather than the "slick" of Chickenhawk. Read more
Published 10 months ago by JG
Disappointing
Not in the same league as Chickenhawk!
Too much of this story is about being depressed, instead of concentrating on the real issues - flying and combat. Read more
Too much of this story is about being depressed, instead of concentrating on the real issues - flying and combat. Read more
Published 13 months ago by flying4fun
Good read
Read this book after seeing the reviews. Also had an interst in helicopter gunships after reading the absolutely fantastic "Apache Dawn".
This book is a fantastic read. Read more
This book is a fantastic read. Read more
Published 15 months ago by StuBod
Not as good as Chickenhawk
As the title says. The definitive and best written book on helicopter pilots in Vietnam is by Robert Mason.
This is a good effort but just isn't as well written. Read more
This is a good effort but just isn't as well written. Read more
Published on 8 Dec 2009 by D. Shadbolt
realitiy of vietnam
This is a real story very well written and easy to read. No punches pulled, an eye opener, straight from the "horses mouth".
Published on 9 Oct 2009 by paul wilkinson
Best Book I Own!
I have read many books written firsthand by pilots and soldiers and Snake Pilot stands out from them all. Read more
Published on 6 Nov 2008 by Mr. L. D. Newvell
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