Fly Navy

Top Gun was only part of the story. Fly Navy delves beyond the Hollywood image to reveal the true mettle and genuine story of the elite men and women of naval aviation. For one hundred years, the U.S. Navy's aviators and crews have made the difference on military and peacetime missions around the world. Their unparalleled skill, preparation, and everyday dedication have paid off when it matters most: when lives are on the line. Together, these men and women—officers and enlisted personnel, past and present—have protected freedom, served their country, and forged a legacy of valor like no other. In this landmark book, Alvin Townley takes readers on an adventure around the world and across generations as he goes behind the scenes of naval aviation. From the skies over the Arabian Sea to the jungles of Southeast Asia to carriers patrolling the vast Pacific, he uncovers incredible stories of service members who survived weeks adrift at sea, made midnight rescues in deadly storms, crash-landed behind enemy lines, and found themselves in situations where their exceptional training and focus were the only things standing between life and death. Filled with inspiring personal accounts of courage, camaraderie, and sheer perseverance, Fly Navy pays tribute to the extraordinary individuals who have built naval aviation into the revered force it is today—and will remain tomorrow.

This book tells the full story of flight from sea, discussing the dangers that naturally come with this seemingly unnatural mode of airbase, including the unfortunate losses of over 900 men during this period. It covers the development of new technology of the period and how changes in other areas such as the cold war and rise of nuclear power, meant that much of the abilities had to be changed and developed.

Describes aircraft carriers of the past and present, the planes that have flown from them, and the lives of the men and women who run the ships and fly the planes.

An epic picture book commemorating 100 years of Naval Aviation, Fly Navy! Captures the pinnacle achievements that demonstrate how far the Navy has progressed over the last century. Aviation photographer and author Erik Hildebrandt chronicles all systems serving in naval aviation with never before seen photography and through the words of those brave individuals who have had the privilege to serve. The results of this effort will culminate in a grand, coffee-table style book that will be released in January 2011 at the official US Navy Centennial observance ceremonies in San Diego. With sections on each of the current aviation communities in the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, this book is certain to be the ultimate collection of modern and historic aircraft imagery ever assembled.

This book tells the story of the first helicopter in the world designed from the outset to be deployed at sea, in Destroyers and Frigates. It is primarily based on the words of those who operated it. Designed from the outset to cope with the restricted space of a warship both for stowage and flight operations it proved an immediate success. Its original role was to act as a weapon carrier to launch torpedoes and depth charges on submarine contacts out of range of the parent ships weapons range. Soon, it also took on a second primary role of air to surface attack using wire guided missiles. The flexibility of the machine was such that it was able to conduct a plethora of secondary roles from visual search to collecting the all-important ships mail. Wherever the Royal Navy was deployed on operations a Wasp was there. The book has accounts of operations around the world particularly during the Cold War of the Seventies and the Falklands War where amongst other things it had the honour of being the first RN platform ever, to fire a guided missile at a surface target.However the story doesnt end there. Although the aircraft went out of service in the Royal Navy in 1988, it continued to operate with other navies around the world. To this day there are still several airworthy examples flying. The second part of the book gives accounts of these machines and brings the story of the Wasp completely up to date.