Feet Wet: Reflections of a Carrier Pilot

by Paul T. Gillcrist and USN (Ret.) Gillcrist, Paul T., Rear Admiral

Book Overview

Paul Gillcrist was a navy carrier pilot for almost thirty years, from the early days, of flying propeller planes from straight deck carriers, to the days of high-tech, lethal "teen" jets and supercarriers. In his remarkable career - from "nugget", to competent jet aviator, to test pilot, to Vietnam fighter pilot, to air wing commander, to head of "Fightertown, USA," Gillcrist flew the F-8 Crusader, F-4 Phantom, F-14 Tomcat, and a myriad of other tactical...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0891413669
• ISBN13: 9780891413660
• Release Date: January 1990
• Publisher: Presidio Press
• Length: 348 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Entertaining, fun, exciting, and accurate

What a read. I had trouble putting it down. This is a captivating book by a true American HERO. From blackouts to stalls, ditching and bailing, this is a man who went through and helped to create the evolution of U.S. Navy Carrier Operations. This is a true fighter pilot, and a former "Top Gun". I consider it to be an honor to have also attended the U.S. Naval Academy, particularly with people like Admiral Gillcrist as a model for my behavior. Thank you Admiral for providing such an entertaining book, and thank you especially for serving our Country in such a galant manner.

Fantastic story about the early years of CV aviation

My job in the Navy as an Air Intercept Controller provides me the opportunity to work with some of the finest pilots in the world. Rear Adm. Gillcrest set the standarad for many other pilots to follow. FEET WET gave me an insight into early CV and CAP operations, the kind of real world operations I wish I could of been involved in. Nothing in the world would make me more professionally happy then to say "you are cleared to engage"!

Feet Wet takes through training, combat and carrier ops.

Feet Wet takes the reader through flight training, combat, and carrier operations as seen through the eyes of Adm. Gillcrist. Stories told will keep you on the edge of your seat and periodically make you laugh. The book is informative to pilots as well as aviation enthusiasts.

"Real Life" Top Gun Adventure

If you like adventure, you'll enjoy this book. If you enjoy flying, you'll love this book. If you turn your head in the direction of the sound of a plane flying overhead, you need to buy this book now! Be careful however not to start reading this book late at night. You may not get any sleep, because you won't put it down.

Not only adventure but a virtual "How To" of carrier flying

This book is a "You Were There" looking over the shoulder of one man through his career in Naval Aviation. It is a continuously interesting experience from his first flight to his last sea tour.He not only conveys the excitement of the flying, but paints the details of the background of aircraft carrier operations in a simple and easy to understand style along the way. Because he was flying off of carriers during the critical period of transition to jet aircraft he provides a good feeling for what the problems were and how they were solved. Anyone who wants to understand how the Navy flies jets on the high seas should read this book.Despite the wealth of information I don't want to make this book sound like a dry technical manual. It is still predominantly one of the best told tales of true life flying adventure.