MyBookReview

In 1995 while still studying in the US, I bought a game called USNF (US Navy Fighters) published by Electronic Arts.  At that time Windows 95 just came out and also I bought my first PC, a Gateway2000 Pentium 60.  At the same time I was into simulation-type games like Activision Mechwarrior and also EA’s Janes’ USNF.  Of course those games where state of the art then.  To add to my craze… Discovery were showing the Wings documentary series, to showcase the best fighter planes in history.

I was so into combat simulation that I mail ordered the fighter combat used by the US Navy written by Commander Robert L. Shaw.  When the book was published, Cdr. Shaw already 14 years as a US Navy  aviator and had accumulated 4000 hours flying the F4 Phantom and the F14 Tomcat.  The book teaches the tactics and maneuvering techniques of fighter pilots eversince the airplane was used in combat situations up to the Vietnam war. You’ll learn maneuvers like the high/low yoyo, scissor, the Immelmann technique and so on.  In fact anything you want to know about figher combat you can get from this book.

Did it help me in my games?  I’m not sure because I was crazy about the game but never too serious.  I think the book is too technical for me at that time…besides I was not going to be a real fighter pilot (at least only in my dreams).  Nevertheless it was a priviledge for me to have this book in my collection.

About the book

Hardcover
Fighter Combat: Tactics and Maneuvering
By Robert L. Shaw
Published by Naval Institute Press, 1985
ISBN 0870210599, 9780870210594
428 pages

See also: Google Books