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Book Reviews
More aviation related than space but lots of aviation buffs here as well: Bill Lear Jr. is a good friend and as most know, quite the name in aviation. Son of the founder of Lear avionics and Lear Jets, he is a name in aviation in his own right. He wrote a biography that I am ALMOST finished with - and believe me, I laughed all the way through. I would HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone. He is offering it for sale for $28, and he will sign it anyway you desire - all the information is on the link below. This is a hardcover edition. A must for all aviators & historians libraries. So much information on a great guy plus some great insight on the early aviation community (sorry Bill! <G> ). For example, I was not aware he flew in the 1947 and 1948 air races in Cleveland, in his OWN P-38 and, at age 17!!
A thrilling story that will keep the reader on the edge of his seat. I have followed Bill's exploits since he was a youngster and watched with fascination his career as a low-level P-38 aerobatic flyer, as a spy in the Easter Bloc countries while he was ripping of the USSR and through the struggles to make the ill-fated LearFan as successful as was the Learjet. His life certainly was a life on the edge. - Art Linkletter, TV Star, lecturer & author
Bill Lear, Jr. is, of course, the son of one of the most influential aviation figures in the 20th Century. He's also a member of the Sabre Pilots Association. This is his autobiography, and he's 'let it all hang out'. Much of his life can be described as 'truth can be stranger than fiction', and just a few gems from his book will illustrate this point. Before he entered Air Force pilot training in October 1948, he'd already flown a P-38 in two Bendix Trophy races. (Yes, you read that correctly!) There's a story going around that Bill flew his own P-38 into Randolph Field to report for duty'. The author denies this but describes his adventures as an ex-P38 pilot with over 1,000 hours flying time in a variety of aircraft as he submits to instructional training from Air Force pilots. Reviewer's note: Here, I must digress to report that at this point to Bill's book, I was prepared to "recuse" (popular legal term of this day) myself from doing the review as Mr. Lear names his instructors and flying mentors at Randolph, and wittingly or not, passes judgment on their instructional and human qualities. Since your reviewer had the same instructors in Class 50C a few months after Bill Lear, I suspected we might not agree on some points. Happily, I believe that we agree that these gentlemen represented the finest flight instructors of that or any time. Although he was in (and out) of the Air Force most of his life, Bill Lear simply loved to fly. And fly he did an extraordinary mix of air machines. He never quite adjusted to the military life-style, but accepted its requirements (to a degree) in order to fly its great jet fighters. His entire life is a series of adventures too unbelievable for a Hollywood movie. And his autobiography reads like a who's-who of flying. You'll encounter famous persons, learn more than you want to know about Lear's personal life, marvel at his many, I mean MANY- near death experiences, and come away from his book feeling that you've met a very special man 'who did it his way'. Apologies to Frank Sinatra. Highly recommended. review by Lon Walter
Sam Hollenbeck (samhollenbeck@aol.com), a retired Air Force Fighter Pilot, March 2, 2004, A Must For Aviation Enthusiasts In this book, Bill Lear has provided an insight into how a strong desire to excel in the world of aviation, can be realized by anyone with a strong desire.His path from a young racing enthusiast,to a military pilot,a weapons dealer, and then into the Corporate world is, without question, a story that will interest, not only the aviation buffs but the general public.
