Within the pages of Rescue Pilot distinguished Naval aviator Dan McKinnon brings to life the dramatic at-sea helicopter rescues he participated in during his anything but peaceful "peacetime service" in the United States Navy from 1956 through 1959.

Helicopter flight itself, not to mention vertical-lift rescue and evacuation, was in its infancy at that time, so pilots like Dan had to "learn on the go", executing daring at-sea rescue missions from aircraft carrier and cruiser flight decks. Rough water, treacherous weather, and risky Cold War conditions were all part of a day's work.

Along with dramatic rescues, you'll participate in ship-to-ship replenishments, pick-ups, VIP transfers, and gun-spotting operations. Dan also provides fascinating insider glimpses of peacetime naval life, long periods at sea, survival training, early helicopter technology, flight deck operation, and an incident-by-incident account of the U.S. Navy's involvement in the Formosa Strait crisis.

In Rescue Pilot, Dan McKinnon skillfully interweaves technical and historical information with his own thrilling real-life experiences and tells a story as only a man who has put his life on the line to save others can.

About the Author
Dan McKinnon is an expert in commercial aviation travel and survival. He currently is owner and president of North American airlines based at JFK International Airport.

From 1981 to 1985 he served as Chairman of the Civil Aeronautics Board. He was appointed by President Ronald Reagan and oversaw implementation of airline deregulation during the tumultuous period of bankruptcies and adjustment from a government-regulated industry to one controlled by the marketplace.

McKinnon played a key role in U.S. international aviation policy and negotiation for air-route agreements with countries around the world.

Soft Cover
280 pages, Indexed

Publisher
McGraw-Hill (2002)