Walt's Aviation Books

My latest book Hypersonic Thunder will be out in the late fall of 2008 and concludes the trilogy of novels on the history of jet aviation. The first two in the series "Roaring Thunder and Supersonic Thunder have been well received. ,I've especially enjoyed hearing from veterans of the industry who have commented favorably on the authenticity of the books. 

It was a real challenge to compress the almost seventy year history of jet aviation (1939 to 2008) into novel form, particularly because I intended from the first to use real people, real events and real aircraft to relate the story. There is no "Acme Aircraft" in this book---there's Lockheed and Boeing and Messerschmitt and General Dynamics and all the rest. And there are all the real people-Sir Frank Whittle, Dr. Hans von Ohain, Kelly Johnson, Tony LeVier, Adolph Galland, Howard Hughes and all the other greats. One thing that made this easy is that I knew almost everyone I mention, at one point or another in their careers, and I represent them as they really were (or are) in life. 

To make the idea work, I've created a fictional family, the Shannons. The main protagonist in the first two books is Vance Shannon (his name taken obviously from Vance Breese and Sam Shannon, both great test pilots) Vance has twin sons, Tom and Harry, and they, just as Pug Henry did in Winds of War always somehow find themselves right on the spot with each new development in jet aviation. I hope you enjoy them. 

Following are a few of my books. If you'd like a signed copy, just buy the book and send it to me, and I will sign it or personalize it just as you wish. Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope. My address is 20582 Rosewood Manor Square, Ashburn, VA, 20147 

Click on a dust jacket or title to learn more or easily buy a book at discounted prices if you like.