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 aircraft. He took part in the Navy's transition to jet aircraft, when accident rates were high and many feared that jets would not be able to operate in the harsh, demanding environment of "blue water ops." Gillcrist saw the introduction of critical innovations - the angled deck, steam catapult, optical landing system - that saved carrier jet aviation from extinction. Few aviators have had such varied and fascinating experiences, and few could write about them with such eloquence. Available now in a new hard cover reprint edition, Feet Wet (aviator talk for reaching the safety of water) is a chronicle of adventure, heroism, courage, and humor, with some of the most exciting passages ever written on flying. From his magical first flight - the sheer exstasy of being airborne, to the heart-pounding excitement of his first night "trap," the terror of ejecting from a test plane spinning out of control, to dodging SAMs and jousting with MiGs over Hanoi - Gillcrist takes the reader into his world and vividly conveys what all pilots live for - the tremendous "high" of all-out flying. As part of his absorbing stories. Gillcrist shares technical information on carrier aviation; the reader sees, step-by-step, how an airplane is launched, and then trapped again on a small deck aboard a moving ship - this, the most dificult feat in aviation. Paul gillcrist retired in 1985 after a 33-year career as a naval aviator. He commanded a fighter squadron, a carrier air wing, a major jet base, and as a flag officer, the Pacific Fleet fighter wing. He flew 167 combat missions in three Vietnam combat deployments, for which he was awarded seventeen combat decorations. Paul Gillcrist is also the author of Tomcat! The Grumman F-14 Story, Crusader! Last of the Gunfighters, and Vulture's Row: Thirty Years in Naval Aviation (all three titles are available from Schiffer Publishing Ltd.).

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0891413669
• ISBN13: 9780891413660
• Release Date: January 1990
• Publisher: Presidio Pr
• Length: 348 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.3" x 9.3"

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.