Hypersonic Thunder: A Novel of the Jet Age

by Walter J. Boyne

Book Overview

New York Times bestselling author and the former director of the Smithsonian Institution's National Air & Space Museum Walter J. Boyne brings readers the final book in a trilogy highlighting the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0765308452
• ISBN13: 9780765308450
• Release Date: April 2009
• Publisher: Forge
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.3" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

A Wonderful End

This book presents quandary: It is a wonderful ending to Walt Boyne's trilogy of aviation novels and is a delight to read; but its also the end, and we have no more of these exciting books to look forward to. Despite my misgivings about the series ending, this book shows why Walt is considered one of the best aviation authors in the business. The plot development is wonderful, the characters exciting (although, I admit to be slightly embarrassed to be the namesake of one character in the book), and the aviation history precise and well placed. Although the main story line is complete fiction, the surrounding events are described in authentic detail that adds great credibility to the overall story. If you have not read the entire series, you need to treat yourself to buying all three books. "Roaring Thunder" and "Supersonic Thunder" set the stage for "Hypersonic Thunder" and all make for an excellent read. Now we just have to wait and see what Walt has up his sleeve for his next blockbuster idea.

The Trilogy Completed...The Future Awaits

With his encyclopedic knowledge of the history of aviation as well as his exceptional life experiences, Col. Walter J. Boyne is in a unique position to provide oversight and understanding of a profession and a craft that is only a little over 100 years old, yet is capable of moving people about the planet in comfort and ease and beyond Earth's gravity with regularity. Because of of his up close and personal view of the world of aviation, he is able to chronicle in fictional fashion the development of some of the most amazing inventions known to man and make it all understanable as well as readable and enjoyable. This trilogy, I am sure, was a labor of love for the author and it is reflected in the final product. If aviation has been a part of your life, a casual interest or an abiding passion, these books are a must read. Well done, sir!

Walter Boyne is still flying high and fast!

While picking up the morning newspaper, I watched an airliner streaking directly overhead leaving a contrail from the southeast to the northwest. It probably covered about 45 miles in the 5 minutes I watched, marveling even today at such speed that was unimaginable 100 years ago. What kind of men were inspired to build such machines? Purchase a copy of Walter Boyne`s HYPERSONIC THUNDER and you`ll find out. The prolific Walt Boyne has written scores of excellent books and hundreds of journal articles. Boyne, a retired USAF Colonel with 5000 hours of flying experience, was inducted into the 2007 class of the National Aviation Hall of Fame and is a former director of the National Air and Space Museum. For a great article on Boyne`s favorite aircraft, read "The Dawn of Discipline-a B-47 Pilot Remembers," by the author in the July 2009 "AIR & SPACE Smithsonian magazine. Boyne is a consultant in many aviation related television productions. On top of all of that, Walt is a great guy! This is the third and final historical novel covering 68 years in the development of jet propulsion as seen through the lives of the fictional Shannon family. The novel is incredibly entertaining as well as educational. The book begins with the release of the 120 American POWs from the infamous "Hanoi Hilton" in February of 1973 (Gen. Robbie Risner`s THE PASSING OF THE NIGHT offers much insight into those years) and ends in May 2007 with the testing of the Mach 8.0 Hypersonic Cruiser. Boyne provides tremendous insight into the origins of stealth technology and the development of the intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance UAV`s so prominent in today`s combat arena. One gets the feeling that the author is presenting more actual history than fiction, and equally covers both military and commercial application of jet aircraft in the aviation industry. Not to be slighted is the fascinating and dramatic relationships of the Shannon and Rodriquez families, with interesting characters Steve O`Malley and Dennis Jenkins in the mix. Begin with the first two books, ROARING THUNDER and SUPERSONIC THUNDER. You can start by putting yourself in the cockpit of Ernst Heinkel`s He178, sitting on top of von Ohain`s unproven, primitive jet engine in 1939. Ah,heck, if you love aviation topics, go back and read a bunch of Walter Boyne`s many books. They`re all great!

Colonel Boyne Aces Another Aviation Thriller!

Through his fictional trilogy that began with rumblings of aviation's transition to the modern era, then progressed to the maturation of supersonic fighters in the second installment, and now concludes with the development of cutting-edge scramjets in this volume, Walter Boyne has succeeded in making the technology of flight not only accessible but utterly fascinating and loads of fun. Hypersonic Thunder is for both the technophobe who fears being intimidated by the wizardry that underlies futuristic platforms and the committed aerospace enthusiast who devours technicalities of new designs that promise to push the limits of the proverbial envelope. It is Colonel Boyne's mastery of the subject matter combined with the skill and charm of a wise old raconteur that make it possible for such diverse audiences to appreciate the book. Through the device of an imaginary family immersed in the aeronautical world, the reader gets a behind-the-scenes tour of every aspect of the industry. Despite the very human foibles of the characters, some of whom are actual historical figures, the constancy of the protagonists' love of flight shines through to enable the succession of dramatic breakthroughs. In the end, the reader is doubly rewarded for this is entertainment and education blended into a high-octane formula ready to enter afterburner. Colonel Boyne brings a unique perspective in that he has the insight that comes from flying 5,000 hours in such aircraft as Air Force bombers and the breadth of knowledge that comes with having presided over the National Air and Space Museum. In more than 50 aviation books he has brought his extraordinary talents to bear, elucidating some aspect of aviation history in each, and this book manages to keep his record unbroken. Hypersonic Thunder is a thrilling ride for anyone wanting a high-Mach adventure!

A great read from a great writer

Hypersonic Thunder is the third and last installment of Walter Boyne's fine aviation/historical trilogy. As usual, he delivers the goods--and in fine style, weaving an engaging yarn about the fictional Shannon family in and around the lives of real aviation people and actual events. The beauty of a Walter Boyne book, be it fiction or nonfiction, is his incredible knack of providing readers with a real insider's feel and insight of the flying game, from the personal sacrifices made by flyers and their families to the fascinating intricacies of the aircraft itself. Another great comfort with a Boyne work is that you never have to worry about the authenticity of the material--a former USAF Command Pilot himself, he has walked the walk and talked the talk. The author also clearly understands how some material, especially when it is about technical or specialty professions, can sometimes be rendered much more understandable and enjoyable when it is presented in novel form, and that is where Hypersonic Thunder really sings. The most significant events, both aviation and historical, of the latter half of the twentieth century are all linked together in this one great flowing narrative--from how the American POW's were able to communicate with one another using their own improvised Hanoi Hilton tap code, to what really happened at the 1973 Paris Air Show when the Soviet prototype Supersonic Transport crashed, burned, and promptly buried forever the Soviet SST program, to the inside skinny on American stealth fighters and bombers, and then finally to fascinating speculation on future scramjet (supersonic combustion ramjet) engines and hypersonic (Mach 5 plus) manned flight. This reviewer strongly suggests that readers interested in this twentieth-century aviation tale do themselves a favor and start at the beginning of the epic by also purchasing simultaneously the first two books in the series, Roaring Thunder and Supersonic Thunder. Both books are available on this website at very attractive prices. Hypersonic Thunder is just a great, fun read and it is very highly recommended to all readers, not just aviation aficionados. If this is your first Walter Boyne book, then be assured that after reading it you will then understand why he continues to be the nation's most important aviation writer.