Viper Pilot is a great narrative of what it's like to train to become a USAF F-16 pilot and go to war. Lt Col Dan Hampton wrote the book without a ghost writer, so it's like sitting with the guy, having a beer, listening to him tell stories. I can just picture him demonstrating the yanking and banking with his hands as he speaks, LOL. Dan's stories are very exciting, entertaining and not at all dry. He recounts tales of being in Gulf I and II, as well as what his role was on 9/11 and about training some Egyptian pilots. Really funny stuff from Egypt! I must admit I got a little lost in technical bits occasionally, but this book is as close to flying a fighter jet as I will ever come. Thanks, Dan. "2Dogs" pulls no punches with his opinions and often is not at all PC. I like people who are not afraid to say what they really think. Dan Hampton is one of those people. I wonder how he got clearance to say as much as he did about some of the things civilians will never hear about. Some people have said that Dan is a tad on the arrogant side, but I've been around military flyboys my whole life, and yup, they do tend to be that way a bit. Rightfully so! We need them to be that way to do the job that they do for us. And remember, this is HIS book, so it is logical that it revolves around "I" and "me". However, I noticed numerous places where he credits and praises other members of our military forces. One of my favorite lines is where 2Dogs thanks a tanker pilot who flew into the war zone to rescue him, as the F-16 was coasting on fumes. "Pretty ballsy thing to do by a guy sitting in a big unarmed flying gas can." Viper Pilot is a very good look into a world I will never see firsthand. I suggest you jump in and hold on!! The bad thing about books like this is that I finish them too quickly. I look forward to reading Dan's fiction.

I've read alot of combat avition books in my time. I'm a former Marine, and have been in the aviation field almost 40 years. This book is easily up in the top 10 of all I've read. Very easy to read, understand, and to immerse yourself in. I look fwd to his next book. SEMPER FI!!!

I've read all the modern fighter aircraft books and this is one of the best. He describes several missions and adds all the details that modern fighter aircraft enthusiasts love. Definitely recommend for future fighter pilots!

As another vet who flew the Harm loaded viper in anger, found Hampton's rendition high on ego and bravado, but low on perspective - and, more importantly, low on substance worthy of the "America's best fighter pilot" claims. While we should appropriately say thanks for Hampton's service, don't think it would be tough to find hundreds, more likely thousands, with a more compelling story...