The Smell Of Kerosene: A Test Pilot's Odyssey (NASA SP 4108. NASA History Series)

The Smell of Kerosene, Donald L. Mallieck NASA History Series. This book is a seat of the pants story about a test pilot form basic training as a Navy Pilot to the edge of space. He started flying in an AT-6 Texan for training, a tail dragger during basic training advancing to F-80 Shooting Star jet and carrier based aircraft. After Navy returned to school and started work for NACA in flight testing anything that flew. NACA became NASA in 1958 and ushered in the space age it was quite evident space flight was top priority. I liked his report on the AD4 Skyhawk which was the aircraft I worked with while in the Navy. He then headed to Muroc AFB now Edwards in honor of Glen Edwards killed while testing YB-49 Northrop’s flying wing. High Speed and High Altitude started with the X-1 ending with the X-15 a rocket powered flying laboratory for over ten years. He did not fly this plain but was active with the program. He was one of the two earth pilots to evaluate the LLTV Lunar Landing Training Vehicle. Suffered the loss of team mate and became his replacement pilot on the XB-70, Fun tasks to study Aurora Borealis, then pilot to the Blackbirds YF-12 and SR-71 these were super-secret spy planes flying Mack 3 plus 70, 000 ft. and above the book spends considerable time on test objectives and the results test at times is quite technical for non-engineers, however the book balances with personal incites

Interesting bio of a NACA/NASA test pilot who was blessed with being in the right place at the right time. With a flight career that covered the SNJ to the XB-70, Mr. Mallick flew everything from the exotic to the mundane. There is a fair amount of "between the lines" commentary in the book as well. The chapters covering the NACA to NASA transition are worth paying extra attention to and could be perceived as a harbinger of what NASA has become today.I would have enjoyed reading a bit more about the General Aviation flight testing he was involved in,especially because he flew some aircraft that had less than safe reputations along with the Wing Derringer but I am probably in the minority.Other than a few oblique comments such as "the Seventies were turbulent times." Discussion about politics and the general take over by and orientation towards space flight is generally minimal. In my opinion Mr. Mallick has been very generous towards NASA in what he has not discussed, instead remaining focused for the most part on his career and the aircraft he flew.Highly recommended for those with an interest in Test Flight, Aviation History, and the history of the NASA Lifting Body Program.

Well written "left seat"view of an exciting time in aviation history.This is a factual account / memoir, not a novelized account a la "The Right Stuff". I say this as a compliment, not a detraction. Several reviewers have comment on the "dry" and "factual" writing style. (Warning, here's a clue coming ...) Well, being factual and keeping their wits about them in the midst of an emergency is precisely the job description of a test pilot! This has a lot more of a personal feel to it than most NASA test/mission reports.If you are a fan of the developmental days of post-WWII, pre-UAV aviation, then you will enjoy the accounts and glimpses in this book. If you're looking for a tell-all titillating account of the life of a test pilot -- 1) grow up, those have been overdone; and 2) Get real; this is an official NASA publication. Do you really think NASA -- an outfit run by pols and their PR office -- is going to publish a book tarnishing the squeaky clean image?

The life and adventures of Don Mallick and his fellow test & evaluation pilots could easily encompass three books.To fly such amazing, groundbreaking machines like the LLRV, the Blackbird, and the XB-70 during the course of your career is, to me, unbelievable to say the least. But these guys were doing it everyday. As a professional Engineer, and amateur pilot, I would love to sit down with these guys, crack open a bottle (or 4) of 15 year Glenfiddich, and listen to them all read their log-books and talk airplanes.I found this book very enjoyable, as well as easily accessed and readable. Though obsessed with the minutiae of engineering and aviation, I was very pleased to find this book written for the layman. It was just a guy talking about flying some of the most amazing machines ever imagined, taking them to their limits (and sometimes beyond), filling out the yellow sheet, and then punching the clock to go home - and it was fantastic to read.I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone with even a passing interest in aviation history. As of today (18 JUN 13) this book is only $0.99 - truly a steal. Once these guys are gone, that's it. A whole generation of anecdotes and stories go with them. Do yourself a favor, and buy this book.Thank you.- Darrell

A good book! I don't think Mallick is going to win awards for his prose, but the book is well-organized and thoughtful. In a welcome change from some test pilot autobiographies, the author's focus is on the actual job of being a test pilot, not on flashy record-breaking incidents; nor does he spend a lot of pages grumbling about the politics of the job. It's just good meaty detail, of the "in the trenches" sort. In addition to the XB-70, YF-12A, and some other high-profile jobs he writes a lot about work he did with airliners, with oddball research vehicles never meant for operational use, even chasing storms to study downdrafts. Mallick is the sort of pilot who seems happy if he can find a way to get paid to fly, and doesn't get caught up in the drama and ego games. I learned a lot of things about research pilot work that simply aren't discussed much in the X-15 books. A thoroughly enjoyable and interesting read for any aviation buff.

This autobiography follows the career of NASA test-pilot Don Mallick, from basic training to the cockpits of some of the fastest jets ever built (of the ones we're allowed to know about, anyway).Mallick's skill and professionalism really come across, as he describes the perils of Navy carrier flying, and later the detailed test work in experimental planes like the XB-70 Valkyrie and the Blackbird.He also shares some of his personal story, and remembers colleagues who did not survive this dangerous work.I particularly liked the story of the lunar-lander test & training machine (which almost killed Neil Armstrong). Mallick was one of the very first to fly this contraption, and makes clear his concern that it was rushed into astronaut training without the proper degree of testing.The book is written in a forthright, unassuming style. Although not very basic in its explanation of aeronautical terms (which would be annoying for the more knowledgeable), it can be well enjoyed by the 'armchair' pilot or aviation enthusiast.

The story of high speed flight as it developed in the USA post WW2 and one man's huge part in it. I lived through those times so found this a really fascinating read as it elaborated on the headlines and background of so many events that had caught my young attention at the time. A really enjoyable story told by a man who invested so much of his life in his profession to the benefit of so many.

I really enjoyed this book as I have an interest in test pilots and their work. This was especially interesting in that it gave an insight to the work of the early jet testing at Edwards and the beginings of the NASA research.There are plenty of exciting developments towards the end of the book - leading up to the early space flights. However we start in the begining of flying training, and the early naval aircraft.Perhaps one of the more interesting things that the author brings out is that test flying can be quite routine. A lot of the flying is repeating tests to confirm previous data. Other times the author is simply flying a chase sortie - which is simply observing the test aircraft for potential problems.Nevertheless it is a must for aviation historians and enthusiasts.

they can't write! Every time I read a book written by a test pilot I'm amazed at the job they do, the things that go wrong, friends killed, lucky escapes, but you never *feel* for the writer. It's like reading a long debrief.If you like this sort of thing, it's a damn good book, covering the formation of NASA (from NACA) and the early X program and supersonic flight back in the days when jets *looked* like jets! If this sort of thing doesn't float your boat, then don't think this is an engaging read.That said, I enjoyed it, so one off the top spot, but that's because of the style.

The written content is very good. I'm not sure how this copy was printed but the quality of the photographs is terrible.