To the Limit: An Air Cav Huey Pilot in Vietnam

Tom Johnson writes an excellent story of his tour in Vietnam. I recommend it highly, because it adds to the several great books out there about the 1st Air Cavalry Division Johnson's storytelling fleshes out a story replete with lot of vivid operational details with well-timed, and well-written flashbacks. There is a technique in writing that says "show, don't tell". Johnson creates clear imagery all through the book that takes you from the wind-swept scrub of Fort Wolters near Mineral Wells, Texas, where Vietnam era helicopter pilots learned to fly rotor-wing aircraft, to the monsoon-sodden highlands of Vietnam to the slopes of the dreaded A Shau Valley. Johnson writes clearly and descriptively about a number of dramatic events which occurred during his year-long tour, any of which would be a stand-alone once-in-a-lifetime episode. To use a familiar, often overused description to describe "To The Limit", it's a page turner! Seriously.

Here's the scoop. If you're an aviation nut, you might like the book. If you are any kind of helo pilot, you'll like it. If Bell blood is running thru your veins, you will be amazed at the memories and recall of the author. You can smell the JP, feel the one-on-one, and hear the 'whop' as you decrease the collective (power). Pgs 9/10 of the 1st chapter kind of screw up the start sequence. The -10 states you monitor the battery first when you hit the starter to ensure you have the volts to continue the start. When you light the fire, you monitor the EGT closely to ensure you're not getting a 'hot start'. You do NOT go past the flight idle stop until the start sequence is completed in case you have to abort the start. Also, when you go across the flight idle stop, there are quite a few things in the cockpit left on the check list to accomplish at flight idle before you get up to 6,600 RPM. Radios & nav gear-ON; flight controls-CHECK, etc. The ONLY infinitesimal glitch in the entire book. Lastly, ONLY the Army flies the in-trail formation. In-trail can be the biggest goose chase in your life if flight lead is not totally smooth on the controls and has everything nailed down beforehand. Any goof by lead turning final, setting the approach angle, etc leads to a daisy chain of dominoes that gets really hairy really quick for the rest of the flight. You'd have to be stacked in the middle! of the flight to appreciate how fast the tail rotor of the bird in front on you can fill up your windscreen. Only trail/last in flight has a true out; everyone else is committed one way or the other. Great book. More memories and scares than I have relived in many, many years. Congrats on getting it right! (Reviewer is pilot: UH-B/D/H/N & VH-1N;OH-58A; AH1G & J, USA & USMC) Go 'skid kids'!!!

This book gives a definitive overview of how a pilot moves through his training, on through the hell of combat situations, and finally leaving the fray. As a perfectionist, I thoroughly enjoyed the perspective presented by Tom A. Johnson, but in his description of his last terrifying episode in a crashed Huey, I was appalled to see that Johnson repeatedly referred to his reloading of "CLIPS" for his .30 M2 Carbine. The only "clips" I ever encountered in the army were for my M1 Garand. What Johnson was reloading were his magazines. If Johnson had not disappointed me with this gross error, I would have pronounced his book as "perfect".

Good, entertaining read. The author lived an exciting and dangerous life in Vietnam, and his story offers insight into the reality of fear these young pilots faced without falsified machismo.Some stories show what appear to be inconsistencies, such as names of people showing up in stories dated after their listed KIA date, or tools and equipment being referred to by names that are similar but not close to the commonly accepted terms of the times. I chalk this up to the years that have passed between the experiences and the author’s writing, not intentional deception.I do recommend this book as one of the few first hand accounts into the helicopter war in Vietnam, told by someone who probably never wanted to be there, but did his duty honorably and without reservation.

As a helicopter pilot and a bibliophile I've always thought no book about aviation in Vietnam could possibly top Robert Mason's Chickenhawk, but Tom Johnson's To The Limit does just that. He tells a tremendous story of extraordinary courage and magnificent piloting under almost impossible conditions, and 50 years on from the events described one can only stand and wonder that such things could happen. Johnson tells the story with such powerful simplicity that it tests your emotions. A great historic document, wonderfully written, and I'm left wondering why it's not better known in the aviation industry. Best book I've read in years.

This book is similar to Chickenhawk except that it stays almost totally "in the cockpit" of a huey so if you want the gory details of life as a Heli Pilot in Vietnam then ChickenHawk is better. However if you want almost "100% cockpit" , then To the Limit is better - certainly the description of rescueing a group of special forces on ropes tangled in trees and just how far you could over stress a Huey's transmission was excellent for even the most detail-demanding reader.So yes a very readable book which is up with the best in this genre.And my copy was a hardback - very nice.

Of the many books I've read about helicopter flying in Vietnam, this is the first one worthy of comparison to Chickenhawk.Books like this often struggle to balance detail and narrative but Tom Johnson gets the balance right. He gives us enough detail about the operations and practicalities to let us understand how complex the job of combat flying was but he doesn't let the detail overwhelm the story. If you want the experience of 'being right in the cockpit' then this is a must-read.This book also has a terrific finale that is almost worthy of being a book in itself. Chickenhawk

Bought this as it compared favourably with Chickenhawk, I was not disappointed. Great book good on detail without bogging down on the technical stuff. Tom tells it as it is (or was) this book gives an insight to how things were and the feelings of the people involved. Some really tragic moments but also some particularly hilarious events as well. Thoroughly recommend this for those of you interested but if you are simply browsing reviews with no prior interest then give it a go you will enjoy.

This was a Christmas pressie from my dear wife, and what an excellent book, i could not put it down.Along side of Chicken Hawk, this ranks equal, fantastic info and the book itself was in great condition, i was sad when i finished it, always a good sign for me. Recomended.

This is a great read. It is probably the best book I have read from a Vietnam Huey pilot. The author has a way of painting a picture of terror and comradeship. A book you cannot put down. Is it all true? - I think so!

Almost as good as the outstanding 'Chickenhawk'. This is a frank, and unexaggerated view of the war from the author's perspective, with no sensationalism. I thoroughly enjoyed this book on what is a truly iconic helicopter.

I really enjoyed this book and found it hard to put down, Johnson gives an honest insight into what it must have been like to experience such fear but know that the job had to be done because lives depended on him. My hat off to anybody who flew hueys and saved countless lives. This is a great story, read it.

Solid book about helicopters in Vietnam. If you've already read Chickenhawk I'm not certain you need to read this one as it essentially is the same 'thing', although I would rate Chickenhawk higher...

An excellent read. Well constructed, lots of information which only adds to the various accounts. Very addictive - the author puts you right in the action. If you like helicopters and war autobiographies, don't miss this one.

Very good technically, believable, hugely interesting character. This book is well work a read, maybe as good as Chickenhawk, the author really knows his stuff and carries you with the story start to finish.

This is an impressive book; not only from the point of view of the authors experiences during his tour of duty but also from the point of view of gently introducing the reader to the basics of helicopter flying. This allows you to more readily appreciate the difficulties the author encountered. If you enjoyed 'Chickenhawk' you should read this book. You will not be disappointed.

This is an excellent book. I like my military history, especially around helicopters, and so I've read this book twice.

This is a fantastic book. Highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in Helicopters or the Vietnam war.Well written and I couldn't put it down.

Not quite as good as Chickenhawk but almost there. Well worth a read.