One desert Jet Turner: A perspective on youth, fighter aircraft, and cold war

In One Desert Jet Turner, using the fighter as a central theme, author Earl Heron describes settings, feelings, and technology associated with providing this airborne weapon for use in Cold war. Heron details the temperament of fighter aircraft, fighter pilots and fighter mechanics. He tells his story as a sensitive observer of science, character and society. Many days in the life of a fighter mechanic are detailed, including the first days, the rewarding days and the unfortunate day when several aircraft from the same formation crashed. This incident and subsequent crash investigation form the climax of the book. The perspectives shared provide the technical and emotional background for the reader to appreciate the impact this crash had on the aviation community. The book also shares the challenges faced by a young man who discovers that while there was a learnable science to maintaining jets, there are no clear instructions for a young man coming of age.