Kindle
$13.49
Available instantly
Audible Logo Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial
Hardcover
$27.49
Paperback
$14.92
Kindle Price: $13.49

Save $4.50 (25%)

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Audiobook Price: $17.71

Save: $4.72 (27%)

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Buy for others

Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group.
Learn more

Buying and sending eBooks to others

  1. Select quantity
  2. Buy and send eBooks
  3. Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs

Follow the author

Mark Hasara
+ Follow
More books from this author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Tanker Pilot: Lessons from the Cockpit Kindle Edition

by Mark Hasara (Author), Rush Limbaugh (Foreword) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 384 ratings
See all formats and editions
Great on Kindle
Great Experience. Great Value.
iphone with kindle app
Putting our best book forward
Each Great on Kindle book offers a great reading experience, at a better value than print to keep your wallet happy.

Explore your book, then jump right back to where you left off with Page Flip.

View high quality images that let you zoom in to take a closer look.

Enjoy features only possible in digital – start reading right away, carry your library with you, adjust the font, create shareable notes and highlights, and more.

Discover additional details about the events, people, and places in your book, with Wikipedia integration.
Get the free Kindle app: Link to the kindle app page Link to the kindle app page
Enjoy a great reading experience when you buy the Kindle edition of this book. Learn more about Great on Kindle, available in select categories.
From a veteran air-refueling expert who flew missions for over two decades during the Cold War, Gulf War, and Iraq War comes a thrilling eyewitness account of modern warfare, with inspirational stories and crucial lessons for people on the battlefield, in boardrooms, and in their everyday lives.

Get a glimpse of life in the pilot’s seat and experience modern air warfare directly from a true American hero. Lt. Col Mark Hasara—who has twenty-four years’ experience in flying missions around the world—provides keen and eye-opening insights on success and failure, and emphasizes the importance of always being willing to learn.

He provides twelve essential lessons based on his wartime experience and his own personal photographs from his missions during the Cold War, Gulf War, and Iraq War. With a foreword by #1 New York Times bestselling author and radio host Rush Limbaugh, this is a military memoir not to be missed.
Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Print length
    321 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Threshold Editions
  5. Publication date
    November 7, 2017
  6. File size
    73963 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
Next page
Due to its large file size, this book may take longer to download
Add a debit or credit card to save time when you check out
Convenient and secure with 2 clicks. Add your card

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

For twenty-four years Mark Hasara operated one of the Air Force’s oldest airplanes, the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker. His career started during the Reagan Administration, carrying out Strategic Air Command's nuclear deterrent mission. Moving to Okinawa Japan in August 1990, he flew missions throughout the Pacific Rim and Southeast Asia. His first combat missions were in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. As a Duty Officer in the Tanker Airlift Control Center, he planned and ran five hundred airlift and air refueling missions a month. Upon retirement from the Air Force, Mark spent seven years at Rockwell Collins in engineering, designing and developing military fixed and rotary wing aircraft cockpits. Mark became a full-time author and defense industry consultant in 2014.

Rush Limbaugh was the host of The Rush Limbaugh Show—the nation’s highest-rated talk radio program, with an audience of more than 30 million—and was the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Way Things Ought To Be; See, I Told You So; and the Adventures of Rush Revere book series. Visit OfficialRushLimbaugh.com.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B071V5D8KC
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Threshold Editions; Unabridged edition (November 7, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 7, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 73963 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 321 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 384 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Mark Hasara

Mark Hasara

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

For twenty-four years Mark Hasara operated one of the Air Force's oldest airplanes, the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker. His career started during the Reagan administration, carrying out Strategic Air Command's nuclear deterrent missions. Moving to Okinawa, Japan, in August 1990, he flew missions throughout the Pacific Rim and Southeast Asia. His first combat missions were in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. As a duty officer in the Tanker Airlift Control Center, he planned and ran five hundred airlift and air refueling missions a month.

Mark Became a full-time author and defense industry consultant in 2014.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
384 global ratings
Top-notch and spot on!
5 Stars
Top-notch and spot on!
With hundreds of hook-ups from the venerable KC-135 in both the F-4 (pictured here while in the 36th Fighter Squadron circa June ‘81) or later in the F-15C, I can attest to the accuracy of Sluggo’s accounts. The ability of such disciplined airmen to not only plan but coordinate and execute the mission is why U.S. air power is second to none.If you’re an avid fan of “there I was” stories, grab it and enjoy. You won’t be sorry. Z
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

Kirbias
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book!
Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2024
Verified Purchase
The author explains some of the finer points of tanker ops with vignettes from his experience. As an USAF officer who served during the same time, provided me a fascinating view of Cold War history. Anybody interested in airpower history and air refueling needs to read this book.
Helpful
 Report
ATGM
5.0 out of 5 stars An extremely well written account of air operations, specifically getting gas to the planes.
Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2018
Verified Purchase
This book was interesting from beginning to end...with many times of no CAN"T-STOP reading...must know what happened. A lot of detail into air operations, and Mark Hasara has a way to tell the details with a quick drumbeat. There is a lot of what is going on in his brain, how he calculated things and explained clearly. Then the inter-service operations between USAF and US NAVY (the Navy were trained to fly into the BASKET, USAF planes, got the refueling probe flown into their receptacle) and then there were the international incidents, some hilarious, others wow...glad you made it back home in one piece. A lot of insight into the operations going on. I know planes pretty well, having been in commercial aviation three decades. Yes, I looked for flaws, never found one. No typo's either. Just a well written book about what it is like to be a tanker pilot, and then the operational side of it. WITH LOTS OF GREAT PICTURES! I recently made friends on social media with an F-14 Rio from that book, "Hey Joe"...helluva guy.
Helpful
 Report
ken chasteene
5.0 out of 5 stars good book
Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2024
Verified Purchase
nice book
Helpful
 Report
louis r stennes
4.0 out of 5 stars Air Force Crews At Their Best
Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2017
Verified Purchase
As a former Air Force enlisted crewmember who also was assigned to 135s (different model) I found his experiences compelling and with fact filled excitement and a deep understanding of the mission of aerial refueling. If there is a criticism is that I thought in spots he is somewhat "melodramatic" bit I think he wanted it that way. A good book.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
John Mitchell
5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific book describing absolutely essential but little known operational details
Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2017
Verified Purchase
Terrific read describing in wonderful detail an absolutely vital aspect of our ability to project power. A famous quote says: "amateurs talk tactics, professionals talk logistics." This describes the details of vital logistics; how gas gets to thirsty, gas guzzling aircraft operating in dangerous areas as well as how they get there in the first place. Recall landing in Frankfurt one day during the height of our operations in the Mideast; lost track of the number of tankers lined up on the opposite side of the airstrip! Every time you read of a B2 strike somewhere in the world think of the tankers and dedicated crews who unpublicized are absolutely essential to make this happen. In this book you feel you are riding along with Mark as he explains exactly what is going on and the reasons. Descriptions of the planning necessary is especially illuminating. Accompanying photos are magnificent! Only complaint is there are not many more!
13 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
C. Gounaud
5.0 out of 5 stars NKAWTG (nobody kicks a__ without tanker gas)
Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2017
Verified Purchase
I may be a bit biased, because I'm in the book. Chapter 1, page 12. I'm "265". Mark refueled our four-ship of F-4G Wild Weasels as we headed into Iraqi airspace on the first night of Desert Storm.

If character matters (and it does), Mark (the author) has it in spades. Our #4 bird hadn't topped off yet when we hit the end of the air refueling track and our flight lead asked if Mark and his crew could drag us farther north so that we could make our "fence" (hostile border crossing) time with full fuel loads. He had every right to say "no" but he and his crew did what was necessary, putting themselves at risk so we could press on to Baghdad with enough go-juice to do our jobs.

Tanker Pilot is a very well written trip through the world of USAF tanker operations. It highlights the reality that almost nothing we do in today's manned military flight ops world happens without tanker support AND that the old adage "Flexibility is the key to air power" rings true.

Mark's USAF career was certainly an exceptional one - and this book hits the highlights PLUS dives down into some really interesting stuff. the Foreword by Rush Limbaugh is icing on the cake.

Highly recommend for current/former aircrew or anyone else with an interest in the behind-the-scenes workings of military flight ops.
18 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
KVKinCLT
3.0 out of 5 stars Personal Tanker Experiences Applied to Business
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2019
Verified Purchase
The book does provide further proof that tankers are the key (and weak link) to any aviation related military event. While I purchased this book to read about tankers, I didn’t expect it to be centered on a motivational story relating military experience to the business world.

The stories were interesting although a few got off track, having nothing to do with tankers. Most of the Navy references were positive while the Army ones were generally negative. No real history of tanker technology and strategy was provided. The quotes and tie-in to motivation, etc., did nothing for me.
Helpful
 Report
Rob “Z-Man” Zettel, Lt.Col., USAF (Ret) Former F-4, F-5 Aggressor, F-15, MiG-21 & MiG-23 pilot
5.0 out of 5 stars Top-notch and spot on!
Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2022
Verified Purchase
With hundreds of hook-ups from the venerable KC-135 in both the F-4 (pictured here while in the 36th Fighter Squadron circa June ‘81) or later in the F-15C, I can attest to the accuracy of Sluggo’s accounts. The ability of such disciplined airmen to not only plan but coordinate and execute the mission is why U.S. air power is second to none.

If you’re an avid fan of “there I was” stories, grab it and enjoy. You won’t be sorry. Z
Customer image
Rob “Z-Man” Zettel, Lt.Col., USAF (Ret) Former F-4, F-5 Aggressor, F-15, MiG-21 & MiG-23 pilot
5.0 out of 5 stars Top-notch and spot on!
Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2022
With hundreds of hook-ups from the venerable KC-135 in both the F-4 (pictured here while in the 36th Fighter Squadron circa June ‘81) or later in the F-15C, I can attest to the accuracy of Sluggo’s accounts. The ability of such disciplined airmen to not only plan but coordinate and execute the mission is why U.S. air power is second to none.

If you’re an avid fan of “there I was” stories, grab it and enjoy. You won’t be sorry. Z
Images in this review
Customer image
Customer image
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Will Chisholm
5.0 out of 5 stars Nobody Kicks Ass Without Tanker Gas!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 12, 2022
Verified Purchase
I'm an avid listener and supporter of The Fighter Pilot Podcast and caught up with the Big Wing Tanker episode from June 2020 whilst out on a Covid Lockdown Lunchtime walk.

Mark Hasara, the author was the featured guest on the show and after listening for the 45 minutes or so, found the whole flight refuelling subject much more interesting than I had expected.
Mark's book was mentioned later in the episode and I knew there and then that I needed to source it and was lucky enough to find it on Amazon in the UK.

Mark enjoyed a very long career in the USAF and has probably forgotten more than I could ever learn about his experiences.
The book is very well written and is in my opinion a great window on the flight refuelling aircraft, crew, procedures and day to day challenges that most of us would never know about.

The fast jets will always catch the attention far greater than any large airliner looking aircraft that goes around 'Topping Up' the 'Sexy Top Gun' pilots as they are imagined by the global public but this couldn't be further from the truth.

Military pilots running on fumes in the dead of night flying above the ocean know that a tanker will be there when required and this is testament to Mark Hasara, the people before him and the next generation that have taken over, with no better sight than fuel ready on the end of a drogue or boom.

Planning flight refuelling in a war zone is akin to attempting 20 Rubik Cubes, blindfolded.
Actually taking part in an ongoing mission with literally 100's of hours spent by aircrew supporting combat air patrols and planned ground strikes is a number crunching exercise up there with the best of them.
During Iraqi Freedom, hundreds of millions of pounds of fuel were consumed with calculations taking out the guesswork to enable U.S & Allied aircraft to go about their task with Mark Hasara playing a major part with his very wide circle of colleagues to make it happen.
This book puts you right in the action, both in the cockpit (With some great images) and at the air base at the mission planning stages.
Mark has cleverly added a section to crossover from the military to the commercial world and how his experiences can be mirrored and put to use.
The respect that Mark Hasara the author enjoys is clear to see, both in his followers and his former colleagues and allies.
Thank you Mark for a great book, I now have time to catch up on your own Lessons From The Cockpit Podcast.
Customer image
Will Chisholm
5.0 out of 5 stars Nobody Kicks Ass Without Tanker Gas!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 12, 2022
I'm an avid listener and supporter of The Fighter Pilot Podcast and caught up with the Big Wing Tanker episode from June 2020 whilst out on a Covid Lockdown Lunchtime walk.

Mark Hasara, the author was the featured guest on the show and after listening for the 45 minutes or so, found the whole flight refuelling subject much more interesting than I had expected.
Mark's book was mentioned later in the episode and I knew there and then that I needed to source it and was lucky enough to find it on Amazon in the UK.

Mark enjoyed a very long career in the USAF and has probably forgotten more than I could ever learn about his experiences.
The book is very well written and is in my opinion a great window on the flight refuelling aircraft, crew, procedures and day to day challenges that most of us would never know about.

The fast jets will always catch the attention far greater than any large airliner looking aircraft that goes around 'Topping Up' the 'Sexy Top Gun' pilots as they are imagined by the global public but this couldn't be further from the truth.

Military pilots running on fumes in the dead of night flying above the ocean know that a tanker will be there when required and this is testament to Mark Hasara, the people before him and the next generation that have taken over, with no better sight than fuel ready on the end of a drogue or boom.

Planning flight refuelling in a war zone is akin to attempting 20 Rubik Cubes, blindfolded.
Actually taking part in an ongoing mission with literally 100's of hours spent by aircrew supporting combat air patrols and planned ground strikes is a number crunching exercise up there with the best of them.
During Iraqi Freedom, hundreds of millions of pounds of fuel were consumed with calculations taking out the guesswork to enable U.S & Allied aircraft to go about their task with Mark Hasara playing a major part with his very wide circle of colleagues to make it happen.
This book puts you right in the action, both in the cockpit (With some great images) and at the air base at the mission planning stages.
Mark has cleverly added a section to crossover from the military to the commercial world and how his experiences can be mirrored and put to use.
The respect that Mark Hasara the author enjoys is clear to see, both in his followers and his former colleagues and allies.
Thank you Mark for a great book, I now have time to catch up on your own Lessons From The Cockpit Podcast.
Images in this review
Customer image
Customer image
Report
TC
5.0 out of 5 stars The author provides amazing insight that has never before been portrayed on the ...
Reviewed in Canada on December 15, 2017
Verified Purchase
Finally, a title that profiles one of the most vital aspects of combat; aerial refueling. The author provides amazing insight that has never before been portrayed on the complex planning required to project airpower. As a bonus, his accounts of viewing live streaming video while working in the Saudi Arabia-based Combined Air Operations Centre of a infamous firefight and a 2002 strike on what was thought to be Osama bin Laden via Predator unmanned aerial vehicles parked over Afghanistan are mesmerizing. I’ve read it twice already and I’ll be doing so a third time; it’s a must read!

My only criticism is that this is a history book – one that should make the Chief of Staff of the Air Force Professional Reading List – and as such should have an index and a glossary of terms wouldn’t hurt either. Nonetheless, it’s absolutely worth purchasing.
Report
Emil Tulek
5.0 out of 5 stars A must-have for all aviation fanatics!
Reviewed in Germany on December 21, 2017
Verified Purchase
Tanker Pilot offers a rare glimpse into the unique and indispensable world of aerial refueling. I love how the book is structured, you can pick it up and just read any chapter, they are short and to the point yet still detailed and insightful, pulling you right into every mission described. Each chapter concludes neatly with a lesson learned. Even though the KC-135 is no fighter jet, rest assured there is no shortage of hairraising stories, which only further amplify the respect you gotta have for the skills, achievements and influence on aerial operations of these brave air crews commited to this specific section of military aviation. Tanker Pilot is also well suited for repeated reading.
By the way, the author is also an excellent aerial photographer, and I personally wouldn't have minded a few more pages of photos.
Report
Brian K.
4.0 out of 5 stars Great stories, but ACRONYMS Galore
Reviewed in Canada on August 12, 2020
Verified Purchase
Hasara is a great storyteller live. He assumes the reader knows what all the call signs and acronyms mean. The book needs a glossary.
Report
Report an issue

Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report