Bear with me folks, but.....

[Foo Fighter]

What with the technical and management problems at Boing aerospace, I decided to re-read "Airframe" by Michael Crichton. Not a new book by a long shot but it has a theme which appears at first glance to be quite fairly on the money with current issues.

Question to those who are in the industry or been there, how close does the author get to reality and how much is shear sensationalism?

Not posting this to have a go at anyone anywhere, just a thought for the day/week/month etc.

 

[Justo Miranda]

I hardly remember anything about that book, it was something related to Chinese pilots, corrupt unions and stupid passengers, nothing memorable that deserves to be remembered.

 

[Archibald]

Airframe (novel) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Michel Van]

Airframe is based to several real events:

the China Eastern Flug 583 (the issue with the flap/slat handle becoming dislodged)
the Aeroflot-Flug 593 (A pilot allowing his son to sit at the controls)
the scandal with low quality parts for Aircraft
what to hell is going on at Boeing Management ?
And how the US media reacts nowadays...

It show sad state of Aircraft Industry and how some Airlines operate....

 

[martinbayer]

I hardly remember anything about that book, it was something related to Chinese pilots, corrupt unions and stupid passengers, nothing memorable that deserves to be remembered.

In other words, realistic...

 

[Justo Miranda]

In other words, realistic...

It is not worth buying a realistic story, that's what real life is for.

 

[martinbayer]

It is not worth buying a realistic story, that's what real life is for.

Ah, the time honored realism vs. escapism debate - obviously there are markets for both. Worth is in the eye of the beholder, and de gustibus non est disputandum etc., but I prefer a hard boiled science based (TRL TBD) techno thriller over princess unicorn fantasy nonsense drivel every day of the decade.

 

[Arjen]

It is not worth buying a realistic story, that's what real life is for.

I find real life terrifying, exasperating, beautiful and ugly at the same time. Fascinating, in one word. A realistic story can capture some of that, showing me a storyteller's point of view. Leaving me richer, but not always happier.
Sometimes I find a storyteller's point of view in fantastic stories.
I love a good story, even if it is masquerading as a history book.

Het Monsterschip - Luc Panhuysen | Geschiedenisboeken

In 1639 brengt admiraal Maarten Tromp de opmars van de Spaanse Armada tot een halt. Luc Panhuysen vertelt het verhaal van de slag bij Duins, met opmerkelijke details over het leven op zee.

geschiedenis-winkel.nl

It tells the story of how in 1637 1639 Admiral Maarten Harpertszoon Tromp showed the world how to conduct a naval battle. No translation available, unfortunately.
<edit>fixed an annoying typo</edit>

 

[martinbayer]

Mmm - Alternate History...

 

[Justo Miranda]

I find real life terrifying, exasperating, beautiful and ugly at the same time. Fascinating, in one word. A realistic story can capture some of that, showing me a storyteller's point of view. Leaving me richer, but not always happier.
Sometimes I find a storyteller's point of view in fantastic stories.
I love a good story, even if it is masquerading as a history book.

Het Monsterschip - Luc Panhuysen | Geschiedenisboeken

In 1639 brengt admiraal Maarten Tromp de opmars van de Spaanse Armada tot een halt. Luc Panhuysen vertelt het verhaal van de slag bij Duins, met opmerkelijke details over het leven op zee.

geschiedenis-winkel.nl

It tells the story of how in 1637 Admiral Maarten Harpertszoon Tromp showed the world how to conduct a naval battle. No translation available, unfortunately.

https://www.fantasticfiction.com/d/richard-doyle/imperial-109.htm

And here's some good historical fiction

Imperial 109 was one of the Empire class flying boats of Britain's Imperial Airways. From Durban in South Africa in the spring of 1939, to New York. The journey traces the passage of desert storms and mountain crossings, romance and intrigue, theft, blackmail and murder.

 

[Justo Miranda]

Ah, the time honored realism vs. escapism debate - obviously there are markets for both. Worth is in the eye of the beholder, and de gustibus non est disputandum etc., but I prefer a hard boiled science based (TRL TBD) techno thriller over princess unicorn fantasy nonsense drivel every day of the decade.

realism vs. escapism debate

 

[DWG]

What with the technical and management problems at Boing aerospace, I decided to re-read "Airframe" by Michael Crichton. Not a new book by a long shot but it has a theme which appears at first glance to be quite fairly on the money with current issues.

Question to those who are in the industry or been there, how close does the author get to reality and how much is shear sensationalism?

I remember reading it and thinking "I know exactly which issues of AvLeak he read for research".

 

[Arjen]

Justo mentioning historical fiction makes me feel I now have to point out Luc Panhuysen's book is a bona fide historical study of the Battle of the Downs. The book gets as close as any book can get to a true account of events of nearly four centuries ago.

Back to Airframe: I have a few of Michael Crichton's books on the shelf. Where he touched matters biological, at times he strayed into fantasy territory. So I have doubts about his realism in matters technological, or in matters concerning company-/geopolitics. When the story is rolling along, suspension of disbelief kicks in. Until I close the book.

 

[Foo Fighter]

Obviously it is not a historical treatise, more a novel based on some events that happened.

This being so, some fact mixed with artistic license imoho.

The reason I asked is the difficulty for someone looking in to a subject from outside, is knowing just which elements are which.