Call Sign Revlon: The Life and Death of Navy Fighter Pilot Kara Hultgreen

by Sally Spears

The author presents an illustrated biography of her daughter, Kara Hultgreen, the first woman to fly the Navy's F-14 in a combat squadron and the first female fighter pilot to die in the line of duty, whose gender and ambition clashed with Navy traditions. UP.

Genres: Memoir

306 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1998

Reviews

[Myriah · Rating 3 out of 5]

In an interesting twist, this biography is written by Hultgreen's mother following her accidental death on a navy aircraft carrier. Spears admits that her role as biographer is a bit unusual since she plays a rather large part in the story. Still, it's clear that she went through Hultgreen's journal and letters, interviewed her friends and colleagues in an effort to make it Hultgreen's story. Spears doesn't hold back in discussing her own messy divorce and the impact it had on Hultgreen, as well as Hultgreen's inner conflicts and personality clashes with superior officers.
Ultimately, it's a powerful, compelling tale about Hultgreen's continual battle to batter down restrictions against female pilots. Hultgreen's success, becoming one of the first female figher pilots qualified to fly off an aircraft carrier, is cut short by her tragic accident.
Excellent tale about a strong and assertive woman intent on achieving her fast flying dream.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately, the writing in Call Sign Revlon is a bit weak (it was written by Kara’s mother, a lawyer not a journalist), but Kara’s story is compelling. One of the first women allowed to fly a combat jet (in this case the F-14 Tomcat), Hultgreen tragically died in a carrier landing attempt in 1994.

Kara’s personality leaps from the pages of this book: funny, daring, and at times impetuous, Kara seemed like a woman who pursued wholeheartedly her life’s ambition of flying a plane with “afterburners and a pointy nose.”

[Esteban Stipnieks · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading the book I look at things differently considering I am in the location of it. I regularly pass by the San Antonio country club and the Alamo Heights Junior school. The book changed my perspective about things where I live. I am the son of Army aviator and aviation geek. I also grew up around and to some extent have been mentored by alpha females. The book is fair and does not hide the warts of Kara personally factually it was well researched Air Crew interview has an interview with a pilot who triggered a double compressor stall on a Tomcat and even as early 1992 I read about the issues with the F-14As engines.