I first read this gripping (if now somewhat dated) story as a section of a “Reader’s Digest Condensed Book” (people of a Certain Age will remember those). I was amazed to find it was still in print - well, in pixels, anyway.
The author’s technical mastery of aviation-related information carries the story forward. As was often the case in the era (1960s-70s), there had to be a steamy subplot... and there is. But the straightforward airborne drama rescues this novel from predictable erotic distractions.