High Desert Reflections

by Kevin Miller

A retired Navy fighter pilot remembers his training flights at Naval Air Station Fallon, and relives them as he gazes at the training range from an airline seat years after his last flight there. In this poignant story, Kevin Miller, author of the military techno-thriller Raven One, recounts some of his memories of flying in the high desert, taking the reader into the cockpit of a FA-18 Hornet over the skies of Fallon, Nevada in simulated air combat exercises that convey the intensity - and exhilaration - of flying high-performance aircraft in complex formations characterized by teamwork and precision. You'll not look out the window of an airliner in this part of the country the same way again after you read about this human story of high-speed adventure - and humble commitment - that our military pilots past and present experience in training before they deploy overseas.

Genres: Aviation, Military Fiction

45 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 15, 2015

About the author

Captain Kevin Miller, a 24-year veteran of the U.S. Navy, is a former tactical naval aviator and has flown the A-7E Corsair II and FA-18 Hornet operationally. He commanded a carrier-based strike-fighter squadron, and, during his career, logged over 1,000 carrier-arrested landings, made possible as he served alongside outstanding men and women as part of a winning team. Captain Miller lives and writes in Pensacola, Florida.

His first novel, RAVEN ONE, was published in June 2014 and peaked at #29 in Amazon's sales ranking. The sequel, DECLARED HOSTILE, was published in August, 2016. HIGH DESERT REFLECTIONS is an autobiographical short story of his flying experiences in the American mountain west. FIGHT FIGHT was published in 2018 followed by HIGH END in 2024 to complete the R1 series, In June 2020, his long-awaited Battle of Midway historical fiction novel, THE SILVER WATERFALL, was published going on to win five writing awards. Please follow Kevin on Bookbub:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kevin...

Raven One
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Declared Hostile
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

Fight Fight
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

The Silver Waterfall
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

High Desert Reflections
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Reviews

[John Brosnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reflections

Very well written short story. Opens our eyes and minds into the TOPGUN world. Great writer who puts you in the seat of the fighter jet!!

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Different!

I am a veteran myself and found this VERY short story, different. I would really like to rate it higher as the flying descriptions and air battle practice at top gun was exceptional. But I just didn't understand where this was going at the end. I gave it 4 stars chiefly because of the authors description of flying the missing man formation for a lost aviator. Let me say however, I enjoyed the very intense and descriptive flying sequences VERY MUCH, I enjoyed enough that I bought the full length novel from Mr. Miller titled "Raven One"! I look forward to sitting down soon and reading this new one!

[Ronnie Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast pace

After reading Raven One this was a welcome change,even though a short story I couldn't put it down,as an ex pilot I could deal myself flying with them.it's a good value .now eagerly awaiting his next book SOON

[Jeff Herriman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always wondered what went on down there. Now I know

I have flown over that same desert many times only I was in a passenger seat looking out the window of a commercial jet. One time I saw smoke in the middle of the desert. Now I have a clue of what happened.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding memoir in the form of a short story. As I finished High Desert Reflections, I was reminded of the Clint Black song, State of Mind. In the chorus he sings "Ain't it funny how a melody can bring back a memory, take you to another place in time, completely change your state of mind." Our five senses have the extraordinary ability to evoke our deepest, most profound memories - conjured from the depths of our past, the memories wash over us in the blink of an eye. Whether these snippets come to us from something we hear, something we see, something we smell, taste or even touch, these memories can offer a fleeting glimpse of the past, or they can be transportive and altogether immersive. In the case of Kevin Miller's story, it is the latter.

For roughly 30 pages he shares with us a piece of his past - specifically, time spent training at NAS Fallon. It is essentially told in real-time. The roughly one hour it takes to read is approximately the duration of the commercial flight he is taking from Salt Lake City to Reno; it is aboard this flight he looks out the window and begins watching the landscape below, searching the high desert for landmarks that guide his memory to the past.

Kevin Miller has a talent for communication, and I found his memoir to be highly impactful. It is fast paced, filled with action, and surprisingly poignant. The author's detailed account of flying the missing man formation is shattering. I am profoundly grateful to the men and women who honorably serve our nation, and hope that I may live a life worthy of those who have paid the ultimate price. I believe anyone with even a small amount of life experience, whatever it may be, can relate to and appreciate this fine narrative.

[Stephen Lawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoughtful recount of a fighter pilot's desert training

A rather interesting reflection on Kevin Miller's evolutionary progress, honing flight and leadership skills in runs across some of. the most desolate landscape in this country. He uses an interesting technique, bouncing from being a passenger on a present day commercial flight to wrangling a multimillionaire dollar figured jet through countless sorties, bombing and strafing runs, all in am attempt to hone his techniques in preparation for actual fighting, should that need arise. Worth your time if your interests lie in this military discipline.

[Lou Uffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where Topguns are born and raised

Great story about the goings on at Strike U in Fallon NV based on the musings and reminisces of a former pupil. Miller does a fantastic job painting the mosaic of the area, the training, the career of being a Naval Aviator. The only thing I would add from my personal experience is that Fallon and Reno was a small and lonely place when it visited in 1987 and watch out for that stray dog running across Highway 50 ... Oh wait, why would a dog be out here ... That was Wile E. Coyote!

[Paul J. Petersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pleasurable read for those who have read this author

I found this to be an enjoyable and well written touch on reality. We grow older and the look back is bittersweet. I think this touched a nerve in me, I am not a fighter pilot, but the memories we have created are important to who we are. I occasionally will experience a flashback in place and time, it is a gift to be enjoyed.

[Xsabian Ortiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insight into Kevin Miller mind.

This short story shows his mindset and how dedicated he was to his work. Hearing his stories and thoughts makes me grateful for his sacrifices as well as his family protecting America and our way of life. There's no breed like fighter pilots and thank you Kevin for introducing us to it.

[Raven Weighell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect read for a rainy Saturday Morning

I love this. Kevin Miller's crisp prose brings us right into the cockpit, and the body of his narrator. The imagery and pacing are beautiful and I love how neatly everything ties together at the end.

[Howards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kevin has a great story and great style!

I have really enjoyed reading all of Kevin's books. He has a great reading style and a wonderful talent at describing his experiences and stories. I look forward to future books he may write!

[Becky Rosas · Rating 4 out of 5]

great reminiscing book. The details of his flights during Top Gun as he is flying into an airport near Fallon are extraordinary. The details put you inside as he trains for battle. Will look for more books by this author!

[Greg Parrott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good insight to some of Skipper Wilson's beginnings as a USN pilot in training.

[Bill Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok but not my cup of tea

Now I have to write a bunch of words . I like the author's stories, this one not so much. Look forward to more action stories

[WRH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice short story about training over the Nevada desert. Descriptive action.

[Linda Blakely · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

This was a good story about pilots and their training missions. I, a want-to-be pilot enjoyed the story very much