That's about when I read it too.
Another line I remember was the author saying "helicopter school really could have been a lot of fun, except every time it started to be fun, the instructor pilot would reach over and turn off the engine's fuel supply, or pull the breaker and shut down the electrical system."
Lol.. I’ve had that happen to me several times.. Really fun, if you like life or death roller coasters..
I can still remember when he mentions that the vibration of the ‘chopper seemed to make minor injuries heal faster.
Don’t forget the part where the chopper was over the weight limit, and he was dragging a fence over a mine filed (I am pretty sure it was in that book) trying to get enough forward momentum.