Lead Solo

""'Walleye' Weisser has written a gem…packed full of gripping stories and insights from his stellar naval aviation career and amazing life that he weaves into an incredibly useful framework for understanding focus, trust, character and dealing with adversity. Any aspiring leader will benefit from picking it up... and I guarantee they won’t be able to put it down.”—Vice Adm. DeWolfe 'Bullet' Miller, USN (Ret.), Commander Naval Air Forces and 'Air Boss' for Top Gun: Maverick ""What a fun, readable, and important book...written with such joy and humility!  Frank Weisser expertly combines spine-tingling descriptions of his diverse career as a Navy pilot—including Blue Angels solo, movie stunts, landing on aircraft carriers, and, most importantly, supporting troops on the ground in combat—with a set of meaningful personal and leadership lessons that is simply a joy to read. I had a hard time putting Lead Solo down!""—Adm. Sandy 'Jaws' Winnefeld, USN (Ret.), former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Top Gun instructor, and author of Sailing Upwind ""Lead Solo is an extraordinary account of leadership, perseverance, and precision from one of the most accomplished aviators I have ever served with. Frank Weisser’s experiences as a Blue Angel and combat fighter pilot offer invaluable lessons on focus, trust, and resilience—principles that extend far beyond the cockpit. His storytelling is engaging, insightful, and deeply inspiring, making this book a must-read for anyone striving to perform at the highest level, whether in aviation, business, or life.""—Capt. Eric Doyle, USN (Ret.), Blue Angels Commanding Officer, Top Gun instructor, CEO of RAVN Aerospace ""In Lead Solo, Blue Angel aviator Frank Weisser sticks readers in the cockpit and takes them on an exhilarating and insightful mission into the high-performance and high-stakes world of naval aviation. He masterfully weaves accounts of aerobatic precision, trust, and teamwork with invaluable lessons about life and leadership and offers readers a compelling flight plan for their own lives. Lead Solo delivers all this as it makes Weisser’s dedicated fellow servicemembers the book’s real heroes.""—Alvin Townley, author of Fly Navy and Defiant  ""Lead Solo is a captivating account of life in the cockpit of an F-18, but it's true power lies in the profound lessons of service, sacrifice, and leadership that are found on every page. With vivid storytelling and hard-won wisdom, 'Walleye' beautifully captures the courage and selflessness required to serve our country and ultimately each other. This book is an inspiring tribute to all who have chosen a life of service, and is a must-read for anyone seeking to lead with integrity and purpose.""—Cmdr. Rebecca Calder, USN (Ret.), First Female Pilot Top Gun graduate ""Have you ever feared failure? Do you want to be inspired? Interested in a behind-the-scenes glimpse of what it takes to be a Blue Angels pilot? Are you human? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this book is for you!""—Brian Terwilliger, Film Producer and Director of Living in the Age of Airplanes and One Six Right ""Lead Solo is entertaining, educational, and motivational. Frank brings the reader into the cockpit during the Blue Angel flight training and airshow performance. This connection continues through the full Blue Angel experience.  More importantly, the values, life lessons and experiences will be carried long past the exhilaration of flight. This is a great read.""—Connie Bowlin, Delta Airlines’ Fourth Female Pilot, President of EAA Warbirds of America, Honorary Ace & Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame Recipient ""Whether you are in the back seat, on his wing, or reading this book you will experience the values Cmdr. Frank Weisser has demanded of himself and is now sharing with us. A story rarely told of flying the F-18 as a Naval aviator, not only in combat, but having an unprecedented tour with the Blue Angels. He takes you with him through adversity and failure showing the importance of high standards of character.  No matter what our own endeavor might be, Cmdr. Weisser challenges us to be the best. Next time, you will watch the Blue Angel Demonstration with a new appreciation. You will watch Top Gun: Maverick again, and you will measure yourself to higher standards. I know I will.""—Bob Hoff, CEO of Aero Mark and FAA’s Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award Recipient ""Strap into the F-18 Hornet with Cmdr. Frank Weisser as he takes you on an incredible high-speed journey through Lead Solo, a powerful book that blends thrilling aviation stories with powerful life lessons. As a former Blue Angels pilot and a key contributor to the blockbuster movie Top Gun: Maverick, Weisser shares how his unique flying experiences shaped his perspectives on trust, communication, adversity, and courage. His insights go beyond the cockpit, offering readers valuable lessons on leadership and resilience in both the sky and everyday life""—@combat_learjet