Wow, this is an interesting thread!
I'd recommend
* "Thud Ridge" by Jack Broughton (easily available in used form from the usual sources),
* "Chickenhawk" by Robert Mason
* "The Wrong Stuff" by John Moore
and of course
* "Cannibal Queen" by Stephen Coonts,.
Here's one I haven't read yet, but which seems to be very interesting:
* "The Starship Diaries" by Dallas Kachan
http://www.starshipdiaries.com/
And I'd like to recommend just about *any* book by Bill Gunston, especially "Plane Speaking" !
[edited for spelling]