Ernest Gann has been mentioned a lot above but no-one has mentioned his novel "The High and the Mighty" about a DC-4 which loses an engine half way between Honolulu and San Francisco. Young Captain panics and grizzled old co-pilot saves the day. Was made into a film in the fifties with John Wayne as the hero. I have it in battered old paperback so may not be available anymore. But if anyone wants a good aviation thriller this is it, and well worth searching for.
Oops, sorry Banoi, just noticed it hidden in your list!
[This message has been edited by Groundloop (edited 03 August 1999).]