Fast Jets and Other Beasts

Dive into the thrilling memoir of Ian Hall, 'Fast Jets and Other Beasts.' This engaging hardback book, published by Grub Street, chronicles a remarkable thirty-two-year military flying career in the RAF. Experience breathtaking aerial adventures as Ian Hall shares his stories from the cockpit, beginning in Bahrain in the early 1970s and spanning across various iconic jets like the Hunter, Phantom, Jaguar, and Tornado. With 192 pages of captivating narratives, readers will explore the complexities of military aviation, including his tours in ground-attack missions, exchange programs with the Royal Norwegian Air Force, and his switch to civil aviation as a turboprop captain. This book serves not only as a historical account of fighter jets and their roles in modern warfare but also as a personal reflection on the joys and challenges faced by a fast jet pilot. Enhance your knowledge of aviation history and enjoy insights on the relationships between air forces and experiences with various aircraft types such as the Lightning, Harrier, and F-14 Tomcat. Perfect for aviation enthusiasts and anyone intrigued by the inner workings of military flying careers, 'Fast Jets and Other Beasts' is an essential addition to your bookshelf.

Author: Ian Hall Publisher: Grub Street
Bind: hardback
Dimensions: 156 x 234 mm
Pages: 192
Publication Date: 01-08-2017

Over a thirty-two-year military flying career which spanned a period when the RAF regularly replaced its fighter/bombers, Ian Hall had seven front-line flying tours on five different types. His story starts in Bahrain in the early 1970s, just before the massive contraction that saw the RAF withdraw from the Middle and Far East. This first, Hunter experience is followed by a home-based tour on a ground-attack Phantom squadron. But as the Phantom is about to be transferred to air defence duties, Ian is posted back to the Hunter on the staff of the tactical weapons unit. This tour, as a qualified weapons instructor, is cut short by a return to the front line on the Jaguar, which he flies in the strike/attack role in Germany. Following an exchange with the Royal Norwegian Air Force during which he enjoys flying the F-5A Freedom Fighter, Ian returns to the Jaguar as a flight commander, then converts to the Tornado and commands a squadron.All these flying tours provide a rich seam of material for incisive, amusing and, sometimes, reflective observations from the cockpit. As do his periods on the ground, from which he recalls impressions of various other types in which he flew as a guest: Lightning; Harrier; F-14 Tomcat; F-16; and so on. He also relates observations of his varied experiences with the army, the navy and foreign air forces, and these are interspersed with musings on the political interface and on friends lost in accidents.Later, Ian surprised himself somewhat by switching to civil aviation, and the book touches upon the twelve-year experience of a fast jet pilot who became a direct-entry turboprop captain. Finally, attired in pipe and slippers, he reflects on a great life of flying, as well as taking a brief look at the things that keep a retired pilot amused. An ideal read for anyone fascinated by tales of exploits in the air.