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Harrier

How to Be a Fighter Pilot

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Harrier

By: Paul Tremelling
Narrated by: Finlay Robertson
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Paul Tremelling was just seven years old when he watched the Royal Navy's Sea Harriers leave their home base in Somerset to do battle against the Argentine Air Force in the Falklands War. Two decades later, he would join this exclusive club, one of an elite band of Fleet Air Arm fighter pilots, charged with standing in the way of Her Majesty's enemies.

This is the story of what it takes to make it in the dog-eat-dog arena of fighter combat. In the cockpit or crew room, the pressure is relentless, the humour merciless. It's no place for the faint-hearted.

Whether landing on a pitching aircraft carrier deck in the middle of the night or screaming in to save the lives of heroes under fire in Afghanistan, there was no room for self-doubt, only honesty, confidence and do-or-die hard truth. Big Boys Rules.

In return, Tremelling and his fellow airborne warriors enjoyed levels of exhilaration and job-satisfaction that would almost unimaginable in any other walk of life.

Either Winston Churchill or George Orwell (or maybe neither of them...) is reputed to have said, 'we sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.'

For nearly 20 years, Tremelling was one of those men. And never happier than when he was in the cockpit of the legendary British jump jet.

Combining visceral action with sharp intelligence, laced with acerbic humour, Harrier pulls no punches in bringing to life the hi-octane, unforgiving world of the fighter pilot, in the air and on the ground.

Strap-in....

©2022 Paul Tremelling (P)2022 Penguin Audio
Air Forces Engineering Military & War Transportation Aviation Warrior Inspiring Heartfelt Military Thought-Provoking War US Air Force
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What listeners say about Harrier

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Enthralling and very insightful!

Absolutely brilliant, A great view of the ins and outs and the personal side of life as a fast jet pilot.

Highly recommended 11/10

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a ripping yarn BZ

overall a fantastic, entertaining and great delivery but I wish narrators would get their pronunciation right.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Absolute Perfection!

A must for any military aviation fan! Well written and narrated…I couldn’t stop listening to it!

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Harrier

This was very interesting; I couldn’t quite give it 5 stars because I became a little tired of all the initials/acronyms, even though, as an ‘Army brat’ and ‘Naval grand-brat’, I have lived my life with them!! But the thoughtful asides during the detail of Tremelling’s progress was what made the book for me. Thank you so much.

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Interesting

An interesting insight into the life of a British fighter pilot his ups and downs through his career.

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Excellent book

My father was a fast jet pilot and I flew in a university air squadron as such I have read a lot of fast jet related books. This one is top draw and highly recommended

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Excellent take on naval aviation plus

One of the best air warfare books i have listened to.
The author shows aviation and especially naval aviation in all its aspects from the good to the bad.
As an operator you can feel the joy in a job well done. As a student and officer coming through the ranks sense the frustrations of hierarchy and decisions made.

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What a Great Book

Paul puts you right there. Telling the story about the pilots not the aeroplane. Belly-laughs and tears in equal measure. Hilarious.

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Brilliant book!!

The story is great, told with classic military humour. It gives an insight into what it takes to be a fighter pilot, while giving a first hand account of what it’s like to do the job for real.
Only slight negative I had was the voice artist clearly didn’t know how to pronounce some military words, and as an ex soldier that grated on me a bit! Dispute that, I’d highly recommend this book!!!

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A runway success…

… sorry, couldn’t help it. An entertaining, insightful, action packed and often very funny account of an extraordinary life flying fast jets. Very well written and narrated. I’m sad I’ll never have the opportunity to fly in such an incredible machine, but flying lessons in a Cessna and this book will have to do for now.

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