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Nine Lives

The Compelling Memoir of a Cold War Harrier Pilot

Chris Burwell
Chris Burwell joined the RAF in 1969 at the age of 18. In this account of his 50 years as a pilot and instructor, he recalls flying Harriers on Nato’s frontline in Germany at the height of the Cold War, before being sent to Belize to deter a threatened Guatemalan invasion, and a three-month tour of duty in the Falkland Islands. He concluded his career training commercial pilots in Spain.
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RRP £25.00

£12.99

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Product information:
  • Publisher: Grub Street
  • Year: 2022
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 208pp
  • Illustrated: Yes
  • Dimensions: 240x160mm
  • ISBN: 9781911667285
  • Condition: New
  • Weight: 0.7kg
Product code:
533700
Product information
Full publisher description
Chris Burwell charts one man's career in aviation from joining the RAF in 1969 aged 18, to having responsibility for training pilots for the world's major airlines nearly 50 years later.

After training at RAF Cranwell and RAF Valley and a tour as a flying instructor on Jet Provosts, he joined the Harrier Force, flying on front-line squadrons in the UK and Germany during the Cold War and as an instructor on the Harrier Conversion Unit. Detachments to Belize in 1977, the Falklands (twice), ejection from a Harrier GR3, introducing FLIR and NVG to the Harrier front line and operational missions in Northern Iraq are all covered in entertaining detail.

After 30 years of service, the author spent 12 years with Cobham, managing their Teesside base and flying the Falcon 20 on operational training for the military and the King Air 200 on international flight calibration tasks. Finally, he spent four years in Spain with Flight Training Europe (FTE) Jerez with responsibility for the flying training of a new generation of pilots.

Through his experience as a pilot, leader and manager gained over many years, his valuable insights into military and civilian flying operations are both engrossing and noteworthy. Highly recommended to readers of both disciplines.
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