Fast Jets

By Graeme Brookes

Tredders is a 24 year old rookie Tornado GR4 pilot with the
Royal Air Force. His weapons systems operator is Jonno, a 27
year old, who has fl own for four years with the Tornado Force.
The two of them, and their colleagues, are about to embark
on their pre-deployment training. Their training takes them on
a variety of realistic missions and concludes with the gruelling
Red Flag exercise in the USA.

This book is for young people interested in military aviation or becoming a pilot.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Sep 11, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477227558

Graeme Brookes

Graeme Brookes was an RAF cadet and after University became a Civilian Instructor with the Air Training Corps. He has been to numerous RAF air bases and has had the privilege to fly in an RAF training mission.He enjoys flying and has flown light aircraft, motor-gliders and gliders. His experiences with the Air Cadet Organisation inspired him and provided him with the basis of the story Fast Jets. Graeme Brookes lives in Surrey, England. Other than flying and gliding he enjoys most types of sport, especially cricket, football and rugby. The author has written this book for young people who are interested in military aviation or becoming a pilot.

Book preview

Contents

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14

Key Fast Jet Specifications

1

Flight Lieutenant Richard ‘Tredders’ Tredwell, a Tornado GR4 pilot, and Flight Lieutenant William ‘Jonno’ Johnston, his weapons system operator were at the Farnborough International Air Show with their Tornado GR4 on static display. Tredders was fairly short and had a stocky build. He had short brown hair and brown eyes. Tredders had been a frontline Tornado pilot for just six months and was now 24 years old. He was sociable, competitive and mildly arrogant. Jonno was tall and slim with short blonde hair and blue eyes. He was good looking and a bit of a poser. Jonno had flown in Tornadoes for four years and was 27 years old. The two were dressed in their dark green flying suits and were wearing sporty looking sun glasses. They were at the air show to relax before they started their deployment training.

Next to the Tornado GR4 was a C-17 transport plane. It looked new and shone in the bright sunlight. The C-17s wingspan was enormous due to having four jet engines. In comparison, the Tornado GR4 appeared minute. There were several military aircraft lined up near to the Tornado GR4, including an American F-15C. Behind the aircraft were food stalls and to the front of them was the runway. There were office buildings at the other side of the airfield. The place was heaving with people and there was a smell of hot food and jet fumes in the air.

‘Alright boys! How’s it going?’ said Oli, the C-17 pilot, in his usual enthusiastic cockney manner.

‘Not bad,’ replied Jonno, ‘we are starting our deployment training tomorrow and I am getting quite excited. We will get to do some live firing and I think we might get the chance to go to Red Flag over in the States. I have always wanted to go on Red Flag. It would be amazing.’

‘Sounds interesting. I pretty much fly to the Stan and back all the time. Are you two going to deploy there?’

‘Not sure. I don’t mind where we go. It will be my first operation and I am up for anything,’ responded Tredders.

‘I’ve done Afghanistan before so I am hoping something different will turn up,’ said Jonno, ‘maybe something more like the Libyan campaign. We will hopefully find out tomorrow.’ Jonno paused and then said, ‘there should be some good flying today!’

‘I can’t wait to see the F-22 burn up the sky. It’s the best aircraft in the world. Stealth fighter. No one will be able to beat it,’ said Tredders.

Jonno laughed. Tredders was really enthusiastic about the F-22.

‘Well mate, it’s on later this afternoon so you won’t be disappointed,’ replied Oli. ‘I’m hoping to see the crazy Russian Mig-29M fighter jet. I tell you what I have never seen anything like it! I saw it practise yesterday. I couldn’t believe what I saw.’

Jonno asked why the Russian pilot was crazy but Oli would not tell him.

The first aircraft to display was the new version of the Hawk trainer jet. It was painted black. The Hawk flew low along the runway and turned to the right. Whilst it was flying, Jonno and Tredders both told Oli how disappointed they were to see the Harrier retired. It was the Harrier that had made Tredders wish to become a pilot. The jet was a great air show performer, especially with its hovering. The Hawk gave another fly past along the runway and then landed. Just after the Hawk landed an F-16 screamed down the runway and accelerated into the air. As the jet weaved around the sky, vapour trails from the wing tips covered the sky.

Later in the afternoon it was the turn of the Russian jet to fly. The Mig-29M was painted red with a blue star on its fuselage. It took off and climbed up into the sky with its afterburners glowing. The Mig then straightened up.

‘Here we go boys!’ screamed Oli.

Tredders and Jonno looked up into the sky with astonishment. The Russian pilot had deliberately put the aircraft into a flat spin. It was slowly falling to the ground and the crowd gasped.

‘That is completely mad. He is going to lose control!’ shouted Tredders.

As if it was no trouble whatsoever the Mig-29M recovered from the spin and continued with its display.

‘I told you!’ said Oli laughing.

‘Yeah that was definitely crazy flying. I wouldn’t want to be doing that! Take note Tredders!’ replied Jonno.

Mid-afternoon saw displays from the legendary British Vulcan, an American F-18 Super Hornet, an Airbus A380 and the Apache attack helicopter. There was also a display by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight which had a Lancaster flying with a Spitfire off one wing and a Hurricane off the other wing.

Whilst the Airbus A380 was flying Tredders had walked off to speak to the pilot who was standing next to his F-15C. The pilot happily showed Tredders around his jet. He was known as Tiramanator and had recently been posted to RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, England. Tiramanator was very confident although he spoke quietly. He was tall and had fairly short, light brown hair that was swept over to the side.

Tiffy was the Typhoon display pilot. She was from Newcastle and had blonde hair and blue eyes. The Typhoon rolled along the taxi-way to