Harrier (How to be a fighter pilot) by Commander Paul Tremelling - Book Review

I have been quite the fan of the "... Boys" series of books from Grub Street Publishing. From Harriers to Meteors, Shackletons to Jaguars, this is a range of rather interesting tomes covering the escapades of those that flew and supported these aircraft when they were in service. There is, however, a lack of more modern coverage. Naturally when it comes to aircraft still in service, you don't want too much being said about them, but as time passes and, in the case of the British armed forces, they homogenise into a fleet of just two fast combat jet types, there are opportunities for pilots of write about their experiences in aircraft that left service not even a decade ago. And this is where Commander Paul Tremelling comes in.

Like most books on the subject, this begins with a potted autobiography about where the author came from, what lit the fires that led to him becoming a pilot and how he achieved that goal. In some recollections, this can be quite dry, though a few can be funny. However this is the first one that I have read that can genuinely be described as hilarious. The author's voice is there from the get go and his humour is spot on. I draw attention to his use of footnotes (especially page 18) and the opportunities they permit to reinforce points as well as make the reader laugh. Whilst becoming a fast jet pilot in the Royal Navy is a serious undertaking, it doesn't have to mean it's boring one and, as demonstrated here, it wasn't for Cmdr Tremelling. 

The structure is pretty much chronological and neatly details the process that the author went through to reach the pinnacle of Royal Navy flying before moving to the RAF and then spending some time with the US Navy on exchange. What you'll notice with each chapter is the sub-heading, giving the reader an update as to where the author was at the time and the level of alcohol consumption undertaken. It's certainly different and adds even more character to the telling of the author's career. It's not all fun and games though, and there is a streak of seriousness that extends to the author's recollections of flying combat missions.

I do like the in-cover artwork.

As the author was a Sea Harrier FA2 pilot, air to air combat gets covered a lot and this book will give you a much greater understanding of what that is like, especially with trips to Red Flag and dealing with the RAF's Tornado F3's. There's some gentle (and not so gentle) ribbing of others, although there is always respect where warranted. I did love the footnote on page 152 where the author comments on the Russian AA-10 Alamo C air to air missile variants as being "fruity little tinkers."

Those with an interest in combat flying will throughly enjoy this book, as will those who want to know what it was like to be a pilot in both the RN and RAF around the turn of the century - and yes, still getting used to saying that and it not referring to the beginning of the 20th century! Wargamers might get something out of this, depending on how realistic you want to make your games (and if the rules will let you do that - hint: if they don't, then change the rules to make them fit), but on the whole, this is a funny yet informative look at a period of British military aviation that begins with the improvements of the 1990's and ends with the promise (since mostly fulfilled), of a renaissance in British aircraft carrier aviation. You can buy this book at the usual places.