Confessions Of A Phantom Pilot

‘The Confessions of a Phantom Pilot’ is the true story of a young RAF pilot who gets his dream to fly the old dirty workhorse fighter of the Cold War. From the first flight where he thought the jet was trying to kill him, through to his final trip of leading eight aeroplanes on a front line fighter squadron, you will relive his thoughts, feelings and anxieties as he stumbles his way through each flight relying on a bit of skill and a lot of blind luck. In essence, it is a love letter to the Phantom from a star-struck boy who felt like he was way out of his depth at the beginning of their affair. You will share stories of the outrageous drinking culture that was a major part of Cold War front-line operations, and marvel at how he didn’t do himself some serious damage either in or out of the cockpit. This is how it feels to be a front-line fighter pilot – the triumphs and the disasters are all laid out here in a completely open and honest way as the author looks back with a certain sense of nostalgia and mild embarrassment. What a blast though!

After surviving three years flying the RAF’s greatest and scariest fighter (the mighty Phantom), Tug Wilson tried his hand at teaching some of the flying skills he probably should have known when he was on the Cold War front-line. Despite being slightly more mature and having the responsibility of teaching, and looking after, trainee pilots and navigators in the cockpit of a Hawk fast-jet trainer, Wilson manages to almost kill himself (again) and at least one of his students. This book build on the insecurities, amazement, and pure unadulterated joy that the author felt while flying aircraft in his beloved RAF. It is an open and honest account of his professional and personal life, much in the style of his first book―'Confessions of a Phantom Pilot’ (which has been described as a “Cracking good read” by Tug, his family, and all his mates from the Phantom that were happy to be mentioned in it. Ever wondered what a fast-jet pilot goes through while learning the intricacies of air-defence and low-level flying? Or even how to cheat in air combat? ‘Confessions of a Flying Instructor’ is a personal examination of an often overlooked aspect of the RAF.

Captain Enrique (Henry) Horta was born the third child of the Horta Family in Ventura California. He lived in various places such as, Los Angeles, San Diego, Mexico, Germany, Mauritius, New Zealand, Japan and Jordan. While spending some of his teen years in Mexico he learned about survival and the importance of appreciating and doing the best of what resources he had. When he returned to California he was a skinny kid with dreams and plans to be a Pilot, traveler and adventurer. His wild dreams of becoming an Astronaut and going to the moon where replaced by more realistic dreams such as wanting to become an Airline Pilot. When he turned 18 years old he parted from his parents and had to join the working rat race starting out as a bag-boy at a local Safeway store. His plans to finish College were halted by his traveling bug so he took a break from school, sold his motorcycle, and went back-packing to Europe with only $1,000 Dollars in his pocket, a Euro-Pass train Ticket for a month, and a return airplane ticket home. Unexpected fatherhood in Germany at a young age made him become more responsible and serious about his dreams. When he returned to California he was now a young family man while working as a carpenter in construction and attending evening University and Flight School on weekends. His positive thinking methods, scholarships, grants, and student loans paid off and he graduated with an Airway Science Degree in addition to all his Pilot ratings and Certificates. Thereafter, his life became more of an adventure and he travelled around the world working for various Airlines as a Contract Pilot.

Hair-raising descriptions of aerial combat as seen from the cockpit of a fighter jet Thoughtful reflections on what it meant to fight in Vietnam As the Vietnam War raged thousands of miles away, Mike McCarthy completed his flight training in the United States, eager to get into the war and afraid it would end before he could participate. He needn't have worried. By 1967, he was flying his F-4 Phantom II fighter with the U.S. Air Force's 433rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, also known as Satan's Angels. Before his tour ended, McCarthy completed 124 missions during the intense air war over North Vietnam and Laos and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross. His memoir recreates the horror and exhilaration of air combat.