FLYING FREESTYLE: An RAF Fast Jet Pilot's Story [Hardcover]

Squadron Leader Jerry Pook MBE DFC (Author), (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2009

During a twenty-five year flying career in the RAF, Jerry Pook has flown Hunter Fighter/Ground Attack aircraft in the Gulf, Harriers in West Germany, the supersonic Starfighter with the Dutch Air Force, the Harrier in Belize, Central America and the Tornado bomber at the Tri-national Tornado Training Establishment where he trained German and Italian pilots and navigators.Jerry had a long relationship with the Harrier Fighter/Ground Attack vertical take-off aircraft. This he flew in West Germany at the height of the Cold War operating from Wildenrath and off-base operations with Field Wing operations based in the fields and woods of the German countryside. Jerry saw action during the Falklands War when based on HMS Hermes and flying one of the few RAF Harriers in the Ground Attack role in support of the troops fighting ashore. He then enjoyed flying the American-built Starfighter RF 104G during a 3 year exchange tour with the Dutch Air Force - he describes the Starfighter as ' beautiful to fly, smooth and sophisticated, supremely fast and powerful - if you took liberties with it you knew it would kill you in an instant.' After 3 years with No 1(Fighter) Squadron and again flying the Harrier he moved to the then new Tornado, flying in its bomber role. This he continued to fly operationally and in the instructional role for 13 years until grounded from military flying for medical reasons.returncharacterreturncharacter returncharacterreturncharacter REVIEWS returncharacterreturncharacter"...for real flying enthusiasts...puts you in the cockpit...well written and technically very interesting..."Speedreaders.com, 10/2010

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Pen and Sword (June 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844158241
• ISBN-13: 978-1844158249
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #357,424 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SpeedReaders.info Review, September 6, 2010

By 

Speed Readers (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: FLYING FREESTYLE: An RAF Fast Jet Pilot's Story (Hardcover)

This is a book for real flying enthusiasts. Pook has that ability to describe his remarkable flying experiences in a dramatic way that puts you in the cockpit with him. Air Vice-Marshall Ron Elder calls Pook in his Foreword "one of life's natural rebels." Clearly a natural and very able pilot, he had made it quite clear that, although a Royal Air Force College graduate with a real chance of reaching the senior ranks, his only desire was to fly. As a result he was able to fly continuously for more than a quarter of a century with no interruption of a ground tour, an extraordinary achievement, particularly for a Cranwell graduate who was expected to fly his share of desks.

There are two 8-page sections of excellently captioned b/w photos of the aeroplanes flown by Pook and locations he served in. Well written and technically very interesting, I cannot recommend this book too highly. Detailed Index.

Full review at <speedreaders.info>. Copyright 2010, Michael Jolley

5.0 out of 5 stars FLYING FREESTYLE : An RAF Fast Jet Pilot's Story, July 16, 2011

By 

Johnny Allred - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: FLYING FREESTYLE: An RAF Fast Jet Pilot's Story (Hardcover)

Jerry Pook's book is a great one to read for anyone. It's all about a man who loves flying fast jets. I loved it!. The photos round out the book. Do not pass up Jerry's first book RAF HARRIER GROUND ATTACK-FALKLANDS It's Just as good!.( Check my review of it. )