Flying Soldiers

Becoming an army helicopter pilot involves a rigorous 12 months of training with the Army Air Corps. Tying in with a BBC2 television series, this book follows ten soldiers from different ranks and regiments of the Army, pursuing their Wings. It focuses both on the technical skills and on the mental courage needed to transform them into front-line fighters flying killing machines. The book runs consecutively through the three stages of the training, beginning in February with the Chipmunk Phase when the soldiers are taught the basics of airmanship in small fixed-wing prop planes. In June the Rotary Phase begins, and they learn to fly Gazelle helicopters. After 11 hours of basic training they are expected to fly solo. The course becomes military in October, with the Advanced Rotary Phase; the trainees learn to direct artillery fire and to fly at night using vision goggles. As the course draws nearer to its culmination, the pressure increases. The crucial "tactics week" is assessed by military examiners, and is swiftly followed by the Final Handling Test - one dramatic hour which will determine each soldier's future.