One woman’s extraordinary journey to the front line of the RAF

When Mandy Hickson joined the Royal Air Force, she entered a world where few women had flown before. Fuelled by determination and a lifelong dream to take to the skies, she overcame repeated rejection, intense training, and the challenges of operating in a male-dominated environment to become one of the first female pilots to fly the Tornado GR4 on the front line.

From combat missions over Iraq to the split-second decisions that define life in the cockpit, Mandy’s story is one of resilience, courage and unwavering belief.

Told with honesty, warmth and humour, An Officer, Not a Gentleman is an inspiring reminder that with enough grit and purpose, even the most unlikely dreams can take flight.