Naval Aviator

“A fascinating insight into life as a Cold War naval helicoper pilot.” —Rowland White, bestselling author of Phoenix Squadron

Chris Taylor has had a very successful career as a Royal Navy officer, helicopter pilot, test pilot and instructor. Naval Aviator explains why Chris wanted to become a pilot and how he achieved that through the Royal Navy and Fleet Air Arm.

Following the, perhaps misleading, advice of his local careers office, Chris joined the Royal Navy on a University Cadetship which required him to serve initially as a watchkeeping and navigation officer before he could sub-specialize as a Westland Wasp and subsequently a Westland Lynx pilot. This book covers each appointment or ship that Chris served in, providing an account of the many life-threatening and stressful situations he faced. He describes the operating environment of a small ship's flight, including flying in extremely poor weather conditions and high sea states. In addition to numerous close calls as an aviator, Chris was involved in four major collisions at sea. Other major life and death assignments include his encounters with armed Chinese patrol boats and soldiers, getting kidnapped by a French trawler, and protecting the Royal Yacht from the threat of Libyan gunboats.

All of these accidents, incidents and adventures are fully described set alongside the challenges of trying to maintain a normal domestic life. Naval Aviator accurately captures the ups and downs of life as a Royal Navy Officer and Fleet Air Arm pilot of the Cold War and will be a good read for anyone interested in naval or aviation history. It is also an ideal book for aviators, aspiring aviators, service veterans and anyone who is considering such a career.