Book

Life of a Concorde Pilot: From The Orphanage to The Edge of Space

2024

Synopsis

An inspirational memoir from John Tye, who started life given up for adoption and went on to become one of only 134 British Airways Concorde pilots. John Tye relates his memoirs in an entertaining and irrepressible style that typifies his approach to life, describing intimately how he managed a rare medical condition affecting his legs, but still went on to fly the world’s only supersonic airliner. A true insight to the life of an airline pilot, with many amusing anecdotes along the way, it follows his ups and downs from his career on the ground at BA to flying with Dan Air, back to BA and Boeing 747s, Concorde, Airbus and 777s, through to Covid and his reluctant retirement at the end of 2022. Full of the fascinating details only a pilot can give, with insights into challenges and pitfalls, detailed explanations of the cockpit, instruments and controls, base training and route training, this enjoyable book is a memorable journey from the orphanage to the edge of space and beyond.

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