JET ART GALLERY PRESENTS

AUTHORS’ CORNER

The people behind the stories.

Meet the pilots, writers and historians whose books preserve the experiences of military aviation. Discover the people behind the pages — and the remarkable stories they tell.

BROWSE AVIATION BOOKS

FEATURED AUTHOR

THE BOOK
Typhoon book cover by Mike Sutton

Typhoon

The inside story of an RAF fighter squadron at war, told by its commanding officer.

EXPLORE TYPHOON

THE AUTHORMike Sutton OBE RAF fighter pilot, squadron commander and author.

Mike Sutton OBEMike Sutton OBE, second photograph

Mike Sutton served as an RAF fast-jet pilot, flying the Eurofighter Typhoon and commanding No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron during operations against ISIS in 2015.

His career brought together operational flying, leadership and the responsibility of preparing aircrew for demanding missions. In Typhoon, Mike takes readers inside a frontline squadron, describing the pressures of command, the people behind the aircraft and the reality of modern air operations.

It is a first-hand account revealing the human side of one of the RAF's most capable combat aircraft.

MEET ALL OUR AUTHORS

Discover every author represented in the Aviation Book Collection, with direct links to their books.

Andrew Brookes

Explores the Canberra through the voices of those who flew and tested it.

Canberra Boys by Andrew Brookes, featuring the English Electric Canberra on the cover.

Books: Canberra Boys

Tony Blackman

Preserves the experiences of Britain’s maritime and V-bomber communities.

A signed book copy of Nimrod Boys by Tony Blackman and Joe Kennedy, featuring the Hawker Siddeley Nimrod in flight.
Book/poster cover for 'V Force Boys' featuring Tony Blackman & Anthony Wright with aircraft imagery and red panel design
The front cover of the aviation book Victor Boys, featuring a Handley Page Victor K2 tanker in flight during the Falklands War.
The front cover of the aviation book Valiant Boys, featuring a Vickers Valiant B1 bomber in its classic anti-flash white nuclear deterrent livery.
The front cover of the aviation book Vulcan Boys, showing an Avro Vulcan in its camouflage livery taking off with its delta wings clearly visible.

Books: Nimrod Boys · V Force Boys · Victor Boys · Valiant Boys · Vulcan Boys

Steve Bond

Draws on interviews with over 40 veterans of Britain’s pioneering jet fighter.

A copy of the book Meteor Boys by Steve Bond, featuring a Gloster Meteor jet fighter on the cover.

Books: Meteor Boys

Ian Hall

Brings the experiences of fast-jet pilots and ground crews to life.

A copy of the book Tornado Boys by Ian Hall, featuring the Panavia Tornado strike aircraft on the cover.
A copy of the book Jaguar Boys by Ian Hall, featuring the SEPECAT Jaguar strike jet on the cover.

Books: Tornado Boys · Jaguar Boys

Bob Marston

A former Harrier pilot charting the aircraft’s operational evolution.

A copy of the book Harrier Boys Volume One by Bob Marston, featuring the Harrier jump jet in flight.
Buy Harrier Boys Volume Two: New Technology, New Threats, New Tactics book. Explore the 224-page history of the Harrier and Sea Harrier FA2 from 1990 to 2010. Shop now.

Books: Harrier Boys: Volume One · Harrier Boys: Volume Two

Richard Pike

Collects unforgettable first-hand tales of Lightning and Phantom crews.

The front cover of the aviation book Lightning Boys, showing an English Electric Lightning
The front cover of the aviation book Lightning Boys 2, featuring a dramatic image of an RAF English Electric Lightning interceptor.
A copy of the book Phantom Boys by Richard Pike, featuring the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom on the cover.

Books: Lightning Boys · Lightning Boys 2 · Phantom Boys

Graham Pitchfork

Recounts the experiences of Buccaneer aircrew across three air forces.

A copy of the book Buccaneer Boys by Graham Pitchfork, featuring the Blackburn Buccaneer in flight on the cover.

Books: Buccaneer Boys

John Peters

RAF Tornado pilot recounting captivity after being shot down in Iraq.

Book cover for 'Tornado Down' showing two RAF pilots in uniform with Union Jack patches and bold title text across the bottom.

Books: Tornado Down

John Nichol

Former RAF navigator and author whose memoir recounts the Gulf War.

Book cover for 'Tornado Down' showing two RAF pilots in uniform with Union Jack patches and bold title text across the bottom.

Books: Tornado Down

Mike Sutton OBE

Former RAF squadron commander sharing the realities of frontline Typhoon operations.

A signed book copy of Typhoon by Mike Sutton OBE, showing the cover featuring a Eurofighter Typhoon in flight.

Books: Typhoon

Air Marshal G A ‘Black’ Robertson

Connects his RAF career with his father’s wartime flying and wider service stories.

A signed book copy of Flying Through the Ranks by Air Marshal GA "Black" Robertson, featuring a hardback cover with RAF aircraft.
A signed book copy of Fighters in the Blood by Air Marshal GA "Black" Robertson, detailing his and his father's RAF careers

Books: Flying Through The Ranks · Fighters in the Blood

Mandy Hickson

Former RAF Tornado pilot recounting her journey to frontline fast-jet flying.

A signed book copy of An Officer Not a Gentleman by Mandy Hickson, featuring a cover with a Tornado fast jet.

Books: An Officer Not a Gentleman

EXPLORE THE BOOK COLLECTION

Discover aviation memoirs, first-hand accounts and specialist histories.

BROWSE ALL BOOKS