Nine Lives: The Compelling Memoir of a Cold War Harrier Pilot

Chris Burwell

Feb 2023 · Tantor Media Inc · Narrated by Peter Noble

About this audiobook

Chris Burwell charts one man's career in aviation from joining the RAF in 1969 aged eighteen, to having responsibility for training pilots for the world's major airlines nearly fifty years later. After training at RAF Cranwell and RAF Valley and a tour as a flying instructor on Jet Provosts, he joined the Harrier Force, flying on front-line squadrons in the United Kingdom and Germany during the Cold War and as an instructor on the Harrier Conversion Unit. Detachments to Belize in 1977, the Falklands (twice), ejection from a Harrier GR3, introducing FLIR and NVG to the Harrier front line and operational missions in Northern Iraq are all covered in detail. After thirty years of service, he spent twelve years with Cobham, managing their Teesside base and flying the Falcon 20 on operational training for the military and the King Air 200 on international flight calibration tasks. Finally, he spent four years in Spain with Flight Training Europe (FTE) Jerez training a new generation of pilots. Through his experience as a pilot, leader, and manager gained over many years, his valuable insights into military and civilian flying operations are both engrossing and noteworthy.

About the author

Chris Burwell joined the RAF in 1969. Following a tour as the station commander, he left the RAF in 1999 to join Cobham. He spent ten years as manager of their Teesside base before joining Flight Training Europe (FTE) Jerez in Spain as head of operations in 2014. He now lives in Wiltshire.

Peter Noble is an Audie Award-winning narrator who has recorded hundreds of audiobooks and audio dramas, including the 2021 Booker Prize winner, as well as Audible and New York Times bestsellers.