Breaking Barriers at 30,000 Feet, with RAF Fast Jet Pilot Mandy Hickson

This week on WKC Spill The Tea, we’re spilling the tea with Mandy Hickson, former Royal Air Force fast jet pilot and the first woman to fly the Tornado GR4 on frontline operations.

Across a remarkable 25-year military career, Mandy flew 45 missions over Iraq while navigating the intense pressure of a male-dominated environment all alongside raising a young family.

In this powerful conversation, Mandy opens up about what it was really like to be judged as “a woman” rather than a pilot, the pressure to prove herself, and the realities of balancing ambition, fear, and family life.

Mandy is the author of An Officer, Not a Gentleman and An Officer and Her Gentleman, written with her husband Craig, a Royal Navy and commercial airline pilot. 

She’s now a highly sought-after motivational speaker, sharing lessons on leadership, resilience, and challenging stereotypes.

✨ In this episode, we ask:

• Was flying fast jets always the dream?

• What did it feel like being told to be “more feminine”?

• Can women really do it all — or do we have to compromise?

• How do you push through fear when it really matters?

• What cockpit lessons translate into everyday life?

• What advice would Mandy give her younger self?

💬 Plus, we share a menopausal brain fog moment from one of our listeners, catch up on our week with you, and leave you with some beautiful inspiration to carry you through the week.

🎧 A must-listen episode about courage, confidence, and owning who you are — both in the cockpit and beyond.

Stay in touch

Mandy Hickson:

W: www.mandyhickson.com

I: @mandyhicksonspeaker

FB: @MandyHicksonSpeaker

LinkedIn: @Mandy Hickson

Books: An Officer Not A Gentleman. The Inspirational; Journey of A Female Fighter Pilot. Mandy Hickson. 2020. Independently Published.

An Officer And Her Gentleman. Two Aviators, Two Cockpits, One Journey. Mandy & Craig Hickson. 2025. Published by Hickson & Hickson Ltd. 

Both Books are available online and also from: www.hicksonbooks.com

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