Friday Morning Talks: Phew! That Was Close – With Air Marshal GA ‘Black’ Robertson

Join us at the Museum for our Friday morning talk, where Air Marshal (Retd) GA ‘Black’ Robertson will be returning to speak about some extraordinary individual’s experiences that are featured in his latest book ‘Flying Through the Ranks’.

Popular speaker Air Marshal Black Robertson returns on Friday 8 November with another fascinating talk:  Phew – That Was Close! It’s based on his latest book, Flying Through the Ranks, where contributors from a Marshal of the RAF to a Junior Technician tell a series of extraordinary stories that run the gamut of risk-taking from the Cold War to the Balkans.

To give you a flavour of some eye-opening experiences, you’ll hear of a Lightning first-tourist who succumbs to the ‘press-on spirit’. In the Falklands a calculated gamble puts tanker crews in grave danger, while a brilliant, almost equally risky piece of improvisation averts potential disaster for a young Hunter pilot. Then from Kosovo comes the tale of an astonishing helicopter escape. There are engineer stories too, not least those from a UK base seemingly prone to serious accidents. Central to so many of these riveting tales is the bond between those who fly and those who support them on the ground – as is the most important factor of them all: sheer good fortune. Don’t miss this enthralling illustrated presentation.

About the speaker

Air Marshal GA ‘Black’ Robertson CBE BA FRAeS FRSA RAF (Retd)

‘Black’ Robertson joined the RAF in 1963, instantly acquiring the nickname that’s remained with him ever since. After 3 years at the RAF College, Cranwell, he spent the next three decades in flying, staff and command appointments including tours of duty in the USA, Germany and the Falkands. He flew all the RAF’s front line fighter aircraft and also qualified as a helicopter pilot. A trustee of the David Vaisey Awards, a Cranfield Trust mentor and an ambassador for the National Spitfire Monument, www.nationalspitfireproject, he now devotes his time mainly to lecturing and writing and has appeared at the Cheltenham Literature Festival and the Gloucester History Festival. Flying Through the Ranks is his fourth book; for more information, see www.blackrobertson.com.

It will take place in the Museum’s Learning Centre for those with Museum admission or Annual Membership.

Advance booking required – please reserve your place via the link below.

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