The Moment That Made Me | Mandy Hickson

[@yoof01]

A really interesting interview, thanks for the insight Mandy. I joined 74(F) as their LAC Ops Clerk in 1999, a really terrific insight into Pilot training. The ‘Bishop’ (OC 74) encouraged me to try and go for a Commission in the Pilot branch, he would put me forward, and after thinking about it for a short time I declined - a lack of confidence, plus I was very much a 19yr old boy and couldn’t envisage that kind of transition. In Trade Group 9 I later would take similar aptitude tests at Cranwell, and passed. I left as a Cpl 9yrs in, after starting flying training in civvy street. 17yrs flying airliners all over the world I still look back fondly at what I learned hanging around Mil Pilots, and still do fly with ex Service Pilots now. As a Junior Rank in the RAF there’ll always be a bit of imposter syndrome 😂 even approaching my third decade in the air. Truly interesting insight, and a ton of respect Mandy.

[@terryoliveira8797]

Yoof01 just curious where did you do your trade training, and when did you complete it? I completed my flight ops course in 99.

[@Revup1]

Brilliant. The humility to realise that we all need support. The importance of the team. And the realisation that we all learn differently and how that needs to be incorporated into training. The gifts that females bring to the combat space needs much more recognition. That's not a plea to have females in every role, but to have the best person, regadless of gender, using their gifts for the good of all. Thank you for your service Mandy.

[@heatherterry8676]

Such an inspirational woman. 😊

[@Pusserdoc]

I think the greatest thing that got you through came from what your course mates thought of you: they clearly believed in you at a time when you felt a bit shaky. If they thought less of you, they wouldn't have bothered. That says so much that is good about you just as much as it does about them. Thanks for your service

[@adienowed6366]

My elder daughter has pursued an extremely successful career for 20 years in the RAF. She echoes all the sentiments expressed here by Mandy.

[@jf5336]

Great interview. Amazing that her classmates were willing to go so far to help her.

[@wbarker3]

“Often the moment that makes us is the moment where we have support from other people.” After a career flying in the military and civilian world, I agree completely. Mandy’s squadron commander was right that your teammates are everything, in flying and in life. What a wonderful interview!

[@timmurphy5541]

I think this shows that there's more than one way to learn something. Look at how cheap it was to do this compared to flying to learn it!

[@michaelteague3190]

Well done! Much respect!

[@outlawcatcher1]

Bless you marm, full of respect, thank you for your service 🫡

[@chrisfox3161]

It's a great instructing technique to reduce a complex procedure down into something you are much more familiar with. Good job you knew how to ride a bike.

[@johntaylor9823]

As you Brits say...brilliant. Someone should make a movie about this. It's about team and selflessness and camaraderie, something we need more of in our world today. Well done.

[@380Scania]

Mandy is a legend and was a great Tonka pilot. Per Ardua Ad Astra

[@timmurphy5541]

Thank you for this excellent video. I find this story inspiring. I have a daughter and like everyone I hope for her to have a great future so I love hearing about someone who seems to have done it.

[@flashbazbo3932]

I always enjoyed flying with women. After 30 years of flying mostly with guys, it was always refreshing to fly with women because they came at the task with a different point of view, a different approach to the task at hand. My USAF Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) class started 12 women in 1981, the largest to date. We graduated all 12 and were proud of their achievement. I flew with women in the Air Force and then later in the airlines. Mandy is right: Flying is a team relationship and those bonds are real and life changing. Good for her in sticking to it and succeeding.

[@leslieaustin151]

That was VERY interesting. Thank you.

[@alanartt3138]

When the Instructor said "Wow you were like a different pilot, what has happened, I hope you replied "I just got on my bike" 🙂

[@michaelw7438]

A wonderful story.

[@GWAYGWAY1]

I had to take the Biggin Hill aptitude tests in 1974, one of many and I noticed that those around me were clicking around everything and I did not but after the end I was 1 from 35 to pass the testing, however I later failed and eyesight test at the medical. So nobody got through the selection.

[@TheRealPolecat]

Respect.

[@emmettlee3]

Awesome

[@parrotraiser6541]

That story would make a great movie.

[@crawford323]

I used my bike when training for an Instrument rating practicing entrance to holding patterns. It worked really well so I can see formation flight training with bicycles can be beneficial as well. Also the bank of a turn for an airplane and a bicycle feels similar too.

[@mothmagic1]

A fine example of yeam work. They may have paseed amd achieved their abition but didn't want you to fail and did what they could to ensure your pass.

[@josephking6515]

I flew with a guy who gained his CPL at exactly 200 hours and when he applied to join the RNZAF was told he didn't have much of an aptitude for flying. I bet it was they didn't think he'd be good _hofficer_ material. I also flew with someone who did make it in and he was one of those jolly likeable popular people but his flying ability was nothing to write home about, nothing bad but not super fantastic. It's all about personality and how you score on the written tests. A certain airline had two applicants. One had 300 hours on a Cessna 172 and an Instrument Rating. The other one had 2,500 hours with just under 2,000 hours multi single pilot IFR time. The airline took the 300 hour Cessna guy and told the other one to go and get a few more hours before they would consider him again. 🤷‍♂

[@tawektawek3838]

What a wonderful example to feminists everywhere. An woman who has achieved a great deal, but there's not a hint of doing down men. And someone who understands that honest humility can complement strength.

[@CornwallGBF]

Lovely

[@WilliamBong4567]

Moved on to a just, humane, and infinitely more powerful force.

[@lkjh861]

Using bicycles to train air maneuvres is actually EXACTLY how the RAF trained pilots during WW2 ~ that there wasn't a quaint one-off, it was a time-honered method that won the Battle of Britain for the RAF... 🚲🔜🛩 👈😉

[@AVMamfortas]

What she is describing (other than her own reactions) is MEN at work. The vast majority of pilots in the RAF are MEN. They think and act like Men. They have empathy, nurturing, they care. Would a group of women help a man??

[@kirstinmorrell]

We do it every single day in every walk of life.

[@PopulismIsForBottomFeeders]

When do you apply to become one, AVM? Gotta be honest, I don't like your chances...

[@knowahnosenothing4862]

The guys jeopardizing their own positions is what I find the most fascinating. Now it's gone so far the guys are being discriminated against.

[@kirstinmorrell]

It would have been the same if it was a guy. If they helped another guy they would have been jeopardizing their own positions.

[@chrisbray-o7b]

The moment that made me….oh yeah I don’t talk about it, or make it public and lord it up

[@stevef6655]

You do realise that this is one of a series of interviews of military personnel asking them for their defining career moments. They are not bragging to their mates down the pub.

[@lachlanchester8142]

This is a podcast series that asks people what lessons can be learnt and what personal development comes from dangerous or exciting experiences, maybe you need to read between the lines a bit more, or actually watch the videos properly

[@OggyGTA]

Who said she didn't talk about it, or make it public? Why wouldn't she be honest about her experiences. She's not shy coming forward and that's great because as she says, she wants to leave the ladder down, to show women that of course they can do just as well as men in this field.

[@BernieTheBoxer]

Fighter pilots are not humble shrinking violets, they simply cannot afford to be. Mandy was standing on the shoulders of excellent ladies who were going through at the same time I did who were denied the chance to do fast jet track - she had to fight through a lot of flack that was going her way for no good reason and went on to be a superb combat pilot who changed attitudes in the service forever.

[@stevep9221]

Every time someone bigs themselves up I with a massive sigh. Will all these ex servicemen retire gracefully and stop this ridiculousness.

[@kirstinmorrell]

It's a series of interviews that asks a specific question to help others learn and grow. What do you have against learning and growing? Clearly something, since you haven't done much of it.

[@stevep9221]

@kirstinmorrell I am an ex Sgt Maj Royal Marines with six operational tours in a fighting company in a commando unit and have an operational award. I know what I did and care not what anyone else thinks and (although having had a fantastic second career) as soon as I left the RM I was a nobody to anyone that I had not served with - that is the way it is. I would never do what these ex-servicemen and women do. They all put themselves on a pedestal to get knocked down. I will stay anonymous thank you.

[@PopulismIsForBottomFeeders]

@@stevep9221 3:1 says you only ever held rank in a War Thunder clan or something.

[@ledevin4413]

So she's a DEI hire.

[@kirstinmorrell]

Does it hurt your feelings that a woman was able to do the job? They recognized that the different groups tested differently and learned differently and they wanted to sort that out. And they did. Show me on the doll where that hurt you.

[@wor53lg50]

The virtue signaling simping in the comments section is absolutely cringe worthy ,no wonder our nation is being laughed at....go woke go Broke ..

[@relwaretep]

The reason your nation is being laughed at is because there are people in it who truly believe women should not be fighter pilots, even if they can do it.

[@wor53lg50]

@relwaretep nope, DEI is making all west look like a laughing stock and destroying it too, but hey we gonna see this equality on front line duty soon.... Then we can further our conversation!! Yes?..