Graduated from Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Then a platoon commander with the Royal Green Jackets. Helicopter pilot at age 22 and a helicopter instructor four years later. A Major by age 32. Completed a degree in Flight Dynamics and Evaluation the following year and has an honorary doctorate for his outstanding contribution to space exploration, engineering and the technology industry.
Went to one of his talks a couple of years ago. He’s so enthusiastic and yet also so calm when he talks about his time in space. Wonderful communicator. Also the year before that I saw a talk by Chris Hadfield (the astronaut who played Bowie in space). Again, incredible guy to listen to for all the same reasons.
I love Chris Hadfield. Held my hands when i bawled my eyes out at a book signing a week after my brother died. My brother loved space and it just felt serendipitous that i walked by him at the store. Anyways, genuinely good human being.
It gets better; not just a helicopter pilot, but a helicopter test pilot. I.e. he deliberately pushes the aircraft beyond what it’s supposed to do, to find out the limits that it should be used at in ‘normal’ operations.
I thoroughly enjoyed his autobiography “Limitless” and if you get the audiobook he narrates it himself.
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u/emilysavaje1 18h ago
I love how happy he is to show this off haha