On Thursday, 31st October, the Royal Air Force Club was pleased to host a fantastic Club Dinner featuring Mandy Hickson, one of the UK’s first female fast-jet pilots and author of the memoir ‘An Officer, not a Gentleman’. It was an evening to remember as Mandy shared the remarkable story of her path to the cockpit of a Tornado GR4.

The evening began with a sparkling reception in the 601 Squadron Room, mingling over drinks before settling into the President’s Room for an exquisite three-course dinner with wine, complete with coffee and petits fours.⁠ The event was hosted by Club Trustee Dr Jo Salter MBE another pioneering figure in the Royal Air Force. Mandy captivated the room with tales of her journey, from piloting the Tornado GR4 on the front line to her post-RAF role in aviation. It was a memorable night celebrating resilience and the courage to break boundaries.⁠