RAF Flying Instructor Interview | Tug Wilson (In-Person Part 1) 

Another brilliant interview Mike. Tug is a great guest (and nice guy), a natural at telling his stories, so interesting and honest. Great insight into RAF training at that time.

I was an avid climber in my younger years, so my posting to Valley as an instructor was perfect for me, Also, my wife was born and educated on the Island. Sods law, my posting there only lasted 2 years and then it was back to Lossiemouth and Scottish mountains!

I really enjoyed reading Tugs Phantom book, he's such a humble gentleman, and l love hearing his anicdotes

Top interview Mike. Tug nails what it’s like to be a military instructor. Had many of the same experiences. Thanks Tug

Arrogance is ultimately toxic in almost every arena. Interesting to hear it was the same in the RAF. Great interview.

Tug reminds me of F/L Alan Taylor when he was RAF/USAF Exchange tour in a T-38A. Posted to ATC duty as a non-volunteer from the left-seat of a B-52G. When Tug calls Valley as “the far end of nowhere”, well Del Rio, Texas was our version of Valley. Wonderful interview. Keep ‘em coming.

Mike, I've said it before but Tug is such a self effacing guy. Had I gotten through OASC, I like to think someone like Tug just might have pulled me through........but I didn't so it's academic. He just comes across as a top guy. Your questions were brilliant too by the way. Best Dave

I did lots of training in Cival Airlines & had two very nice guys that everyone in the Airline liked & were quite good as First Officers but hopeless as Capt candidates. As Tug hinted to we called it Platous of learning (during training & I told all them they will usually stuff up 3/4 through & get passed it). There were Platous of type were pilots were fine on piston engines & turbo props for instance but no way jets. BTW After I retired years later I got the only complement I really appreciated from an ex WW2 Lancaster pilot with a DFC ( And ex Chief Airline Pilot) now in his 90's who said when he rang me to go to a Réunion- "We never had any problems with you". :o)

Great interview. Lovely to hear things from the instructor’s perspective having been taught by various QFIs in the UAS.

Amazing interviews. So interesting, could listen to Tug for hours and hours.

I've had some great nights out in the pubs of Red Wharf Bay, Anglesey. Usually following some excellent fishing trips to the island.

The arrogant pilot who got cut sounds like maverick. Makes you wonder.

How to start a Hawk Batteries on Engine master switch front and rear cockpit on Ignition switch on LP fuel pump on LP fuel cock open Check HP cock closed. Press Gas Turbine Starter button. Wait until GTS indicator shows green Then select main engine switch to on - forward position. Monitor main engine gauge - check for main engine rotation Once engine gauge reach reaches15-20% open the HP cock to idle Check for engine ignition - rising turbine temperature and increasing engine rotation speed Check GTS cuts out at 45% Nh - green indicator returns to black Open HP cock to increase speed, check engine bleed valve closes at 60% Throttle back and engine stabilises at about 55% Nh, turbine exhaust temp 350-360 deg C

I read Tug's book over the last few days. I always loved the Phantom since I read Robert Prest's book and this just added more to the whole story. Blowing up three Speys on the Phantom has to have been really bad luck, he made it sound like most of the time it was mundane. But I am surprised they all survived the drinking. It's funny that a Yorkshireman refers to Valley as 'up there' when he comes from way north of there, though as a Geordie I still think of him as a southerner ;-)