Ep.182 - Hazard Spectrum with Nathan Gray

We continue our Test Pilot series with Commander Nathan Gray, who joins us to talk about his book ‘Hazard Spectrum’. With over 140 combat missions to his name, he is among the most decorated pilots in the British armed forces and we share Nathan’s journey to the top of the Fleet Air Arm, from student to F-35 Test Pilot.   But, the episode starts with the sobering account of how he walked away from an ‘unsurvivable’ crash at RAF Wittering, which sadly killed his instructor. Nathan is one of the humblest heroes we have had the pleasure to interview. He is also one of our most talented pilots, flying and test flying with the Fleet Air Arm for over two decades on various aircraft including the Harrier, F-15, F-16, F-18, and of course F-35.     His career has taken him from the Californian coast of the United States to war zones in the Middle East. Nathan was part of the ground-breaking F-35 development program and conducted the first-ever F-35 launch and recovery on the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers. He has also qualified as a commando green beret, paratrooper, and forward air controller.   This is an unmissable episode!   Recorded 15th August 2023  You can buy a copy of Hazard Spectrum at the Xtended bookshop through this link https://uk.bookshop.org/a/11161/9781035402519   Contact Us: [email protected]    Nathan Gray  https://www.headline.co.uk/titles/nathan-gray/hazard-spectrum/9781035402519/   Please leave us a review on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or your podcast playing app. Here is a link to all the pod players https://pod.link/1611149544    Aviation Xtended Partners  Royal Aeronautical Society https://www.aerosociety.com/  Global Aviation Resource http://www.globalaviationresource.com/v2/  XTPMedia https://www.xtpmedia.co.uk/  Ellie Carter https://twitter.com/dragongirl94  Show Supporters  The Aviation Historian http://www.theaviationhistorian.com/  Aviation Enthusiasts Book Club https://www.facebook.com/groups/359410134220076  Xtended Podcast family  AeroSociety https://www.aerosociety.com/events/catch-up-on-events/video-audio-archive/   AirplaneGeeks http://www.airplanegeeks.com/   PCDU https://www.planecrazydownunder.com/   Wings Over New Zealand Show http://cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZ_Show.html  You can shop through this Amazon link (No cost to you but a small benefit to us:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/?tag=xtenaeroradi-21&linkCode=ur1