About Mandy Hickson

Former RAF Fast-Jet Pilot

Finding a love of flying early in life, Mandy fought hard to achieve her ambition to be a Royal Air Force pilot. She was only the second woman to fly the Tornado GR4 on the front line, amassing over thirty years experience within aviation, completing three tours of duty and 45 missions over Iraq during that time.

Mandy is a highly demanded keynote speaker across a range of business sectors, where she talks with humour and great passion to inspire those around her. She has been invited to share her insights with some of the most successful organisations across the world where she describes the strategies & behaviours that can adopted when the stakes are at their highest. She has a wealth of experience to share from working in a male dominated environment, from battling imposter syndrome to juggling life as a working mother of two young children. As a coach, mentor and facilitator she inspires others, covering the core areas of human performance factors; decision making, communication, leadership, behaviour, workload, conflict, fatigue and stress management. 

Since leaving the RAF, she has continued her support for the services in the Volunteer Reserve (VR), flying on the Air Experience Flight for many years, passing on her experience and enjoyment of flying to Air Cadets. She has enjoyed her role on the board of trustees at the Victory Services Club in London, as a school governor and as an ambassador for sport for Hampshire. A keen sportswoman in her spare time, Mandy enjoys playing tennis, spinning, cycling and hill walking. She recently summited Kilimanjaro on a fundraising expedition with twenty women from all over the world.

She has recently launched her bestselling book, ‘An Officer, not a gentleman’, her inspirational journey to become a pioneering female fighter pilot.