Forging a career in a male-dominated field is never easy—but former RAF pilot Mandy Hickson has spent her life doing exactly that. From the skies of Iraq to school assemblies in the UK, her story of persistence, passion, and leadership continues to inspire people across industries.
The Dream Takes Flight
Mandy’s aviation journey began young. At 14, she joined the air cadets and set her sights on becoming a fast-jet pilot. By 17, she had a private pilot’s licence—before she could even drive. But her path to the cockpit wasn’t straightforward. After initially failing the RAF’s aptitude tests—designed largely around male candidates—she was accepted as an air traffic controller and later proved herself again to earn a spot in pilot training.
“Why didn’t I challenge that I’d failed? Maybe I didn’t question authority back then—but I was just one of the lucky ones.”
Pushing Boundaries in the Sky
Fast-jet training was brutal. Mandy had to keep up physically and mentally while navigating a space where women were still an exception. From flying the Hawk to becoming one of the first women to pilot the Tornado GR4 on combat missions, she repeatedly proved her ability—logging 45 missions over Iraq and serving 17 years in total.
Yet sexism was ever-present. Jokes about makeup and parking, subtle digs and assumptions—Mandy weathered it all, letting her performance silence the critics.
Life After Combat
After leaving the RAF, Mandy pivoted to motivational speaking, determined to share the resilience and leadership skills the military had taught her. Her talks connect with corporate teams, schools, and individuals—especially women looking to break barriers of their own.
She also mentors through the RAF’s Flying Scholarship programme and recently released her bestselling memoir, An Officer, Not a Gentleman. For Mandy, the book is another way to give back—to show others that they too can push through doubt and discrimination to reach new heights.
“I've always been extremely driven. I really enjoy storytelling and showing people what’s possible when you believe in yourself.”
