February 1st, 2010 at 6:03 am - Visited 17 times, 1 so far today

A ground-breaking and in its time a controversial BBC documentary following the lives of a group of men who apply with the RAF to become fighter pilots. Fighter Pilot shocked the RAF by showing a young officer at home eating baked beans. The situation seems bizarre now: The pilot wore jeans that had been ironed, a shirt, with a tie, but no jacket. Fighter Pilot was a hit with the viewers, but those in charge were outraged and in the fall-out prohibited officers from living off-barracks for several years. Fighter Pilots acquired mythical stature within the RAF, leaving a deep-seated distrust of television, especially as colleagues of the pilots featured 25 years ago are now in charge, and remember the spat with the BBC clearly. The BBC producer of Fighter Pilots – Colin Strong – was able to gain a unique insight into the methods of the RAF, even going to the lengths of learning to fly a Jet Provost trainer, eventually going solo. Produced and broadcast by the BBC in 8 x 30 minute episodes between 9 September – 28 October 1981