Philip Keeble

Patrolling the Cold War Skies: Reheat Sunset.

A book of adventure and daredevil hijinks set within the framework of the Cold War and told through the lens of the RAF ‘Pilot’s Flying Log Book’. Philip Keeble’s logbooks cover ten types of aircraft from 1965 when he learned to fly in a Chipmunk trainer – with headings ‘Death Dive’, ‘How to (Nearly) Lose a Student’ and ‘Stratospheric’ – right through to flying the Bulldog, Jet Provost, Folland Gnat, Canberra, Jaguar, Hawk, Hunter, Phantom and Tornado F3 fighter in 1994. These true tales are told as anecdotal yarns, ones that put flesh on those logbook bare bones in an exciting, amusing and self-deprecating way. Gripping narratives stir up memories of escapades and the events leading up to them. Exciting sorties, dangerous emergencies, stupid moments, funny occurrences and operational practices, but also stories that contain the balance and contrast of operating in the Cold War. The author got into more than a few scrapes. He flew very high, very low and very fast with a foolhardiness that at times was culpable and shocking...

Per Ardua: Training an RAF Phantom Crew.

Gloriously illustrated with previously unpublished photographs, Per Ardua celebrates the 60th anniversary of the F-4 Phantom

Co-written by a former pilot/navigator and best-selling authors of The Phantom in Focus, Fighters over the Falklands, Tornado F3 in Focus, Tornado in Pictures: The Multi Role Legend, Operational Test: Honing the Edge and Patrolling the Cold War Skies: Reheat Sunset

Philip Keeble and David Gledhill are rightly considered to be the leading Cold War authors and authoritative figures on aviation.

Flying the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom was a young man’s dream, but the path from ‘Civvy Street’ to operational on a fighter squadron was long, arduous and beset with obstacles.

To succeed meant the chance to fly one of the most iconic combat aircraft that ever took to the air; however, not every fledgling aviator who began the journey fulfilled their ambition to wear the coveted ‘Op. badge’.

Per Ardua: describes how Cold War aircrew assimilated the skills needed to fly and fight the complex fighter jet. It follows the progress through every stage and explains why it cost millions to train each pilot and navigator.

Philip Keeble and David Gledhill, both former Phantom aircrew, recount the challenges and emotions encountered during the rigorous training process in a frank yet light-hearted way that will leave you wondering how anyone achieved the goal.

Philip Keeble was born in 1947 in Beaconsfield, England. Educated in Slough and Fareham, he started work as an industrial chemist before leaving to join the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary. In 1965, Keeble was accepted for pilot training with the RAF and had a 28-year career in the service, flying reconnaissance and combat aircraft in a wide range of overseas theatres. On leaving the forces, he became a civilian military simulator instructor in the UK and Saudi Arabia. He was ordained as a deacon in Wales in 2013 (retired ).

More details can be found on the website:philipkeeble.com