Jules Thurston, 29, an RAF pilot, always thought that she would join the military one day. “I wanted to go to places that you don't get to go to in ordinary civilian life,” she says.

But her talent for flying she found almost by accident: a 17th birthday present of a flying lesson from her father, an instructor.

“He said ‘You’re actually quite good at this.’” She was awarded a scholarship to train for her pilot’s licence. “I loved the feeling of being up in the air and leaving all [my] troubles on the ground.”

After finishing A levels – and not sold on the idea of going to university – she joined the Royal Air Force and was sent to Cranwell, home of the RAF.

There are many differences between civilian and military flying while all of the rest – drills, putting rifles together, flying in formation and marching – was completely new. “Seeing people march for the first time is hilarious,” Thurston says.

Not just anyone can become an RAF pilot. Four to five people fail the course each year, she says. “They see how far they can push you.”

Thurston won best student for her abilities on fast jets, flying Tucanos at speeds of 240 knots (276 mph) at 250 feet above the ground.

At 22, keen to fly for real, she was told that her talent meant she had been selected as an instructor. She had mixed feelings about the honour. “All I wanted to do was to go out on and be on the front line. I saw this as a block, initially.”

She taught others to fly Hawk jets for three years and says that in hindsight it was a fantastic experience.

Then tactical weapons training beckoned: learning how to fly Tornados in low-level ground attacks. “You need spare mental capacity – situational awareness of airfields, speaking on the radio at the same time,” she says.

She was sent to a frontline squadron to get combat ready. “You can be asked to go and do anything, if the squadron thinks you are good enough.”

Her work now involves constant practising on fighter jets – night flying, bad weather training and preparing for operations. Becoming an RAF fighter pilot takes perserverance. Thurston has spent the best part of a decade honing her skills. “You’re constantly learning and progressing,” she says.

Now she wants to apply her experience for real. “I’m expecting to be out in Iraq in October or November. I’ve been waiting for this since I was 16 when I decided to join the military. I want to use the skills I’ve been given.”

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