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The Sky is Not the Limit: the Life of Australia’s Top Gun
The action-packed true story of Australia's own top gun pilot, Matt Hall, THE SKY IS NOT THE LIMIT takes us from Matt's beginnings as a young boy growing up in Newcastle, with not much focus or ambition, to the discovery that his destiny lay in the skies. It tells how he cracked a place in the highly disciplined and demanding RAAF training program, a gruelling mental and physical school where being an excellent pilot is just the starting point to success. When he eventually graduated it was to great acclaim - but it was also on the eve of September 11.
Matt's first assignment out of school was to fight in the Battle of Baghdad, where he would for the first time experience real fear, death and loss.
After the war - and almost on a whim - he entered the Red Bull Air Race, the most competitive air race in the world. Despite a spectacular crash on the water, he finished in third place, becoming the first rookie to ever stand on the podium.
Now flying for himself, Matt Hall has become one of the best known pilots in the world of aviation. His story is a rare glimpse into a normally closed off world, where skill, quick thinking and a cool head can mean the difference between life and death.
Matt's first assignment out of school was to fight in the Battle of Baghdad, where he would for the first time experience real fear, death and loss.
After the war - and almost on a whim - he entered the Red Bull Air Race, the most competitive air race in the world. Despite a spectacular crash on the water, he finished in third place, becoming the first rookie to ever stand on the podium.
Now flying for himself, Matt Hall has become one of the best known pilots in the world of aviation. His story is a rare glimpse into a normally closed off world, where skill, quick thinking and a cool head can mean the difference between life and death.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 29, 2013
2 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 21, 2018
Well-written an easy to read book which chronicle's the life of Australian aviator Matt Hall. The early chapters as he is applying for Pilot's Course and working his way up through the various aircraft conversions are particularly good as they give an insight as to how he is able to set goals and follow through with them.
April 19, 2013
Matt Hall leapt into the public eye in 2009 when his performances as a `rookie' on the Red Bull Air Race circuit captured the imagination of fans both here and abroad. At the time he was routinely referred to as a former air force fighter pilot, or "Top Gun" to further boost his profile to the global audience. However, these two catch-cries do not even scratch the surface of the real story of the man behind the public profile. His new book, "The Sky is Not the Limit", certainly does.
I have met Matt a number of times, interviewed him and even been fortunate enough to fly with him. Even so, in such settings and time-frames, one can only ever hope to touch upon anyone's life story. In the case of Matt Hall, it is a fascinating tale with a great deal of depth and substance. It is not all aerobatics and air races, far from it; this is a very open, very genuine look at what makes Matt tick.
The true origins of Matt's high profile stem from humble beginnings. He makes a point of stressing throughout his biography that he is an ordinary bloke who has had amazing experiences and knowing Matt I can vouch for the sincerity of this sentiment. Nevertheless, it has been a remarkable journey. He has risen to the highest echelons of the Australian air forces active fighter pilots, seen action over Iraq with the United States Air Force and finished on the Red Bull podium in his first year.
However, what elevates this book to a higher level are the insights beyond the headlines. There have been lows as well as the publicised highs and Matt is openly honest about these times. Furthermore, he deals with the human aspect of his disappointments and near-death dealings with a candid, forthright manner. It is written with the thorough honesty of a post-sortie de-briefing, but in the relaxed language and style of a boy from Newcastle. He has dodged a missile with his name on it and come closer to the waters at Windsor in his race plane that he ever wanted. In relating events such as these, Matt describes them with real words and real emotions before reflecting upon the ramifications. Herein, lies the book's strength.
For this is not a book solely for aviators. It is a book for people with goals and people with dreams. It is about maintaining focus amongst distraction and a positive outlook in the face of adversity. This biography is at times a text-book in motivation and achievement, wrapped in the clothes of an aviator's amazing journey. For that reason, readers of many varied backgrounds will truly appreciate that "The Sky is Not the Limit".
Owen Zupp
Author: '50 Tales of Flight'
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BKEDNMC
I have met Matt a number of times, interviewed him and even been fortunate enough to fly with him. Even so, in such settings and time-frames, one can only ever hope to touch upon anyone's life story. In the case of Matt Hall, it is a fascinating tale with a great deal of depth and substance. It is not all aerobatics and air races, far from it; this is a very open, very genuine look at what makes Matt tick.
The true origins of Matt's high profile stem from humble beginnings. He makes a point of stressing throughout his biography that he is an ordinary bloke who has had amazing experiences and knowing Matt I can vouch for the sincerity of this sentiment. Nevertheless, it has been a remarkable journey. He has risen to the highest echelons of the Australian air forces active fighter pilots, seen action over Iraq with the United States Air Force and finished on the Red Bull podium in his first year.
However, what elevates this book to a higher level are the insights beyond the headlines. There have been lows as well as the publicised highs and Matt is openly honest about these times. Furthermore, he deals with the human aspect of his disappointments and near-death dealings with a candid, forthright manner. It is written with the thorough honesty of a post-sortie de-briefing, but in the relaxed language and style of a boy from Newcastle. He has dodged a missile with his name on it and come closer to the waters at Windsor in his race plane that he ever wanted. In relating events such as these, Matt describes them with real words and real emotions before reflecting upon the ramifications. Herein, lies the book's strength.
For this is not a book solely for aviators. It is a book for people with goals and people with dreams. It is about maintaining focus amongst distraction and a positive outlook in the face of adversity. This biography is at times a text-book in motivation and achievement, wrapped in the clothes of an aviator's amazing journey. For that reason, readers of many varied backgrounds will truly appreciate that "The Sky is Not the Limit".
Owen Zupp
Author: '50 Tales of Flight'
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BKEDNMC
June 27, 2014
The Sky Is Not The Limit: The Life Of Australia’s Top Gun is the autobiography of RAAF Fighter Pilot and Australian Red Bull Champion, Matt Hall. It was only published last year so it is quite current.
The book starts off piquing your interest immediately, capturing you in wanting to know how this young man came to be in the highly dangerous situation he finds himself in. The book is very detailed and systematically goes through Matt’s life from the beginning up until the present day. It moves at a steady pace, and there are a few parts where you’re heart is in your mouth!
Obviously there is a great deal about flying planes, however even though i am only slightly interested in the dynamics of that, i still found it interesting to read. There was a good balance of both technical and storytelling.
I also really appreciated reading about his experience in the Battle of Baghdad. He is super honest about his feelings and his role in the combat, and how it affected him.
Overall i would definitely recommend this book if you enjoy reading autobiographies or anything to do with the subject matter (planes, the RAAF etc.) and I’m not just being biased because i am related to him!
www.readingforthemasses.wordpress.com
The book starts off piquing your interest immediately, capturing you in wanting to know how this young man came to be in the highly dangerous situation he finds himself in. The book is very detailed and systematically goes through Matt’s life from the beginning up until the present day. It moves at a steady pace, and there are a few parts where you’re heart is in your mouth!
Obviously there is a great deal about flying planes, however even though i am only slightly interested in the dynamics of that, i still found it interesting to read. There was a good balance of both technical and storytelling.
I also really appreciated reading about his experience in the Battle of Baghdad. He is super honest about his feelings and his role in the combat, and how it affected him.
Overall i would definitely recommend this book if you enjoy reading autobiographies or anything to do with the subject matter (planes, the RAAF etc.) and I’m not just being biased because i am related to him!
www.readingforthemasses.wordpress.com
July 12, 2015
What extraordinary sacrifices from his family, and a selfish lifestyle whether it be for advancement through the airforce or pursuit of individual goals in aerobatics or air racing. Very well written and held attention, hard to put down.
December 11, 2017
A really frank and honest account of how Matt managed to turn a dream into reality. Living the dream that almost every boy has growing up - this story shows the discipline and sacrifices that had to be made. Thoroughly enjoyed this honest account. And as a trainee pilot myself it was an interesting aviation read.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews