European Top Gun: The Tactical Leadership Programme: Nato’s Advanced Aircrew Training School from the Cold War and Beyond

“This thick volume details every aspect of the planes, operators, combat generation, and even ground equipment of the TLP. The authors let the participants tell their own stories.” – The Journal of the Air Force Historical Foundation

The Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP), founded in 1978, is one of Europe's longest-running military training programs, focused on improving the tactical leadership and flying capability of NATO air forces. Its primary goal is to enhance interoperability between NATO members and provide a flying laboratory for new tactical employment concepts.

With ten founding member countries—Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States—the TLP has trained thousands of pilots from various European and North American air forces. Over the decades, it has adapted to four technological generations of aircraft, training pilots during the Cold War, the post-Berlin Wall era, and through the rise of global terrorism.

The book covers the history of the TLP, detailing its training syllabus, course rigor, and evolving air bases. It also features interviews with commanding officers, highlighting the importance of skilled commanders for leading multinational air formations. Veteran non-commissioned officers discuss the coordination of diverse teams across languages and cultures.

Having been the editor of numerous aviation and military magazines, including Defence Now, SALVADOR MAFÉ HUERTAS, has written thousands of articles on Defence topics. He has also had some eighteen books published in Spain, Germany, France, the United States and the United Kingdom. He has flown on numerous occasions with the Spanish air forces, the Russian Air Force, the US Navy and the US Marines. He has been awarded the Medal for Aeronautical Merit and the Medal for Naval Merit.

RAFAEL TREVIÑO MARTINEZ is a retired Aeronautical Engineer, who lives in Alicante. Has worked most of his professional career as MRO Manager in the former Spanish company Helicópteros del Sureste, S.A. specializing in turbine helicopters but also has worked with a wide range of fixed wing aircraft as C-130, CN-235, C-212, Beech King Air Series and less frequent models as PZL Wilgas and OA-7 Opticas. In addition to his career in all aspects of aviation, he is interested in military history and archaeology.