Matt Hall takes us inside the mind of a combat fighter pilot

Extended interview: Former fighter pilot, Matt Hall, tells us how he mentally prepared himself when flying in the Middle East and how you can train the fear away.

Matt Hall pictured during his military flying days. Photo: Supplied Source: Supplied

Matt Hall was one of Australia's most elite combat fighter pilots and rose to the top of the ranks in the Australian Air Force.

A former Wing Commander fighter pilot in the RAAF he went on exchange with the US defence force just three months after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It was during his time there that he flew into combat in the Middle East.

"You know you spend your whole life as a fighter pilot training for that combat role," he tells Insight.

But despite all the natural skill and hours of training, things can always go wrong in war.

Hall explains how he managed to keep his cool, even when faced with the most challenging tasks.

And Hall, along with former UK firefighter Aldo Diana, who was involved in the Grenfell Tower fire, believe you can train the fear away when you put your life on the line for your career.

You can watch the full episode, Nerves of Steel, here: