Jetfighters.dk

 

Personal details:

 

Pilot name: GEA

Country: Denmark.

Places of residence: Malta (first 18 years), Denmark (11 years), Canada (2 years), USA (1 year).

Interests: Aviation, photography, RC model flying, drawing, model aircraft and model ship building, movies, Formula 1 racing.

Occupation: Pilot, Royal Danish Air Force.

Camera: Canon 400D with 18-55mm and 100-400mm L.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short self-biography:

 

As you may have noticed by the rest of the website, I’ve always had a special interest in aviation. This started at an early stage in my life. I'm not sure what did it for me, but I always knew that I wanted to become a pilot. At the age of about 5, I saw the Italian Aerobatic Team “Frecce Tricolori” for the first time. I was rather scared when the aircraft flew low and fast over my head; however I was very impressed and fascinated. I quickly developed a dream of becoming a fighter-pilot and flying fast jets.

 

Growing up into the teenage years, I soon realised that my dream of flying military jets couldn't be achieved in Malta as the country doesn’t have an Air Force. So I started thinking about becoming a commercial pilot or Air-Traffic Controller, since those were the only options that I had. However, as time went by, and I attended the yearly air shows in Malta, it became clearer to me that I wanted to fly fast jets, and would do whatever it takes to fulfil my dream. It became more of a call rather than just a dream. At the age of 16, I started flying radio-controlled model aircraft and quickly logged over 1500 hours in about 2 years. Fortunately, my dad was just as into it as much as I was, so he took me flying my models almost every day. Flying models gave me a great understanding of aerodynamics in practise and I found out that I had talent for flying, so I was willing to take the next step.

 

So when I turned 18 (ultimo 1997), I decided to move to Denmark with my Danish girlfriend, who I had been dating for the previous 1˝ years. It was a big gamble, and I had no guarantee of achieving my dream. However, I was willing to take the risk. We got married as soon as I moved, in order for me to get the Danish citizenship, which is a requirement to joining the Royal Danish Air Force. So I soon started learning the (very difficult) Danish language and working at a warehouse to make a living. By 2002 I had taken a High-school degree in Danish and got more than the required qualifications for joining the Air Force, except for the citizenship.

I also took the glider-pilot's license, which would increase my chances of getting in the Air Force and was a relatively cheap way of getting some flying experience, which is always an advantage, when one wants to become a pilot. In 2003 I got registered as a “talent” in the Danish Glider-pilot's union. This was something that I was very happy about, since there were only about 20 registered “talents” in Denmark at that time.

 

I finally got my citizenship in January 2004, and sent my application to the Air Force. I attended phase 1 of the tests in November 2004 and passed. On January 17th I was called in for the final admission tests and made it through. I was thrilled! Suddenly the dream, that had always been “just a dream” got within reach and started feeling real. I was given the offer of starting the course on January 31st 2005 and took the offer without hesitation (of course!). If you would like to read about my pilot training and my experiences in the Air Force, you can read my online (real-time!) Diary.

 

 

 

 

Aircraft types that I’ve flown to date, in chronological order:

 

1. Aerospatiale Tampico TB3                             Single engine prop

2. Piper PA28 Cherokee                                    Single engine prop

3. Schleicher ASK13                                         Two-seat glider

4. Grob Twin Astir                                            Two-seat glider

5. Grob Astir CS                                              Single-seat glider

6. Schleicher Ka 6CR                                        Single-seat glider

7. Schleicher Ka 6E                                           Single-seat glider

8. Scheibe SF34                                               Two-seat glider

9. SZD-50-3 Puchacz CZ                                   Two-seat glider

10. Diamond aircraft HK36 Super Dimona           Motor-glider

11. Rolladen Schneider LS4                               Single-seat glider

12. Pilatus PC6                                                Single engine turbo-prop

13. Schempp-Hirth Janus CT                             Two-seat glider

14. Schempp-Hirth Discus 2A                            Single-seat glider

15. Glaser-Dirks DG101E Elan                           Single-seat glider

16. Glaser-Dirks DG300 Elan                             Single-seat glider

17. PZL- Swidnik PW5                                      Single-seat glider

18. Saab T-17 Supporter                                   Single engine prop

19. Scheibe SF25C Falke                                   Motor glider

20. Lockheed Martin F16BM Fighting Falcon        Fast jet

21. Raytheon T6 Harvard II (Texan II)               Single engine turbo-prop

22. Mooney M20C                                            Single engine prop

23. British Aerospace Hawk 115                        Fast jet

24. Bell 206 Jet Ranger (TH67 Creek)                Helicopter

25. Bell OH58 Kiowa                                         Helicopter

26. Sikorsky UH60 Blackhawk                            Helicopter