01/07/2006

(Saturday 0030) Yes, you're probably sleeping right now, but I'm still up and kicking. It's weekend now and I also have 2 weeks of summer holidays, which I start off with mixed feelings. As you know I'm close to getting my first ride in an F16, so I almost didn't feel like leaving from work for 2 weeks today...just don't say that to Sara!
We had family day at the squadron from 1200 and all went fine. Our demo pilot gave a great flying display which really looked good from the ground. Then we enjoyed a few hot dogs and showed our families around the squadron area. The weather was really great and it seems as if it's going to get even better along the way, which is good considering that I have holidays. I'll upload a few more pictures from Skrydstrup airshow 2006 tomorrow, so stay tuned. Good night.
/GEA

07/07/2006

(Friday 2320) Just uploaded a few more pictures to the gallery and I'll try to upload a few more tomorrow. So far I've uploaded about half of the pictures from Skrydstrup airshow and I still have the ones from Leeuwarden airshow of course...so there's alot (I mean, REALLY alot) more where they came from.
/GEA, enjoying my holidays

14/07/2006

(Friday 0950) Lockheed Martin finally found the official name for the F35, which up to now has been known as the JSF (Joint Strike Fighter). The name is "Lightning II" as Lockheed already had a Lightning (the P38). I don't find it very original to just take an old name and put a "2" behind it. Apart from that, the British also had a Lightning, built by English Electric, better known today as BAe systems.
Last week, pilot INE soloed on the F16, becoming the first female to do so in Denmark. Well done, INE! The 1 hour flight ended with a swim in the water tank, just the way that all first solos end in the military. Luckily for her, the water is rather warm at this time of the year.
One of our test pilots, PEL, was down in Germany testing the Eurofighter this week. The Eurofighter as you know, is one of 3 remaining bids for the RDAF replacments of the F16, the two others being the Swedish Gripen and the JSF, now officially known as Lightning II.
On Monday it's back to work for a week. I was rather getting used to the holidays, waking up late and not doing much. But after next week I have another week's holiday, so I look forward for that already. That's it for now. I'll try to upload some pictures from Leeuwarden airshow later on today or in the weekend.
/GEA

18/07/2006

(Tuesday 1430) Almost done for today. This morning, LOU and myself spent some time in the F16 sims, where we practised some formation flying, landings and did some dog fighting. It was good fun. I had my g-suit and life vest on too, in order to practsie what I had learned at the ejection-seat check so as not to forget it all. It was nice to strap myself in the cockpit and then 'fly around' for an hour and a half.
The weather has been great for quite a few weeks now, but it seems as if it's going to get bad as the weekend approaches.
Anyway, I better finish off the last things and then head towards my quarters before too long...
/GEA

21/07/2006

(Friday 1330) Just uploaded a few pictures to the gallery and noticed that there are now over 2000 pictures in there! Now it's time for another week of holiday where Sara dn myself will be going to the island of Bornholm for a week, the eastern-most part of Denmark. Last Wednesday I bought a flight ticket to Malta so this year I'll make it to the yearly airshow in September, meet some of the old friends and spend some time with my family.
The chances for a back-seat ride in an f16 are looking rather dim at the moment. We have to be really lucky to get a flight before we start at the Officer Academy in october, but our fingers are crossed...it would be a great motivation to get a flight before starting 2 years of school away from the flying business.
Take care.
/GEA