01/06/2006
(Thursday 1125) We have a long weekend, which will
serve as a little break between Group-leader training and job-training. It's
great that we're done in Karup. Now we move south on
Tuesday and get our flying-suits back and start learning stuff that is more
relevant to what we'll be doing at the end of the course. I'm all excited about
it, and so are the other guys for that matter. Finally we get a taste of what
our life is going to be like the next 17 years or more. Can't wait!
/GEA
03/06/2006
(Saturday 1530) The website was once again hacked last
night so I am updating some scripts, changing passwords etc. to avoid it
happening again in the future. So if the picture-gallery is down, it's because
it's due to maintanance.
Best regards
Stephen
04/06/2006
(Sunday 1840) Just got back from the military museum
in Copenhagen. This weekend they have a special display with a mock-up model of
the F35 JSF, which will probably be the replacement for the F16 here in
Denmark. The mock-up is of full scale, in Danish markings and includes a Martin
Baker ejection seat and simple cockpit.
Also in the museum is a cockpit simulator. The cockpit is fully functional,
however the flight dynamics aren't realistic and they're just to give you an
idea of how the cockpit works and not to show you how the aircraft flies. There
was a pilot from Lockheed Martin present who was very friendly and explained
the cockpit and systems and the advantages of the aircraft over current
generation aircraft. He has over 2000 hours of background on US NAVY F/A18's so
he knew what he was talking about. He says that the JSF will be as manoverable as something between an F16 and an F18. It is
as stealthy as the F117 and B2 and can carry almost as many weapons as the F16,
however they are carried in a bay inside the fuselage so you have a clean
configuration at all times...with regards drag anyway, not weight of course.
I'm still not completely convinced, but there's about 10 years time to go
before the F16 gets replaced, so there's plenty of time I guess.
/GEA
09/06/2006
(Friday 1550) What a day! Job training is great and
I'm having a great time. I really feel at home on a fighter squadron and can
hardly get any sleep at night due to the high excitement...
Today was probably the best day so far. JØR and myself started the day by doing
some training in the F16 simulators. The base have 2 sims
which can be connected so we enjoyed doing formation flying and a few touch and
gos together.
Afterwards we went to the static display area, as today is the arrivals day for
the airshow. We had a look at the JSF and Eurofighter stands which were open for crews today. We even
got a ride in the Eurofighter simultaor which is really
amazing. The thrust to weight ratio is incredible. It's funny how things link
up in life. As soon as I got to the Eurofighter
stand, a guy came up to me and asked: "Aren't you the chap from Malta who
came to Denmark because you want to be fighter pilot?" I was surprised
that a guy from the Eurofighter development team knew
much more about me than I could ever imagine! Anyways, afterwards we went to
the end of the runway to take a picture or two of the landing aircraft. It was
good fun. Now I'm off to pick Sara up from the station as she arrives soon. Stay tuned!
/GEA
12/06/2006
(Monday 1035) The airshow
went great and we got rather sun burned. We met alot
of interesting people, including other pilots and crews from other nations.
I met Chritian Worning,
among others, who is the Eurofighter
test pilot who was on Discovery channel once. He has a background as fighter
pilot in the Danish Air Force and is now in Germany working for EADS. What a carreer!
My job yesterday was standing by an F16 from our squadron and show people into
the cockpit. It was great to talk to so many people and seeing the look on the
children's faces when they climbed into the cockpit. Many people came up to me
and told me that they had been reading this diary online and that they think
it's really great that I take all the time to keep it updated. So it's nice to
know that it's not all waste of time. Thanks guys!
Now we're back to work and today we'll probably do a few more maps for the
training missions flown by our pilots.
At the end of June we'll be taking a short course in dinghy-drills and
simulator and then we're ready to get a back-seat ride, so we're all very
excited indeed!
Now it's back to our job training. This is heaven...
GEA, having the time of my life.
13/06/2006
(Tuesday 1815) So we got the g-suit today and next
week we have to get it fitted to suit our body. We also need a helmet and mask
and then all that's left is the dinghy drill and theory course about the ejection-seat and procedures in the back seat of the
aircraft. All this will be done on Wednesday the 28th June and then we're
cleared for our first back-seat ride in the F16.
Today we did some more CAS (Close Air Support) maps for the pilots who are
training these type of missions at the moment. We're
almost experts in the field by now...
After having done the maps, LOD and myself had a go at the F16 sims where we practised some touch
and gos, low-level flying and formation flying.
Afterwards we finished off by going to the gym to do some training.
This Thursday we'll have the opportunity to take a look at the Bikini exercise,
which is basically an exercise in being rescued by a helicopter from the ocean.
It's going to be interesting to see how it all takes part.
Now it's time to watch some world-cup football with the guys. Catch you later...
/GEA
18/06/2006
(Sunday 1450) Back from the
Netherlands after having been there Friday and Saturday for the airshow at Leeuwarden AB.
It was great even though the weather was terrible on Friday. I took alot of pictures, I mean really alot
so now I'll start uploading gradually from Skrydstrup
and Leeuwarden airshows and
also a couple of pictures from the Bikini exercise. The Blue Angels were great
too, however one has to get used to the wat they do
their show. Before the actual flying display, the pilots and mechanics do what
I would almost call 'a parade' on their way to the aircraft. Everything is in
perfect synchronization and nothing is left to chance. I didn't know whether to
call it amazing discipline or unnecessary bullshit but whatever it was, it was
very American. The flying display itself was amazing. They fly extremely close
and those F18's in that blue and yellow scheme just look great in the sir. On
Friday they had the 60th anniversary so the team did a fly-by in formation with
the Red Arrows and it looked great. Apart from that there was an F15E flying
display, which was also new for me. The display wasn't all that spectacular,
however it was great to see an F15 fly. The sound it makes is just so loud and
goes straight to the heart. Now I can see that the diary character limit is
kicking in, so I have to end this and continue on a new page.
/GEA
18/06/2006
(Sunday 1505) As I wrote, it was a great airshow with many good flying displays. Among others was
the Belgian F16, which in my opinion was the best flying display schedule that
I've ever seen done by an F16. Really nice flying,
just the way I would have done it, hehe.
At the static display line they had a German Eurofighter,
Chzech Gripen, Turkish F5,
Polish MiG29 and a Danish F16 among a few others.
Tonight I take the train back to the base and get ready for yet another week in
a fighter squadron. I'm really enjying every bit of
it and it's going to serve as great motivation for when I have to start on the
officer academy. I love the culture in the squadron. Everyone is always in a
good mood even when the work-load is big. All the
pilots, mission planners and other emplyees at the
squadron are really nice to us and I really feel at home.
On Tuesday we'll hopefully be getting our helmet and mask and get the g-suit
fitted to our size.
For those who can read Danish, there's a little article about me on the Danish airshow website at
www.danishairshow.dk with the title 'Chldhood dream
turning into reality.' I'll try to upload a couple of pictures today before I
leave to give you a little taste of the airshows that
I've been to, otherwise, the rest will start popping up during this week.
Best regards
GEA
21/06/2006
(Wednesday 0840) Yesterday we spent the day outside
the base where we had the opportunity to watch a CAS (Close air support)
mission from the ground. A CAS is basically when our forces on the ground
require assistance from the air and the jets are called in to take out some
enemies. So we went with some guys from the special-forces
who functioned as FAC's (Forward air controllers)
whose job is to guide the jets from the IP's (initial points) to the target
area and point out the target. It was great to see the jets come in low and do
their bombing runs. Later on today we'll be getting our G-suit and helmets
fitted so we can't wait.
That's it for now. If you're wondering why I haven't uploaded any pictures
yet...well let me put it this way: Football is ranking high on the evening
entertainment list these days. After work hours we do physical training or play
a game of football and then it's watching the pros on TV.
/GEA
22/06/2006
(Thursday 0840) If you wonder why I keep writing in
this diary, here are the 3 main reasons:
1: To keep family, friends and curious people updated.
2: To do PR for the Air Force.
3: One day when I'm old (that'll be the day!) I'll enjoy reading all the crap
that I wrote 'in the good old days.'
Yesterday we finally got the g-suit, helmet and mask fitted and that's now
ready for use. The only thin waiting now is the dinghy drill, simulator and saftey course which will take place
next Wednesday and then we're ready for the first F16 ride!
Yesterday I was with some pilots debriefing an air-air training flight where
they flew 2 against 1. It was great to learn a bunch of stuff about tactics and
what to do and what not to do in an aerial battle. It's becoming a normal thing
that we are 'spectators' during mission briefings and debriefings.
In the evening we had a few games of poker and I trashed the guys. I got a few
lucky hands and gambled and bluffed at the right times which payed off nicely.
That's it for now. Stay tuned.
/GEA
23/06/2006
(Friday 1615) Back home in Copenhagen and I finally
got myself together to upload a few more (30) new pictures in the gallery. I
hope that you like them! There's a few from the Bikini
exercise, and a few in connection with the Airshow at
Skrydstrup, but not actually from the airshow itself. Among others I have uploaded the first Eurofighter pictures in the gallery...and there's alot more where they came from! I took quite alot during the flying display and a few more on the
ground. On Friday (in a week's time) we have family day at 730Sqn, so Sara's
already packing her bags. She's looking more foreward
to see the jets than to see me, but I suppose that's the way the cookie
crumbles.
Anyway, now it's time to enjoy the weekend. Take care!
/GEA
24/06/2006
(Saturday 1730) I just did some updates to the diary
section (as you may have noticed) and also added the article from the airshow in the 'Looking back' section. Now it's time
to watch some football.
/GEA
28/06/2006
(Wednesday 0815) We had a few change of plans, so
Monday we got our safety course and dinghy drill and yesterday we got our
ejection seat check and all went ok. All that's left now is an approval from
the base commander and then we're ready to launch as soon as the opportunity
arises. I'll keep you updated.
/GEA
29/06/2006
(Thursday 1330) Today I tried something new. I was at
the hangar talking to the mechanics and they had to tow an F16 from the hangar
to a shelter area to perform some engine runs. Whenever they tow an aircraft,
there has to be someone in the cockpit to apply brakes if something goes wrong.
So a friendly mechanic asked me if I was interested...hehe,
and huess what I replied. So he showed me how to
switch on the main power if needed and then I closed the canopy and away we
went...my first taxi in an F16, with the engine off of course. But anyway it
was great to close the canopy and sit there while the aircraft is moving. That's it for now.
/GEA