02-10-2006

(Monday 1710) Back home after the first day at school (RDAF Academy). It was an interesting day where we were bombarded with info and got many impressions of our new school, where we'll be spending the next 2 years. All in all I got quite a positive impression and actually look forward to it all, even though it's going to be hard. We all got small extra assignments besides our normal school work and my extra work is to be in charge of producing the school magazine called "FLOS insider" together with another student. It's going to be fun!
In about 1½ months we'll be told what we should expect to fly at the end of our pilot training and we're all very anxious to hear about that! I still hope for the F16 and the chances actually seem good at the moment. Let's wait and see...
/GEA

03-10-2006

(Tuesday 1945) Second day at school went fine. We started off with a Matemathics test where the teacher wanted to find out what level we're on. It went ok and tomorrow the day will start with a similar test, this time in English.
We made some study groups and fixed some other practical things. That's it for now. I'm tired so it's time to relax.
/GEA

14-10-2006

(Saturday 1345) This last week we had a course in leadership where we had some really long working hours with plenty of group work and good food. We were given quarters at the school so we basically spent the whole week at school. In the evenings we had a few beers at the mess and socialized with our new school-mates. I learned alot about leardership and about myself for that matter and as you might guess, there's no way around alot of fancy bullshit words.
Anyway so far it's been fun and I think (and hope) it gets better as time goes by...
/GEA

16-10-2006

(Monday 1815) Another day at school. We had some more lessons in leadership and started with the English lessons too today. Otherwise we got chord-less internet in our classrooms now and as you know we also have a laptop available for the course duration at the school. It's nice with internet access.
Tomorrow we have an orientation-run in the forest and some more lessons. It seems as if alot of the guys play Falcon 4.0 (F16 sim) on their computers and I have the game myself but never really took the time to get into it...but I guess now's the time. I borrowed the manual from one of the chaps (716 pages, A4 size...) and started reading. It's quite interesting reading but some of it is REALLY dry. That's it for now. Take care.
/GEA

18-10-2006

(Wednesday 1715) Back home after another day at school. All went ok apart from the fact that I noticed something wrong with the picture gallery on my website so it's currently offline until I spot and fix the problem.
Apart from the lessons I also had an interview with my team-officer which went great. All of us have to go through 4 interviews during the duration of our officer course, and this is the first one. Now I have home-work to do. Catch you later.
/GEA

18-10-2006

(Wednesday 2120) I forgot to mention that today I delivered my 'wish list' to our Team officer. The wish list consists of what aircraft one would prefare to fly. I wished for the F16 primarily and then Challenger as number 2.
It was a strange feeling to finally deliver the note with the word 'Fighter' as number 1.
We'll be getting a brief by the Tactical Air Command in November where we'll find out what we're going to fly. Cross your fingers!
/GEA

24-10-2006

(Tuesday 2135) Almost done with home-work for tomorrow. Tomorrow we'll be starting off with swimming where we'll be doing intervals of 15m Crawl at full power on and on again. The other class had that swimming lesson yesterday and they said it was extremely hard, so hard in fact that one of the guys ended throwing up! At the final exam in swimming we have to swim 500m in under 12 minutes which will give us a pass grade. If we want a top grade we have to do it in under 6 minutes, which is bascially impossible unless you're an olympic swimmer. I look forward to learn a good technique in Crawl and get in shape at the same time. That's it for now.
/GEA

29-10-2006

(Sunday 1705) New week coming up. I have decided to start the week early every Monday so that I have time to do some physical training before school starts (not that we don't get enough training...)
In 1½ weeks we get told what we're probably going to fly at the end of the course and we're all very excited but scared of that date at the same time. So far, it seems like this for the 16 of us who finish officer academy in 2008:
9 of us that will go to Canada in 2008, where 7 of them get fighter and 2 get transport.
3 other guys will go directly to the USA and get helicopter.
4 will also go directly to the USA and get trasport.
I believe that I have quite a good chance of getting a ticket to Canada and then get a fighter slot.
Yesterday the guys and I went on a 'Tour de chambre' where we, together with our girl-friends/wives visited eachothers homes to see where we all live, as everyone now lives in Copenhagen in connection with the Officer Academy which takes place here. We had a great time and drank a few beers and had some good chats together. As you can imagine, we always end up in a corner discussing flying while the girls end up in another corner feeling all alone. So next time we have to do better at including them a bit more and put a lid on the flying talking once a while. Later...
/GEA

01-11-2006

(Wednesday 1215) We have lunch break right now. In exactly a week's time we'll be told what we're going to fly. We're all quite excited and most of us nervous at the same time, myself being no exception...
Outside it's been snowing all day. What a way to start November with a cold wind blowing from the North and constant snow fall. I'm outta here.
/GEA

01-11-2006

(Wednesday 1850) I just did some updates to the website. I upgraded the gallery to increase security (nothing that can be seen with the naked eye...)
Apart from that I updated the diary so that the OJT (Job training) section is now online together with the other parts of the course. You just have to click on 'The road to my wings' and scroll down to the bottom to find it.
Thinking back about those 4 months, August 2006 was definitely the best month of my life! I flew in all the aircraft types of the RDAF (except the S61 Sea-King) and most important of all, I got my first 4 rides in the F16. This was truly a life-long dream come true.
In about a year's time we'll be participating in CACEX (Conduct After Capture Exercise) where we'll be taught in how to evade the enemy when we're behind enemy lines and how to behave if they should capture us.
Since I started at the Officer Academy I considered (several times) not continuing the diary during those 2 years as it's moslty theory and not much new happens, especially during the first year. But every time someone writes an e-mail or tells me that they still read the diary and think that it's great that I keep it updated...and then I simply change my mind and keep writing. Thanks for the interest! Stay tuned!
/GEA

08-11-2006

(Wednesday 0755) It's been almost a week since I last wrote in the diary. I have been quite busy with all kind of stuff the last few days.
Today's the day where we get to know where we're going after FLOS and what aircraft type we'll probably be flying. We're all excited but nervous at the same time. Most of us hope for the best but expect the worst. In a few hours our future will be a bit more clear to us. Lesson is starting soon, so I'm outta here.
Cross your fingers for me.
/GEA

08-11-2006

(Wednesday 1405) Good news so far. I got a ticket to Canada and a fighter slot so I'm happy indeed. Yet it was a strange day. It brought back the same feelings from flying school when you felt happy about yourself but really bad for some of the other guys who didn't get what they wanted. It could have been me who got a really bad day, but thankfully it turned out to be good.
I'm really greatful to have gotten the chance to prove myself worthy of a fighter, now it's mostly up to me to make it happen.
As you may know, things can change by the time we'll be leaving to Canada, so I don't take anything for granted. The last 2 lessons will be starting soon, so I better get off the net. Stay tuned!
/GEA

11-11-2006

(Saturday 2000) Yesterday, some of the guys from school and myself celebrated Morten evening (A Danish tradition where you eat duck). We had a good time, enjoyed eachother's company, discussed flying and afterwards we went to the city to have a few beers together. It was great. It has finally gone up for me that I got a fighter slot so it was good to celebrate with the guys. I can't wait to go to Canada and get back to the flying business. It also feels good to see that people still read the diary even during these 2 years on the school bench where there's no flying. Thanks for the e-mails, guest-book messages and support! I value it alot.
Best regards
GEA

17-11-2006

(Friday 1915) Another week over. Time is starting to accelerate away and before you know it, we'll hit Christmas holidays and 2007. This week was rather 'standard' with all the usual lessons. Next week we kick off with the usual swimming lessons, but this time we get a treat. We're actually going to be instructed by the Danish Olympic champion, Mette Jakobsen. We look forward to getting instructed by her and get some good tips, especially myself where I hope to refine my techniques...or the lack of them.
Now it's time to enjoy the weekend. Everyone seems to have to come to terms with what they've been told they're gonna fly, so people are much more at ease at school, less stressed, if you can call it that. I'm still thrilled that I got a fighter slot and can't wait to get back to the flying business. That's it for now.
/GEA

22-11-2006

(Wednesday 1735) Another day over and a new one in sight. Today we had a briefing by Thomas Mygind, a rather famous Danish TV presenter among other things. He talked for 2 hours about how you can make your every day better. He was really brilliant and I really got alot out of it. Other than that, not much exciting has happened. We basically have the same lessons every day, so that's the reason why I don't write that often anymore, but I'll still do my best to try and write at least once or maybe twice a week.
I don't have much more this time. The wise words that I learned today were: Your life isn't what you get, but what you make out of it.
/GEA

27-11-2006

(Monday 0020) Bed time soon but I just wanted to inform you that I uploaded a few more pictures from this year's edition of the Malta International Airshow. I will try to upload more during the week but cannot promise anything as I'm going to be quite busy, especially now that Christmas is approaching fast and all. Good night.
/GEA

29-11-2006

(Wednesday 2055) A hard day today. We finished off with a night (yes, in the dark) orientation-run in a forest close by. The track was 6km long, if you go directly from check-point to check-point that is. But you don't do that in a forest, so we ran at least 8km. It was hard, really hard. The forest was very wet indeed so at some places there was mud half the way up the knees, so you can imagine what we looked like when we got back home. The whole course took me about an hour and ten minutes to complete so I'm satisfied.
Tomorrow we have swimming again. This time we'll be swimming 500m non-stop (without drowning). I'm anxious to find out how fast (or slow) I can swim 500m...
Stay tuned.
/GEA

01-12-2006

(Friday 0850) We swam the 500m without drowning. In the beginning when we did the 200m test I finished it in just about 5 minutes, so if I could keep up the same speed in the 500m test I would have finished it in 12:30, but I didn't. I completed the test in 11:58 so I was pleased with myself. Apparently I've learned a few things since we started these swimming lessons. I'm also in better shape now and that helps a bit too. Our swimming exam is in April so there's plenty of time to improve. Now it's time for another lesson in Leadership, not the most exciting subject around, but it's weekend before long, so we'll survive. Have a nice weekend.
/GEA

07-12-2006

(Thursday 1340) We're having a rather standard week with all the usual lessons. Nothing that exciting really. That's basically why I haven't written anything in the diary. We're actually getting busier with home-works and assignments as the Christmas holidays approach.
The USAF Thunderbirds will be coming to Europe next year, participating at 9 airshows in June and July. Unfortunately they won't be coming to Denmark, so I'll probably go see them in the UK or Poland. Other than that, they'll be performing in France, Italy, Turkey and some other East European countries.
The Christmas spirit is really kicking in at Sentry (the name of our class). We play Christmas carols whenever possible and everyone's talking about plans. On Thursday we have our Christmas dinner at school so we all look forward. Then on Friday morning we start off with running a few km to the swimming hall and swimming for an hour or so. It's going to be interesting after all the partying on Thursday!
That's it for now
/GEA

10-12-2006

(Sunday 1450) I just finished uploading the last few pictures from the annual Malta Airshow. Next up will be the ones from Leeuwarden airshow which I attended last June. You're probably thinking 'about time!' Anyway, the Blue Angels were present to that airshow among others.
Anyway, this is our last week at school before Christmas holidays, so we're all looking forward for that, even though we have quite alot of home work for the holidays.
Take care and stay tuned.
/GEA

13-12-2006

(Wednesday 1620) Another day at school, and it was the last 'normal' school day for 2006. Tomorrow we have the Christamas arrangements including a mass in Værløse church, Christmas dinner and then we party on in the school mess. On Friday (after all the partying!) we start off with the usual Friday assembly followed by a 6km run to the swimming hall and then swimming! It's going to be interested to see the consequences of the party on our performances. It's a tradition at school and traditions are meant to be held.
Anyway, today we had Mette Jacobsen teching us at the swimming hall again. I got some really good tips to how I can improve my tehniques. It's great to be taught by her. It's like having Michael Schumacher teach you how to drive. She makes it look so easy and is really great at motivating you.
Now we have 2 weeks of holidays soon...unfortunately I have quite alot of home-work to do, but there's still plenty of time for relaxing and I'll also start uploading some pictures from Leeuwarden airshow, so look forward for them!
Best regards
GEA

15-12-2006

(Friday 2000) We had the last day at school which was actually a hard one, and now we have Christmas holidays.
Yesterday's Christmas dinner ended some (unspecified) time early this morning but we stil had to go running at 0730. It was still completely dark, and that didn't make it easier. As soon as we got out of the base and into the forest I fell over a branch and got covered in mud. That's all part of the fun I guess...
Then we got to the swimming hall and everyone just played around like a bunch of retarted children. It was fun!
Apart from that, the first production-line F35 Lightning II (JSF), which is one of the contenders to replace the RDAF F16 has made it's first flight today! Actually it's airborne as I write! It took off at 1944 local time, that's about 15 minutes ago! It's interesting and relevant news for nerds like me. Anyway, take care and enjoy the holidays as long as they last.
/GEA

31-12-2006

(Sunday 1425) It's the last day of 2006, so I better take the chance to write before it's too late!
2006 has been the best year of my life where many of my dreams came true so I don't have much to complain about. In a few hours time, we'll be moving into the new year and I think (and hope) that it's going to be a good one.
I haven't written anything here for a while now and neither have I uploaded new pictures in the gallery but I've done quite a few things in the background to protect the site from hackers, etc.
Among other things, people had difficulty registering in the picture gallery and I've just solved that problem, so that's great. About a week ago I went spotting at Copenhagen airport for an hour with a couple of friends. It wasn't that exciting and to make things worse, it was bloody cold!
Next year we'll be having TLP (Tactical Leadership Programme) again at Karup AB in May. It's great news and there's a possibility that the French send Rafales and the British send Typhoons for this exercise. That would be great. Anyway, now it's time to do some more home-work.
That's it for now. Happy New Year!
/GEA