Dirk Jan de Ridder spent a week with the pilots of the Croatian Air Force’s Firefighting Squadron, who are among the most respected in their field.
FIRE BOSSES & SUPER SCOOPERS
Dirk Jan de Ridder visits NATO Flying Training in Canada, where military pilots from around the world are trained.
Cypriot Gunships
The Cypriot National Guard’s Mi-35 Hind and SA342 Gazelle attack helicopters are very rarely reported on. Dirk Jan de Ridder visited what may well be the European Union’s most exotic attack helicopter squadron – a unit that has never left national territory for operations or training exercises.
Sweden's Skool Masters
The Swedish Air Force Flying Training School at Malmen air base near Linköping might have created the world’s most efficient military pilot training system, despite flying a very old platform in the Sk 60, as Dirk Jan de Ridder reports.
Croatian Warriors
Croatia reached initial operational capability with its OH-58D Kiowa Warriors less than a year after receiving them as part of the Excess Defense Articles program. Dirk Jan de Ridder visits the new Croatian Kiowa Warrior squadron to find out how this was achieved so quickly.
Back to the Future?
The Swedish Air Force’s most northerly fighter wing is dealing with new and resurgent threats and employing Cold War tactics in a fresh guise, as Dirk Jan de Ridder reports.
Island Hoppers
While thousands of European tourists flocked the beaches of Lanzarote, they saw formations of Spanish Army helicopters fly over the island’s beaches multiple times a day. For pilots and maintenance crew of BHELMA VI their week at Lanzarote was far from a holiday, as Dirk Jan de Ridder reports.
Turkish Training Revolution
As one of NATO’s largest air arms, the Turkish Air Force has a large demand for new pilots. Dirk Jan de Ridder finds out how they are trained at Izmir Çigli with brand new KT-1T turboprop aircraft and recently modernized T-38M jets.
Lebanese Light Attack
The Lebanese Air Force’s 7 Squadron is now well established operating the A-29B Super Tucano as a supreme and versatile light attack platform, as Dirk Jan de Ridder reports.
