Promotion of the first flights of the 18th generation of pilots
“I congratulate you on your first solo flight and I’m sure that you will serve to honor the Croatian Air Force and all of us who believe in you, and that you will build your skills, knowledge and capabilities in peacetime only”. These were the words used by Danijela Trbović, a well-known Croatian TV presenter, when addressing the students today, December 3, in the 93rd Air Force Base Zemunik. She will remain registered as a godmother of the 18th generation of the Air Force pilots.
First solo flights on Pilatus PC 9 airplane and Bell 206 B helicopters were performed by 5 cadets who, having successfully completed basic training at ZLIN 241L aircraft, were assigned to Aircraft Squadron and Helicopter Squadrons.
Martin Debuš, Tomislav Baturina and Matija Hudžek performed first solo flight on a Bell 206 B helicopter, and Dominik Jerinić and Luka Šapina on Piliatus PC 9.
First solo flight is a big event in their flight career, and for some emotionally the favorite flight, but still it is only the beginning of a complex and long training for military pilots. The training program, which follows, includes basic, aerobatic, navigation, group and night flying and tactical training, which includes basic combat maneuvers in the air.
The godmother of the generation showed the great knowledge about military pilot vocation, which, as she said, was the dream of every boy. But in fact only the best succeed, because according to statistics, only 2 percent of the population has a predisposition for this vocation. “You are those best who have passed a number of “filters” in order to successfully perform your first solo flight”, she said.
On behalf of the Air Force and Air Defence Commander, for the first solo flight, cadets were congratulated by Colonel Ivica Mandušić, the pilot of the first generation of Croatian military pilots. According to him, a first solo flight is an indicator of the successful flying career. He thanked the flight instructors, maintenance personnel and all other Air Force officers who were involved in supporting students and significantly contributed to the success of their first solo flight.
Danijela together with the pilots and their hosts from the 93rd Air Base visited Aircraft Squadron and met the pilots of the aerobatic team Wings of Storm.
The tradition of marking the first solo flight in this way, which was modeled on tradition of the military aviation of numerous countries around the world and which was cherished for years in the Croatian Air Force, again had its promotion last year.
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