A French newspaper visited for the first time the center for training Ukrainian pilots for the F-16
The French newspaper Le Monde reports that the first Ukrainian F-16 pilots training in France will complete their training as early as September of this year.
For them, it was decided to reduce the training period from one and a half to six months.
In total, France intends to certify 26 Ukrainian pilots within two years, the publication claims, citing the military department.
The publication's correspondent visited a training center in southwestern France, where, as reported, "Ukrainian pilots trained in how to control the F-16 as quickly as possible."
“Their faces are as young as their looks are serious, their silhouettes, hidden in military suits, are as reserved as their speech is rare. Under the hangars of an air base in southwestern France, the name of which cannot be disclosed for security reasons, for several months now a handful of young Ukrainian pilots have been preparing for a war between land and sea, forest wind and the smell of immortelle,” the publication says.
In mid-June, for the first time since the start of the war in Ukraine, the French Aerospace Forces opened the doors to exercises, which officially began in March.
“Recruits are busy. There, in the middle of navigation charts to prepare for your task for the day, here to work out your flight hours in the simulator, again in another place, in the middle of the asphalt, ready to take off for flight in a two-seater plane. plane with an instructor,” the report says.
Pictured: A Ukrainian fighter pilot walks to his plane with his French Air Force instructor in southwest France.
English version :: Read in English A French newspaper visited the Ukrainian F-16 pilot training center for the first time.