Combat Fighter Pilot - 4,000 Hours Flying the F-16 - Thomas "MET" Kristensen
Вставка
- Опубліковано 8 чер 2024
- "MET" is a career fighter pilot with over 4,000 hours in the mighty Viper. He has flown in support of Operation Allied Force, Operation Unified Protector, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Inherent Resolve. He is one of Denmark's most experienced fighter pilots and author.
Find "MET" Here:
IG: f16met?hl=en
UA-cam: / @f16met
Books: www.forfatterforedrag.dk/thom...
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Summary
MET, a Danish fighter pilot, discusses his career and experiences flying the F-16. He talks about the transition to an expeditionary air force and the changes in the Danish Air Force over the years. Matt shares his journey from enlisting in the army to becoming a pilot in the air force. He also discusses the challenges and complexities of flying in European airspace. Matt reflects on his participation in operations such as Allied Force, Enduring Freedom, and Unified Protector. He highlights the importance of debriefing and the evolution of the F-16's capabilities. In this conversation, MET discusses his experiences as a fighter pilot, including flying in Scandinavia and Europe, gaining experience and awareness, deployments to Kyrgyzstan, challenging approaches and landings, reflections on military operations, personal considerations in deployments, flying in challenging weather conditions, changing perspectives on military operations, transition to F-35 and current role, quick reaction alert and air policing, interactions with Russian aircraft, complexities of transitioning to Western aircraft, advice for his younger self, and future plans.
Takeaways
The Danish Air Force transitioned from a Cold War defense force to an expeditionary air force after the fall of the Iron Curtain.
The F-16 underwent a midlife upgrade, which significantly improved its capabilities and allowed for the use of advanced weapons systems.
Debriefing is a crucial part of pilot training and development, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and learning.
Flying in European airspace presents unique challenges due to the complexity of the airspace and the varying rules and regulations of different countries. Flying in different regions provides opportunities to learn and adapt to various flying conditions.
Experience and practice lead to increased awareness and the ability to notice subtle differences in flight control systems.
Deployments can bring a mix of challenging approaches and landings, requiring pilots to rely on their skills and decision-making abilities.
Reflections on military operations can lead to questioning the effectiveness and impact of missions.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
03:58 Transition to Expeditionary Air Force
05:23 Enlisting in the Army and Transition to the Air Force
08:16 Competitiveness in Joining the Air Force
10:09 Flying the F-16 and Training
12:30 Evolution of the F-16 and Complex Mission Sets
14:02 Training at EuroNATO Joint Jet Pilot Training
16:30 Conversion to F-16 in Denmark
20:09 Transition to Squadron and Debriefing Culture
23:15 Complexities of European Airspace
27:11 Participation in Operation Allied Force
31:15 Midlife Upgrade of the F-16
33:18 Experiences in Operation Enduring Freedom
35:34 Participation in Operation Unified Protector
46:46 Flying in Scandinavia and Europe
47:32 Gaining Experience and Awareness
48:22 Deployments to Kyrgyzstan
49:19 Challenging Approaches and Landings
51:26 Reflections on Military Operations
53:20 Personal Considerations in Deployments
54:19 Flying in Challenging Weather Conditions
57:13 Changing Perspectives on Military Operations
01:00:22 Transition to F-35 and Current Role
01:01:39 Quick Reaction Alert and Air Policing
01:04:08 Interactions with Russian Aircraft
01:07:08 Complexities of Transitioning to Western Aircraft
01:09:04 Advice for Younger Self
01:09:18 Future Plans
thx great listen . Good to hear from MET thank you sir.
Epic! Can't wait MET is an amazing pilot and storyteller!
Great episode, thanks MET!
The Danish Robin Olds😂
Interesting interview, thanks :)
Thank you for your service my man you are awesome how much are of a difference is our aircraft???
Rain, the MiGs came to Abbotsford in 1989. Anatoly Kvochur was the display pilot. Squeaky Fromm was the F-15 flight lead out of Elmendorf. Bob Wade was the RCAF Hornet escort lead and later in the w/e became the first western pilot to fly the MiG-29. We had a monster party in the An-225 which was the support a/c. They had lots of vodka but no money and no food. So we bought them lots of pizza and some other staples. They changed the engines in the display MiG three times. Happy memories. ~ Ridgeback.
Wow, would be great to hear some more about those stories.
Why? We never needed to change Fulcrum engines during display weekends...
He looks a lot like Robin Olds in some of his younger pics 😀
Hils fra HAP!
Anyone else thought it was Robin Olds in the thumbnail?
Yes I did.
Успехов
Work with ahead of schdule sire since going too firiegn office pentagonby fulcan f37
✨✨
It been greusime
Continually being misunderstood
I want really need understood not been a parent, want for nothing not as if any suprise.
🎸🫷💛
As for the "non NATO guys" and their "insecurity", well, in the 90´s you (USAF) took a lot of kicks in the ass as well. Especially from the Fulcrums and the Flankers. But talking about it is not very popular :)))