11 pilots complete the LIFT 13-02 course

10/03/14

On Friday, 7 March, during a brief but significant ceremony, were awarded to 11 military pilots the diplomas that attest the conclusion of the LIFT (Lead In-to Fighter Training) course, the Phase IV training preparatory to the entry on the lines aerotattiche.

Among the newly-patented, in addition to 7 Italian pilots, 4 students of the RSAF (Republic of Singapore Air Force) have completed the difficult course, which can be considered in all respects a product of Italian training at 360 degrees. The young pilots of Singapore have in fact initially attended the 213 ° Flight Group of the same Salento flight school, the Phase III, which ended with the achievement of the towered eagle, then passed to the 212 ° Flight Group for the advanced Phase I process IV, indispensable for the continuation of their career as fighter pilots.

The course that has just ended, which lasted about six months, was intense and demanding. The new pilots have faced a tough training characterized by the high professional content and the growing difficulty that is spread over a total of about 100 events, including flight and simulators, divided into missions with simulated ground attack profile, combat missions air-to-air (with 1Vs1 and 2Vs1 scenarios integrated with tactical air defense radar controllers) and in-flight refueling missions with KC130 aircraft.

In particular, during the redeployment at the shooting range in Decimomannu, the Singaporean pilots have, for the first time, experienced the experience of "air sleeve" air-to-air missions, with the gun in dogfight mode, training that has enthusiastic about the students, as can be seen from the words of one of the young pilots of the Republic of Southeast Asia: "It was not easy, but after much training we put every teaching to good use, [...] use for the first time the gun against a mobile target, made us feel like fighter pilots ready to be operational ".

Words of appreciation for the work carried out were expressed by Colonel Sergio Cavuoti, commander of the 61 ° Stormo who, in participating in his congratulations to the new pre-operational pilots, did not fail to highlight the contribution of all the staff of the base to achieve of the prestigious goal. "Once again" - declared the commander of the military airport of Galatina - "the international character of this Flight School stands out, whose specificities represent a unique reality in the national and international panorama of military flight training. The 61 ° Stormo is experiencing a moment of profound changes, both in terms of increasingly modern tools and training processes and conformed to the latest generation of weapon systems, and with reference to the exponential development of relations with international partners who recognize a center in the Salento Department of excellence in the field of flight training ".

The 4 drivers from Singapore will return to their country of origin, while the 7 Italian drivers will be employed at the 4 °, the 6 °, the 32 °, the 36 ° and the 50 ° Wing of the Italian Air Force.

Source / photo: Air Force - 61 ° Stormo - lgt. Chiarello Donato