Which foreign pilots impressed you the most ?
 

I recall reading a report from an RAF Jaguar pilot who was on a joint exercise with the Swedes back in the 80s. They took him low flying in a Viggen and he recalled hurtling down a logging trail in AB while looking up at the tree tops. When it came time for him to take them up in a 2 seat Jag he descended to 200 feet and engaged min afterburner before passing control to his Swedish passenger who promptly pushed the nose over and repeated the performance at an altitude which amazed the RAF pilot. He noted the Swedes as being particularly professional and capable military pilots.

During your detachments were you similarly impressed by any overseas aviators ?

As an ATCO, who used to listen in on GCI frequencies in Singapore [late 60s] when time was available, I found the RAAF Mirage guys particularly impressive. Cool, calm, professional ... until the Bar opened.

For Crazy: the two Italians who flew between our two ships during UNREP in the Med, mid 1980's. They were at about bridge height.


For Professional: the Canadian who served me as instructor training standards officer in Seahawks. Out(:mad:)ing standing.

Name of Willy Urbanus on 252 sqn at Valkenberg. Was tasked west of Faroe Islands and came off task, followed by a roller at Valley, then proceeded on the low level route down through Wales and followed a beat up at St. Mawgan starting low alongside Watergate Beach then finally then a beer call at the hotel in Newquay with Dutch beer
brought in from Valkenberg. All in a SB13A Atlantique in 1971.
Happy days.
He instructed on Gnats at Valley.

I would echo that about the late 60s Mirage guys - NG, GW, DW and the peerless RM. Trust they are all having well-earned retirements.

RM ..... the "world's greatest fighter pilot!"

Guys,

If RM was Reg Mei... . PM me for a sad tale.

MJG

Pretty sure Mice died a few years ago?

So the ones flying the lowest are the greatest according to you ?

That discipline of flying combined with navigating, sticking to the the timing and delivering armament in combination with your wingmen, became much easier at the end of the eigties with the advent of new jets with smartly designed instruments... notably a HUD with the radalt in it

I do recollect a senior civil training colleague telling me that he was most impressed by some Russians he trained.

With regard to flying or drinking?

Being able to do both simultaneously [most of the time]?

Then there was the Cloggie who rolled the F104 after take off and put the wheels back on the runway

He was Belgique and was also part of the stunning twosome display team?

Roll here

https://youtu.be/jyBDEG9dg-Q

NL and gave our wgcdr ops a heart attack with 3 nuclear armed bombers just yards off the active.

What criteria should we use when we consider candidates besides Non-British, Non-RAF, fast, low, FJ drivers, who drink a lot?

I can tell you who did NOT impress me :)

In reacent operations (the past 10 years) I must point to the french Rafale drivers. Professional, calm and effective. Oh, and with a cool and capable aircraft as well....

Mid 80s,when bringing a BAe HS 125(Viper) back to UK,we had left 7 Islands,or Sept-Isle as the "oh hee hoh" say in Frog,my Ex DH,now BAe, TP Captain had insisted on continuing the flight with all our options going out one after the other.It was my leg and Iqualuit the final destination was wavering between blowing snow and sea fog on the deck.Not wanting to descend until the last minute,we called up the RCAF for latest Viz and Landing Instructions.They immediately asked us to "standby",whilst they produced the Met Flight Orion Captain.He told us he could get airborne and flyour runway heading with "touch and goes" to try to blow the mist and blowing snow out of the way to give enough visibility to land.At this point our options were decidedly poor!!.As we started the procedure,he was already shooting low viz circuits,with an increasing visibility we easily were able to land successfully.On arriving at the Tower,we were surprised to find the grinning RCAF Skipper was no more than 25 and thanked us for giving his crew such good practice on foul weather circuits.Suffice to say we gave him and his crew,plus the Customs Officer, an entertaining evening in the "Zoo",as the Hotel Bar was called!!Having known a few Canuks and Ormande H-B who was a Cold Lake 104 jock ,I would put forward the Canadians as perfect gentlemen and excellent performers in the air!

A very attractive, well stunning frankly, B-1B commander in her late 20s or very early 30s.

No idea what her flying skills were like mind.