The F-16 exceeded the expectations of Ukrainian pilots during the training. Interview with the pilot of the Air Force Phantom

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1. Ukrainian pilots who undergo training in the USA and the EU on the fourth generation F-16 Western fighters are “very impressed” by this aircraft. At the same time, retraining has its challenges, because this fighter is very different from the Soviet Su-27 and MiG-29, which the Ukrainian fighter aircraft currently flies.

   A military pilot of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces with the call sign Phantom told about this in an interview with Maria Prus, a journalist of the Ukrainian Service of the Voice of America.

   He also spoke about the impressions of Western instructors from the training of Ukrainian pilots, the readiness of the infrastructure in Ukraine to receive these fighters and how other aircraft, such as the A-10 or Gripen, can strengthen the Defense Forces of Ukraine.

   The interview has been edited for clarity and flow

   Maria Prus, VOA: I recently spoke with American aviators Peter Greenburgh and Trevor Gerten, and they talked about their initiative where they collect military equipment, equipment, various equipment and give it to Ukrainian pilots. Tell us how much they helped you. And maybe some other areas where they help you?

   Phantom: Yes, I know these two gentlemen personally and they really help our guys in the Air Force and also in Army aviation: like with aviation equipment, aviation uniforms, that is, flight suits.

   And usually, in principle, a lot of help comes from our pilot partners. It started a long time ago, from the 1997s, when, if I am not mistaken, our pilots visited an air show in the USA on their Su-27 aircraft (Ukrainian pilots participated in air shows in 1992 in Canada and the USA and in 1997 in air show in Britain – ed.). And then it continued during the joint military exercises ” Clear Sky ” in 2011 and in 2018 (at the “Safe Sky” exercises – ed.). It was extreme training.

   And the pilots could get to know each other personally, establish closer relations during these exercises. Both our pilots and their pilots exchanged experience. We learned how Western air forces conduct air operations. That is, our pilots were already gaining experience. And this event helped not only our boys in their combat abilities, but also they received these priceless personal acquaintances with them. And then, when the full-scale invasion began in 2022, it was the close relationship that helped us get many different things, both material and immaterial.

   M.P.: Recently, in an interview, a pilot with the call sign Moonfish talked about training on the F-16. He, like the deceased pilot Andrii Pilshchikov Jus, previously also said that Ukrainian pilots tried to prepare themselves, studied the theoretical basis that they could find in open sources. And Moonfish also said that there is informal communication with Western pilots.

   Phantom: It all started with these acquaintances that were during training. So everyone communicated with the pilots personally through various means of communication. And in principle, when the war began, not only Trevor and Pete helped our pilots in parallel.

   And when the issue of retraining pilots for a new type of aircraft began, even before it was known which aircraft would replace our outdated Soviet fleet, we already started working on changing the concept and training. That is, we already understood during these exercises that our approaches, our procedures are very different. And it was the partner pilots, not only American pilots, but also from other countries, who formed a kind of online training courses so that we would know in which direction to move, and then to improve and speed up the retraining for the F-16 aircraft.

   And, as you know, our guys went to one of the air bases in the United States for an evaluation in advance to assess their capabilities, abilities and determine the terms (of training). Again, these were general terms that we can agree on. And our pilots didn’t waste time, they prepared as best they could, and the same pilots helped us with information from open sources – of course, that which they could share with us, and even their experience.

   Therefore, I will say that the guys who went in the first wave were ready both mentally and had basic knowledge.

   M.P.: At what stage is this preparation now?

   Phantom: Preparations are in full swing as planned. Not only the pilots are trained, but as you know, so are the ground staff, our mechanics who will maintain those aircraft, our support units who will ensure that the missions are completed. They prepare in the same way.

   According to the terms, as planned, about 6 months of training for one pilot or one group. But there are nuances, and they are mostly not related to our personnel, it is related to the administrative work of our partners, that is, there is its own bureaucracy, and it requires time. Therefore, it affected the time of preparation. But she follows the plan.

   And of course, everyone wants to get the planes as quickly as possible, but that’s not usually how things are done. Aviation is a very complex system, it is not one tank or one artillery installation. There’s a lot of staff on the plane and it’s a big system. And a pilot or a technician is a small cog in a big system.

   M.P.: What challenges do Ukrainian pilots undergoing this training currently face? And what do they think of the F-16 in general? What are their impressions?

   Phantom: Our pilots are very impressed. This aircraft simply exceeded their expectations. Even with the amount of information they have received during training, they already see great prospects and great potential for how this aircraft will help our Air Force increase our combat aviation capabilities. And you can imagine that there’s information that they haven’t learned yet, haven’t given them yet, what else this aircraft might be capable of.

   As for the challenges, it’s a new plane for our guys and it was a bit difficult at the beginning, because it’s a new generation plane, a more digitalized plane, it has a lot of systems and programs that have to be entered during the flight and before the flight. We have not encountered this, our training is a little different, and our aircraft is much simpler than the F-16.

   Similarly, the approach to preparation and flight performance is completely different. It requires more independent training, no one is above their soul, so it was a little difficult for them to readjust mentally. But, as I already said, they are very motivated and the desire to quickly relearn – overcomes all these difficulties.

   M.P.: Is the teaching style or methodology different in Europe, in Denmark, from how the same transition to the F-16 is taught in the USA?

   Phantom: I would say that the program is not different because the partners discussed the training program, it is agreed. All countries that are part of NATO have standards, and therefore the standards of aircraft training – wherever it is, whether in the USA, or in Denmark, or in Greece, or in Turkey – are the same, so the training program is the same, but the approach itself may differ somewhat.

2. Of course they exceed, they drove the equivalent of a Lada for a ralley and now switched to an Audi Quattro.

3. Gotta admit, those aircraft look pretty sweet with Ukrainian markings on them.

4. A-10s are such a waste for a conflict like this. Just bury that idea

5. I’m not surprised at all. At my tech company (Western Europe) we have a collaboration team from Kyïv and they are excellent and very skilled.

6. Good to hear the Ukrainian pilots like their new ride. When do they get to use them in Ukraine?