MeMyselfAndI
Jul 2nd 2010, 10:02 PM
In Israel, a new generation of pilots for Air Force units has came out. Israel's planes and helicopters are the main strike force in its operations against Palestinian groups. The pilots are the elite Army, but they have their own even more elite schools, where the final ceremony is an event of national importance.
NTV correspondent Vladislav Sorokin, from the air base "Hatzerim".
They are now willing to pose for the cameras, walking among the exhibited aircraft, like the heroes of the movie "Top Gun". A week ago, they were not smiling: to the very last moment it was not known who among students of the higher flying school will be a pilot.
There are some 10 air bases in Israel, but "Hatzerim, is considered special. Here are prepared not just pilots, but the best of the best. Training goes on for three years, and out of six students enrolled in the course only one will get into the elite units of Israeli air force.
Hence the increased attention to the cadets: high-ranking officers gathered for the ceremony, including President Peres. And Defense Minister Barak stressed the role of immigrants from the former Soviet Union - a third of the new pilots speaks in Russian.
Arkady, a navigator of the F-16I fighter: "My ultimate big dream is to be a squadron commander, be the first soldier, who came from Russia, who became commander of a squadron. I think this is a very serious undertaking and I'll be happy if I succeed."
Reporter: "And there has not been Russian commander before?"
Arkady: "Not yet".
Their faces are not allowed to be shown in the news, because after only a few days, the pilots will be put on combat duty. Arkady will patrol air borders, and, in case of conflict - destroy enemy targets, usually ground-based ones. For three years he was taught his trade, including how to work with smart bombs. Eighteen months ago, the Israelis have used them in Gaza, the pilots bombed missile launchers and underground weapons stores of Hamas.
David has another goal. He is a resque pilot, aboard the famous "Black Hawk", an American transport helicopter.
David: "More than anything, I want to save people, to do what is beyond the power of anyone else. It does not matter if it is a car accident somewhere in the desert or special forces getting caught in an ambush. My goal is to arrive as quickly as possible and pull people out while they are still alive. That's why I became a helicopter pilot."
How exactly to save people - the audience was shown at the airshows. It was held immediately after delivery of the air force patches to cadets. It seemed that all that Israeli air force has was here today. Drones almost noiselessly slipped a hundred meters from the enthusiastic audience.
Pilots of F-16 and F-15 twisted in loops, drums and hit targets on the airfield. Helicopters, heavy transporters and light fighter aircraft roared their turbines over the stands and finally drew out a heart in the sky above "Hatserim". Relatives of the military men liked this part the most.
http://www.ntv.ru/novosti/197446/
Very interesting. It seems all the propaganda the Russian-language Israeli TV Channel 'Channel 9' was doing, to get diaspora youth to join Tzahal, is working. I watch that channel too, on the Internet, just out of interest, and every day shows these lovely boys and girls: 'I am now serving in Tzahal and feel so proud. I am a soldier, just like my father, and grandfather, fighting for my country! Remember, your ancestors are looking upon you too! Fight for your honor, and for our Promised Land! Join Tzahal, let us march together against all enemies of our beautiful country!' No joke, they run this every day...
NTV correspondent Vladislav Sorokin, from the air base "Hatzerim".
They are now willing to pose for the cameras, walking among the exhibited aircraft, like the heroes of the movie "Top Gun". A week ago, they were not smiling: to the very last moment it was not known who among students of the higher flying school will be a pilot.
There are some 10 air bases in Israel, but "Hatzerim, is considered special. Here are prepared not just pilots, but the best of the best. Training goes on for three years, and out of six students enrolled in the course only one will get into the elite units of Israeli air force.
Hence the increased attention to the cadets: high-ranking officers gathered for the ceremony, including President Peres. And Defense Minister Barak stressed the role of immigrants from the former Soviet Union - a third of the new pilots speaks in Russian.
Arkady, a navigator of the F-16I fighter: "My ultimate big dream is to be a squadron commander, be the first soldier, who came from Russia, who became commander of a squadron. I think this is a very serious undertaking and I'll be happy if I succeed."
Reporter: "And there has not been Russian commander before?"
Arkady: "Not yet".
Their faces are not allowed to be shown in the news, because after only a few days, the pilots will be put on combat duty. Arkady will patrol air borders, and, in case of conflict - destroy enemy targets, usually ground-based ones. For three years he was taught his trade, including how to work with smart bombs. Eighteen months ago, the Israelis have used them in Gaza, the pilots bombed missile launchers and underground weapons stores of Hamas.
David has another goal. He is a resque pilot, aboard the famous "Black Hawk", an American transport helicopter.
David: "More than anything, I want to save people, to do what is beyond the power of anyone else. It does not matter if it is a car accident somewhere in the desert or special forces getting caught in an ambush. My goal is to arrive as quickly as possible and pull people out while they are still alive. That's why I became a helicopter pilot."
How exactly to save people - the audience was shown at the airshows. It was held immediately after delivery of the air force patches to cadets. It seemed that all that Israeli air force has was here today. Drones almost noiselessly slipped a hundred meters from the enthusiastic audience.
Pilots of F-16 and F-15 twisted in loops, drums and hit targets on the airfield. Helicopters, heavy transporters and light fighter aircraft roared their turbines over the stands and finally drew out a heart in the sky above "Hatserim". Relatives of the military men liked this part the most.
http://www.ntv.ru/novosti/197446/
Very interesting. It seems all the propaganda the Russian-language Israeli TV Channel 'Channel 9' was doing, to get diaspora youth to join Tzahal, is working. I watch that channel too, on the Internet, just out of interest, and every day shows these lovely boys and girls: 'I am now serving in Tzahal and feel so proud. I am a soldier, just like my father, and grandfather, fighting for my country! Remember, your ancestors are looking upon you too! Fight for your honor, and for our Promised Land! Join Tzahal, let us march together against all enemies of our beautiful country!' No joke, they run this every day...