In May Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamish congratulated the first Poles completion of American training for F-35A Lightning II fighter pilots. They are presently continuing their training at the teacher level. The Polish pilot at Ebbing is talking about the difficulty and strength of the activities.
We are discussing the course of training in the United States with 1 of the Polish pilots who participates in the teacher training at Ebbing Air National defender Base in Fort Smith. The officer has over 20 years of experience gained, among others, behind the pilots of F-16 fighters. On 31 January 2025 he was the first Pole to make a flight behind the rudders of the 5th generation F-35 Husarz fighter.
After the first training segment, did you have the chance to return to the country briefly?
Unfortunately, we're not the only ones in training, there's another class behind us and a luxury like a short return to the country we couldn't afford. Although with specified intense training, a minute of breath would be useful. In short, the training device has moved and breaks are not foreseen, and this means a smooth transition between the next stages of training.
How long will the training take?
The teacher phase should take about 5 months.
What is simply a typical training week for future instructors?
The first training was divided into 2 stages: theoretically-simulatory and in the air. The same is actual of teacher training. but for a small bit, due to the fact that now we're spending a lot little time at lectures. 3/4 of the training takes preparation for flights on a simulator or in the air and self-learning. We train 5 days a week after 9–10 hours, but on weekends we frequently look at books.
These 5 months, do you frequently sit behind Husar's wheel?
Training mainly consists of more than 25 missions on the simulator. From basic flight pair of aircraft to complicated missions with key aircraft with another formations. The second part is about 20 flights.
Does teacher training affect the same staff as basic training?
Since training is taking on pace and the number of students is increasing, fresh instructors are emerging, which is simply a large plus and we are very pleased with.
The American teacher is the 1 who's playing the course and you gotta teach him?
That's precisely how it goes. With specified “cursants” paying attention to all word, line or presentation drawn. They are very thorough and observant – up to exaggeration. But it has to be.
How would you measure the strength and difficulty of this training compared to the first module?
The strength is somewhat lower, but the level of difficulty has increased at least 4 times. There is frequently no time to carefully analyse everything or plan it perfectly. But this is not a surprise to us. We expected it to be hard and it is.
In practice, what results from completing teacher training?
After the last flight, we will receive a certificate of completion of the teacher training, which will entitle us to conduct training from basic to instructor.
Gen. Dyw. pil. Dr. Ireneusz Nowak, Air Force Inspector, speaking about your training at Ebbing, he said: “The biggest flaw is that pilots usage temporary infrastructure created utilizing containers and do not have a simulator on site. They must fly to Florida for simulator classes.” Did anything change from that angle erstwhile you started your teacher course?
For the moment, nothing in Ebbing has changed and we have no anticipation of utilizing simulators, which in training on this aircraft are an indispensable part. The remaining container-based infrastructure is not abroad to us, and we have frequently utilized or operated in specified conditions, either in exercises or within Polish military quotas. This is not an obstacle or a large restriction. We are able to accomplish 99% of the training objectives.
Training in Ebbing was to be started by Finns, Germany and Switzerland. Is this already happening and you have direct contact with another abroad pilots?
Our allies are now preparing to start training in Ebbing. We have made contact during their visits, they are curious about our experiences and insights, and they can't wait for them to sit behind the rudders of the "beast".
