NATO MUltimedia

Ever wonder what it’s like to fly in an air force jet? We sent one of our video journalists to live the experience together with the Estonian Air Force during Ramstein Alloy 2021, a NATO Air Policing exercise.

Ever wonder what it’s like to fly in an air force jet? We sent one of our video journalists to live the experience together with Estonian Air Force pilots during Ramstein Alloy 2021, a NATO Air Policing exercise.

The Estonian Air Force uses its L-39 Albatros jet trainers to assist other Allies in NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission. These jets trained alongside other Allied aircraft as part of exercise Ramstein Alloy, an annual series of air policing exercises that takes place three times a year, once in each of the three Baltic countries. The 2021 iteration coincides with the 60th anniversary of NATO’s Air Policing mission, a regular peacetime activity that safeguards the skies over the Alliance 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Footage includes an Estonian L-39 Albatros preparing and in flight during the exercise; Italian F-35s in hangar and taking off from Ämari Air Base in Estonia; and Estonian L-39s and Italian F-35s conducting interception training in the Baltic skies.

With respect to COVID-19, the pilot, the aircrew and NATO videographers followed Estonian government guidance, which did not require wearing face masks.

-SOUNDBITE-(ENGLISH)
KRISTA PURMALE, NATO VIDEO JOURNALIST
“My name is Krista Purmale. I’m a NATO video journalist and today I’m taking a flight in the L-39 Albatros.”
-TEXT ON SCREEN-

WHAT’S IT LIKE
TO FLY IN
AN AIR FORCE JET?

-SOUNDBITE-(ENGLISH)
KRISTA PURMALE, NATO VIDEO JOURNALIST
“Ämari Air Base, here in Estonia, hosts part of the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission, in which Allied countries send fighter jets to help other Allies guard their airspace. They scramble regularly to intercept unidentified aircraft, keeping the Alliance’s skies safe.”

-TEXT ON SCREEN-
KRISTA PURMALE
NATO video journalist

-SOUNDBITE-(ENGLISH)
KRISTA PURMALE, NATO VIDEO JOURNALIST
“So, I just came out of the medical check and… seems like I’m a very healthy person and nothing’s wrong with me, and we’re ready to go.

After finishing the medical, I picked up a flight suit and a helmet, and then met up with my pilot Ahto.”

-SOUNDBITE-(ENGLISH)
KRISTA PURMALE, NATO VIDEO JOURNALIST
“How am I feeling? I’m not nervous anymore. I’m very, very excited.

Today I’m a part of Estonian Air Force. A professional pilot. Not a pilot, no.”

-SOUNDBITE-(ENGLISH)
JAKE TUPMAN, NATO VIDEO JOURNALIST
“What can she expect up there?”

-TEXT ON SCREEN-
ANNIKA RUUSMÄE
ESTONIAN AIR FORCE PILOT
-SOUNDBITE-(ENGLISH)
ANNIKA RUUSMÄE, ESTONIAN AIR FORCE PILOT
“Everything cool, that will only happen. All the other aircraft, some awesome manoeuvres. Just enjoy it!”

-SOUNDBITE-(ENGLISH)
KRISTA PURMALE, NATO VIDEO JOURNALIST
“I can actually barely hear anything in this one.”

-SOUNDBITE-(ENGLISH)
ANNIKA RUUSMÄE, ESTONIAN AIR FORCE PILOT
“That’s really good! That’s good.”

• SOUNDBITE-(ENGLISH)

KRISTA PURMALE, NATO VIDEO JOURNALIST
“Okay!

Our role in this training is as a target aircraft in an air interception. The Italian F-35s will hunt us down.”

-SOUNDBITE-(ENGLISH)
AHTO, ESTONIAN AIR FORCE PILOT
“What’s the problem?”

• SOUNDBITE-(ENGLISH)

KRISTA PURMALE, NATO VIDEO JOURNALIST
“No, nothing. Just a funny feeling in the stomach. All good!”

• SOUNDBITE-(ENGLISH)

KRISTA PURMALE, NATO VIDEO JOURNALIST
“So, right now what we’re seeing is an interception together with the Italian F-35s. We have two of them here, on the left side, in a close formation.”

-SOUNDBITE-(ENGLISH)
AHTO, ESTONIAN AIR FORCE PILOT
“Are you taking pictures? Are you happy?”

• SOUNDBITE-(ENGLISH)

KRISTA PURMALE, NATO VIDEO JOURNALIST
“Yeah!”

• SOUNDBITE-(ENGLISH)

MECHANIC, ESTONIAN AIR FORCE
“Well, hello!”

• SOUNDBITE-(ENGLISH)

KRISTA PURMALE, NATO VIDEO JOURNALIST
“Hello.”

• SOUNDBITE-(ENGLISH)

MECHANIC, ESTONIAN AIR FORCE
“You look tired.”

• SOUNDBITE-(ENGLISH)

KRISTA PURMALE, NATO VIDEO JOURNALIST
“Yeah…”

• SOUNDBITE-(ENGLISH)

MECHANIC, ESTONIAN AIR FORCE
“Do you need a moment?”

• SOUNDBITE-(ENGLISH)

KRISTA PURMALE, NATO VIDEO JOURNALIST
“Just a bit.”

-SOUNDBITE-(ENGLISH)
JAKE TUPMAN, NATO VIDEO JOURNALIST
“How was that?”

• SOUNDBITE-(ENGLISH)

KRISTA PURMALE, NATO VIDEO JOURNALIST
“Absolutely amazing. And I have a gift for whoever wants it. It’s in here.”

-SOUNDBITE-(ENGLISH)
ANNIKA RUUSMÄE, ESTONIAN AIR FORCE PILOT
“Then take your…”

-SOUNDBITE-(ENGLISH)
KRISTA PURMALE, NATO VIDEO JOURNALIST
“Left one here?”

-SOUNDBITE-(ENGLISH)
ANNIKA RUUSMÄE, ESTONIAN AIR FORCE PILOT
“Yes, do you see the line in here?”

-SOUNDBITE-(ENGLISH)
KRISTA PURMALE, NATO VIDEO JOURNALIST
“It was the most fun thing I’ve ever done in my life, and I do hope that one day I get to do this again.
It’s a tough job. I get it now. And I take my hat off to all the pilots involved in NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission. It’s tough. I’m so tired!”