During their stay, the students participated in simulator training and theoretical briefings before conducting flights in the front seat of the two-seater Gripen D, with Swedish instructors in the back seat. According to FMV, this is something only experienced test pilots are allowed to do.
– We have an exchange with the two major American test pilot schools, where they send students here to fly the Gripen, and we send our test pilots to them to fly their aircraft, including the F16. Flying aircraft that are unfamiliar to us keeps us updated as test pilots, says Martin Stål, flight director at FMV.
The American pilots, who regularly fly aircraft such as the F16, F22, and F35, gave positive feedback on the Swedish system.
– They like the Gripen and think it flies very well. Some of the students here now fly the F22… and they think the Gripen flies very similarly to that aircraft, says Martin Stål.
The exchange is based on the principle of hour-for-hour and provides Swedish test pilots the opportunity to train in the USA for six or twelve months. The collaboration is described by FMV as mutually beneficial, especially in the development work with the Gripen E.
– The Americans are at the forefront of technology, and it is good for us to get feedback on our systems and to get hands-on experience with their systems. This is beneficial for us now as we are developing the Gripen E, says Martin Stål.