"Stitch" takker for seg

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Etter to år som det Nederlandske luftforsvarets F-16 displaypilot takker nå Stefan "Stitch" Hutten for seg. Jeg hadde virkelig sansen for displayet hans i år, så det er litt trist at hans tilmålte tid er over, vi får bare krysse fingrene for at det blir et display også neste år og at de får inn en annen pilot som trives like godt med det som det virket som om "Stitch" gjorde.

Dear friends,

It has been an amazing experience and incredible honour to have flown the RNLAF F-16 Demo the past 2 years! We've visited over 14 countries, all NATO partners, and flown over 120 displays! I was amazed by the enthousiasm of YOU during all those events. Words cannot describe the feeling to fly one of the most advanced fighters today in front of hundreds of thousands of people. Your support, kindness and energy made us smile, every day!

Air Forces around the globe experience huge budget cuts. Airshows in the future might become a rare phenomenon. Even for us it is still unsure what will happen in the near future. It has been my personal experience that giving YOU an insight in what we do is essential to understand why Defence is important. Not just from a demo point of view but from a military perspective. 24/7, 365 days a year man and women are deployed overseas or serve within national borders in order to provide safety, stability and peace. Our team has been committed to share that message. Yes, we know you love the speed and yes, we know you love the noise... So do we But we also represent a large team of well trained professionals willing to go the extra mile in an effort to serve YOU and others abroad.

I thank you, and so does my team, once again for your support and enthusiasm! Therefore, I salute you!

"One Team, One Mission"

Yours sincerely,

Capt Stefan "Stitch" Hutten
RNLAF F16 Demo Pilot
312 Fighter Squadron, Volkel AB, The Netherlands

Avslutter med "Stitch" sin "oppfinnelse" på Radom - the "touch and flare"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6uXZ-u9oaE