29.07.2010.

SAF CHOD in 98th aviation base

SAF CHOD LTG Miloje Miletic on occasion of the upcoming aviation day, visited the 98th aviation base where, accompanied by Deputy Air Force Commander Brig. Gen. Sreto Malinovic ad the base commander Colonel Dejan Joksimovic, he reviewed the operational capabilities of the unit.

SAF CHOD took this opportunity to perform a navigation flight on Galeb G4 air craft piloted by the deputy commander of the 241st fighter-bombing squadron Major Dejan Zeli, while Brig. Gen. Malinovic was in the other plane flown by pilot major Rajko Gluscevic.

After landing, General Miletic expressed his pleasure with the flight and the impressions he gained during this visit to the base at Ladjevci air field, especially with the efforts the members of the unit were investing in order to preserve their operational capabilities.

- I flew by Galeb G4 air craft, thus trying to show my trust in the equipment we have and our men, the pilots flying these air crafts and the technicians who maintain the air crafts. Furthermore, as he stated, he admired he efforts these men are investing to maintain and upgrade the capabilities in current conditions.

As for the issue of professionalization, General Miletic stated that this process is expected to be fully completed by the end of the year, expressing his hope that SAF would remain a strong pillar of our state and community, striving to become an even more important factor of foreign policy. He added that there were conditions for the National Assembly to reach a decision for the SAF to be even more active in peace missions.

However, all relevant state factors should be apprized of the fact that we need new and high-quality fighter planes to be procured.

Brig. Gen. Sreto Malinovic presented General Miletic with the record card of flights thus ranking him among honorary pilots of the Serbian aviation.

At the end of his visit General Miletic expressed his pleasure at being given an opportunity to be the first to fly by a fighter plane, adding that Major Zeli did not perform any stunts, but that nevertheless he felt how difficult the profession of a pilot really was.