• mihor@lemmy.ml
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          1 year ago

          They have, but it wasn’t yet public knowledge. It takes a few years at least to train a fighter pilot.

      • SkyezOpen@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        From scratch, sure, but surely am already trained pilot would take significantly less time to learn a new airframe?

        • sunbeam60@lemmy.one
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          1 year ago

          It isn’t just about flying a plane.

          You’ve got to be certified in each weapon the planes are supplied with. You’ve got to learn the doctrines, then shift to the doctrines, that the planes were built for.

          Then you’ve got to resupply the planes. Maintain them. Fix them. Service them. Store them. Debug them. Keep them in the air.

          There’s a massive logistical challenge to integrating F-16s into Ukraine.

          • BilboBargains@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Who knew it would be so difficult and time consuming to learn how to fly around and do a bit of pew-pew. I thought it was more like getting in the car and driving to the shop, but with bombs.

      • mihor@lemmy.ml
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        1 year ago

        Sadly?? Those pilots are lucky, they’re getting paid training in a safe place and when they finally finish they won’t need to fight since there won’t be anything left to fight over, no need for suicide missions.