Behind the scenes with flight display pilots: “Awesome, cool, gigantic.”

Not everyone can become a display pilot. Only a select few are allowed to show off the capabilities of Eurofighter jets, A400M transport aircraft, NH90 helicopters or historic Me262s to the public. Captain Noble, the Luftwaffe's Eurofighter display pilot, is one.

Before he could even apply for the job, Captain Noble had to fulfill three conditions: 500 flight hours in the Eurofighter, as well as experience as a flight leader and flight supervisor. Only then, explains Noble, was he selected as a display pilot by his Wing Commander. But that didn’t mean he was a display pilot quite yet. There was still one thing to do: train, train and train some more. After that, Noble says, the time had finally come: “I was good to go out into the world and show what the Eurofighter is capable of.”

For a Noble cause

And the Eurofighter is capable of a whole lot. Its two engines produce around 150,000 horsepower and push the aircraft to Mach 2.35 - just under 2,900 kilometers per hour. The aircraft only needs two minutes to climb to almost 11,000 meters. This makes it ideal for QRA duty (Quick Reaction Alert), preventing intruders from penetrating national territory. When it comes to securing NATO's eastern flank, the Eurofighter is therefore indispensable.

The audience at the Airpower show in the Austrian town of Zeltweg certainly enjoyed the Eurofighter's performance. Noble’s display at Europe's largest air show running from September 6 to 7, 2024, was among those greeted with the most  applause.

 ^{Captain Noble takes off for his display at the Airpower airshow in Zeltweg, Austria. Copyright: Airbus Defence and Space 2024/Martin Agüera}

Calling the Dude

The A400M display crew of the German Air Force and pilot Gunnar K. were also enthusiastically received. The Lieutenant Colonel, nicknamed “Dude”, shows the world what the A400M can do. For him, it's a calling: “I became a display pilot because it is necessary to show what the German Air Force and our aircraft can do. I think it's great to be able to show this at airshows.”

And that's quite a bit: the A400M can fly distances up to 8,900 kilometers, at a cruising altitude up to 11,300 metres and at a speed of up to 889 kmh. It can carry up to 37 tonnes of cargo, for example large helicopters such as the H225M, NH90, Chinook or heavy vehicles and equipment for humanitarian aid. The A400M can be used as a transporter, a tanker and a Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) aircraft. What's more, it can take off and land almost anywhere, even on small and unprepared airstrips.

The A400M is proving its worth day in and day out, supporting Airbus customer air forces in achieving their missions or supporting NATO air forces on the eastern flank. Evacuation missions from Kabul or Sudan would not have been possible without it. Additionally, the A400M is used to provide emergency aid in the event of natural disasters.

^{Lieutenant Colonel Gunnar K. salutes the crowd after the German Air Force’s A400M display. Copyright: Airbus Defence and Space 2024/Martin Agüera}

Flying displays is awesome

But how does it really feel to fly displays? “Gigantic, it's cool,” says Noble. For Gunnar K. it is “a great honour”. And Captain Tim, the pilot of the NH90 display team of the German Army from Faßberg in Northern Germany, thinks “flying the NH90 is awesome. Despite its 11 tons, the helicopter is extremely agile. This is quite an achievement for a transport helicopter.”

The NH90 military helicopter is a modern, multi-role rotorcraft designed to meet the most stringent NATO standards. Developed in two versions – tactical transport (TTH) and NATO frigate helicopter (NFH) – the NH90 contains a unique, fully integrated mission system for multi-role operations in the most demanding conditions over land and sea, day and night. More than 500 NH90s have been delivered to 18 customers in 14 countries (by the end of 2023), accumulating more than 400,000 flight hours.

^{The NH90 helicopter of the German Army, flown by Captain Tim. Copyright: Airbus Defence and Space 2024/Martin Agüera}

As close as it gets

The flying displays of Noble, Gunnar K. and Tim often come close to the audience. Meticulous preparation and a lot of practice are essential. ‘In the simulator and in the real airplane we have to rehearse the exact procedures in the cockpit,’ Gunnar K. explains. “A very high level of trust between both pilots is necessary.” 

Zeltweg has another particularity, adds Noble: ”Here, you have the mountains close by. So I designed my display for small airfields where there are mountains. And that's why it's cool for spectators, because you're relatively close to the display.”

Safety always comes first, as Captain Tim emphasises: “As everywhere, you must not leave certain safety areas and must always keep an eye on things to ensure safety at all times.”

^{At the Airpower airshow, the crowd gets to catch all the action up close. Copyright: Airbus Defence and Space 2024/Martin Agüera}

For the love of historic aircraft

It’s not just current aircraft such as the Eurofighter, the A400M or the NH90 that catch the eye of airshow spectators. They love historic planes, too, says Geri Krähenbühl. Krähenbühl, who also used to fly Eurofighter and A400M displays, is responsible for all the “old things that we have at Airbus”. These include the replica of a Messerschmitt Me262, “the first operational aircraft powered by jet propulsion”.

The Me262 was a real crowd-puller at Airpower, says Krähenbühl who presented the vintage aircraft to the audience in the skies above Zeltweg. “It's actually the case that whenever we are invited to a show, the organisers know that many more people will come, because this airplane is so popular and simply unique.” According to Krähenbühl, the Me262 was ten years ahead of its time and paved the way for today's civil and military aircraft. With its swept wings, modern cockpit and axial jet engines, it marked the beginning of the jet age.

^{Geri Krähenbühl and his Me262 are ready for take-off. Copyright: Airbus Defence and Space 2024/Martin Agüera}

Super flying machines

The Me262 display in Zeltweg was something very special, says Geri: “It was wonderful to fly, the Me262 is a wonderful aircraft.” The other display pilots also have a very special relationship with their aircraft. “This product that Airbus has given us is quite extraordinary and something special,” says A400M display pilot Gunnar K. Noble sees it similarly: ”The two engines (of the Eurofighter) are super fun. The whole combination of power and weight makes the whole thing a super flying machine.”

Now, these are pretty good prerequisites for the upcoming airshows. The spectators will love it.

 

Check out the interviews with Captain Noble, Lieutenant Colonel Gunnar K, Captain Tim and Geri Krähenbühl:

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Eurofighter A400M  NH90 Flugmuseum Messerschmitt