F-16 - Episode Guide

The F-16 is Belgium's most important fighter jet, and those who fly them are considered the real elites. For the very first time, we will follow Belgian F-16 pilots through their job, their motivation and their relationship with their aircraft. Pilot Gadis will be interviewed about dangerous actions above IS territory in Syria and Iraq.

Chipo is 27 year old and is in his last phase of his training to become a fighterpilot: with his very first solo flight on a F-16. During an airshow in Italy, his nerves will be tested straight away when a sudden alarm goes off. In Jordan we will be taught by pilots about the equipment they use to combat IS, when ''Padre'', a chaplain and support for many fighters, suddenly appears.

What happens when a fighter pilot crashes in enemy territory and is caught by them? Belgian F-16 pilots will tell you what they're trained to do in those conditions. For Gadis it almost became a reality, when he suddenly faces some engine problems above enemy territory. Pilot Sprinkler will be followed when he joins as a pilot for his very first national march-past on the 21st of July. With the speed of approx. 400 km/h and within two meters of each other, four F16 fighter jets will overfly Brussels. But being a fighter pilot has some consequences too as we interview a widow and co-pilot of pilot Looke Viaene, who lost his life in 2002 during a tragic accident.

An emotional Scalle has to say his goodbye to his beloved F-16 aircraft after a good 24 years of duty. Within a few weeks he is being transfered to Beauvechain, where he is responsible for training young cadets. Chipo, who'se currently being trained to become a F-16 pilot, will be doing his very first mid-air refuelling. An important exercise as the F-16 is only able to fly a maximum of two hours without refuelling. After many theoretical lessons, it will be time to use it to practise with a speed of approximately 400 km/h. In Estonia, we follow Sprinkler and his colleague as they are tasked in guarding NATO airspace against Russian threats.

While Chipo learns his basic fighting maneouvres for one to one air battles in Kleine Brogel, the first mission of Gadis in Jordan in regards to IS is finished and returns to Belgium with a suitcase full of new experiences. We witness another round of goodbyes as both Scalle and Shell will say their goodbyes to their F-16. Shell will become an AWAC pilot for NATO, while Scalle with others will spend their time on training the new generation. We follow them during a visit to Sheppard Airforce Base in Texas, where they meet four young Belgian pilots during an international education program to prepare them to become a fighter pilot.