Bulgarian President Rumen Radev takes flight as F-16 co-pilot

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, a former military pilot, participated in a demonstration flight as a co-pilot aboard an F-16 fighter jet.

The 40-minute flight, showcasing aerobatic manoeuvres, took place at Bulgaria's Graf Ignatievo air base, following an invitation from the U.S. Air Force Command, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

"I want to thank the U.S. Air Force for the opportunity to fly the F-16 again. It brought me back to 2005 when, as the commander of Graf Ignatievo, I proposed stationing a U.S. F-16 squadron in Bulgaria to begin realistic fighter training exercises," Radev said. He recalled how the arrival of the squadron that year marked the start of close cooperation between the U.S. and Bulgarian air forces. During the flight, they performed various aerobatics, giving a bird's-eye view of the airbase, currently undergoing major renovations.

Radev noted that joint Bulgarian-American training revealed the outdated state of Bulgarian pilot training, leading to the complex transformation of the air force. "With the arrival of the new F-16 Block 70 aircraft, our collaboration will continue, and our pilots' skills will develop rapidly as they begin mastering the new technology," he added.

Bulgaria is set to receive its first batch of F-16 fighters next year, following the purchase of 16 jets in total.