Meeting a famous Fighter Pilot.

rtfoe

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Richard
Recently I saw a Youtube channel that featured the 10 best Female Fighter Pilots in the world and was surprised that a Malayisan pilot was number 3 in the line up. Our members were fortunate to meet up with her on a few occasions since we know her ex CO whose a modeler himself but is now attached to the Airforce Military Attache in Moscow.
She is Major Patricia Yapp and she flies the MIG-29 and is now an instructor. Has escaped if I'm correct from flame outs to spins regaining control of here trainer aircraft an Aermacchi in her early years. She's a member of the Airforces 17 Squadron and Smokey Bandits aerobatic team.

"The Royal Malaysian Air Force's 17 Squadron at Kuantan formed a MiG-29 display team in 1997, named "The Smokey Bandits" because of the smoke trails produced by the MiG-29's RD-33 engines. Unlike the Malaysian national aerobatic team, the Smokey Bandits are not a permanent display team and only appear at major events flying regular MiG-29s. The few public displays took place at LIMA and the Formula One Grand Prix in Malaysia, as well as BRIDEX 2010 in Brunei and Singapore Airshow 2012. They have not displayed since 2013 to prolong the service of the RMAF's ageing MiG-29 fleet."

Fortunate to have taken a photograph with her two years ago.

Penang 30.6.19 257.jpg
That's her next to her sitting on the ladder next to her CO call sign Arrow. Sebastians now in Moscow.
3somewMiG.jpg
Cheers,
Richard
 
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