During the Cold War Sweden outwardly maintained its neutrality, however from the 1960s the U.S. secretly promised to provide military force in aid of Sweden in case of Soviet aggression. As part of the military cooperation, the U.S. provided much help in the development of the Saab 37 Viggen aircraft.

I spoke with Benke, a former Swedish Air Force pilot who flew the Viggen. He shares his path to becoming a pilot in the Air Force, the intricacies of flight training, encounters with Soviet aircraft during the Cold War, and the unique challenges faced by the Swedish Air Force.

Join me for an insightful discussion that highlights the passion for flying and the realities of Cold War military aviation!

Episode extras here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode386/

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Defending Baltic Skies : A Swedish Air Force Pilot's Cold War (386)