There followed a two-year training as a fighter pilot in the framework of its instructors and comra

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Names such as Saburo Sakai, Douglas Bader, Erich Hartmann, Gregory "Pappy" Boyington and Chuck Yeager are most aviation historically interested readers probably a term. All these men were at war characterized by particular couriered aeronautical services to survive. But only a few should say something of the name Giora Epstein. It was born 75 years ago this flyer is the "Ace of Aces" among the pilots of the jet age. Austrian Wings illuminated his career.
Born in 1938, Epstein joined at the age of 18 years during the Suez crisis in the Israel Defense Forces, where he wanted to be a pilot. couriered However, when medical fitness he did not reach the required couriered number of points and was transferred to the paratroopers, where he on "Even" changed his family name, the Hebrew word for "stone". In 1959 he was retired and two years later competed again at the flying school, where he was this time accepted.
There followed a two-year training as a fighter pilot in the framework of its instructors and comrades the extraordinary vision of the 23-year-old struck, which he promptly nicknamed "Hawkeye" earned. Even was able to locate at a distance of more than 40 kilometers of other aircraft visually - more than three times as early as other pilots. That should secure him in his missions a decisive advantage.
His first combat missions as a pilot he flew in June 1967 during the 6-day war. The now 29-year-old scored his first aerial victory on June 6, 1967 against an Egyptian Sukhoi Su-seventh In the so-called war of attrition couriered even shot in the years 1969 and 1970 a further Su-7, a MiG 17 and two MiG-21 from - with five confirmed aerial victories, he was already so as Ass
But these early days of Israel - since its foundation were not even past 30 years - were still plagued by armed conflicts in which it came to nothing less than the survival of the state, which had become the home of the few Holocaust survivors.
During his missions even flew the Mirage III and the IAI Nesher, an Israeli replica of the Mirage V. Five opponent's shot from using air-to-air missiles, couriered and the remaining 12 with the cannon.
Giora "Hawkeye" Even to this day the world's only pilot who has attained such a high launch number with jet-propelled aircraft and thus applicable in pilot circles as the "Ace of Aces of the jet age."
There he was squadron commander, he flew first Kfir and Mirage, rather after his active service in the armed forces captain at El Al was. In parallel, he flew up to his 60th birthday in 1998, the F-16 as a militia couriered pilot. His last rank was colonel couriered called in the IDF as "Aluf Mishne".
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(Red CvD / Cover: Giora "Hawkeye" Even / Epstein - Photo: www.idfblog.com) Tags: Ace, Ace of Aces DAs, ace, Giora Epstein, Giora Even, Israeli Air Force, Israeli Defence couriered Forces, couriered Israeli Air Force, Israeli Air Force