Prabowo Gets Brevet And Wing TNI AU: Proud, When I Was Young I Wanted To Be A Pilot

Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto after receiving the honorary brevet and wing of the Indonesian Air Force Class I at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, Jakarta, Wednesday (8/3/2023). ANTARA/Gilang Galiartha

JAKARTA - Minister of Defense (Menhan) Prabowo Subianto said he was proud because of his dreams as a young man to become an Air Force (AU) pilot "come" after receiving the brevet and wing of the honorary pilot of the Indonesian Air Force I.

"I certainly feel proud, when I was young I wanted to be an Air Force pilot, but finally entered the Army. It's okay, in the end I also got an Honorary Wing," he told the media crew at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base (Lanud), Jakarta, Wednesday, March 8, which was confiscated by Antara.

The Defense Minister received brevets and wings of the honorary aviator, Commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces, Admiral Yudo Margono, accompanied by the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Air Force Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo.

Before receiving the brevet, the Defense Minister first took a tandem flight aboard the TNI AU F-16 fighter TS-1601 accompanied by Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo.

The Defense Minister took off at around 10.40 WIB and took a flight for approximately 30 minutes before landing back at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base.

Prabowo shared his experience of flying using the TS-1601 Indonesian Air Force F-16 aircraft which seemed to leave a impression of admiration.

"The absence of the fighter aircraft was very fast. In five minutes we were already at the Queen Port, very fast," he said.

The experience made the Minister of Defense aware of how much speed and reaction accuracy were needed by Indonesian Air Force pilots and decisions made by TNI officials.

"If there is a disturbance from outside, this is a matter of minutes. It means that if we are disturbed, invaded, we cannot hope. We cannot defend the country based on expectations, it must be based on preparation," said Prabowo.