“This is an important day for all of us, a day we received the wings and become the guardians of the Croatian sky”, said Cadet Antonio Donadić, the best student of the 24th generation of military pilots at the award ceremony.

After years of hard work and effort, motivation and sacrifice to make their youth dream come true in the Croatian Air Force Training Centre “Rudolf Perešin” and took the flight training in the 392^nd Squadron on a Pilatus PC-9M and in the 393^rd Helicopter Squadron of the 93rd Wing of the Croatian Air Force on a Bell-206 B helicopter.  The 24^th generation comprised eight students, four fixed-wing pilots and four helicopter pilots.

At the ceremony organised to mark the completion of their education in the barracks “Pukovnik Mirko Vukušić” at Zemunik on 19 June 2020 the graduates (cadets  Antonio Donadić, Lovro Krnić, Mirko Kekez, privates Michael Cvjetović, Bruno Bulum and Goran Crnički and lieutenants Martin Škrtić and Ivan Lončar) received aviator badges of the Croatian Air Force.

Alongside their families and friends, the ceremony was attended by the President of the Republic of Croatia and the Supreme Commander Zoran Milanović, by the State Secretary for Defence Tomislav Ivić, by the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Admiral Robert Hranj, by the Commander of the Croatian Air Force Brigadier General Michael Križanec and other senior military and government officials

Modernisation of the Croatian Air Force

“This is an important day for all of us, a day we received the wings and become the guardians of the Croatian sky”, said Cadet Antonio Donadić, the best student of the 24^th generation of military pilots at the award ceremony.

“We wouldn’t be here today without the passion for the world’s most beautiful job. This is an occasion to commemorate proudly our colleagues Marin, Tomislav, Marko and Luka, who shared the passion, love, energy and a soul”, said Cadet Antonio Donadić, the best student of the 24^th generation of military pilots at the award ceremony, paying tribute paying tribute to the tragically deceased members of the Croatian Air Force.

“We have high expectations from you – to continue investing in you, to learn new things day by day and to put them into practice apply! We expect you to protect the Croatian skies, your families and to be always devoted to your homeland, “said President Milanović, extending best wishes for the cadets’ success in their future careers.

“The graduation of eight new pilots of the Croatian Air Force is a success of the military education system, and also your own achievement you can be proud of. I plead on you to be courageous and careful, realistic and rational in your careers”, said Admiral Hranj.

“Becoming military pilots you have joined the small group of selected individuals willing to place their abilities, motives and knowledge into the service of the Croatian Air Force and of Croatia, our homeland”, said the State Secretary Ivić, who also underlined the efforts towards modernisation of the Croatian Air Force.

“You have today embarked on a challenging yet world’s best profession. You have concluded lengthy and hard training, and are about to take on new challenges, additional training and training for the implementation of operational tasks of the Croatian Air Force, “said Brigadier General Križanec, thanking the young pilots and their families for their hard work and perseverance through education and training.

The presentation ceremony was followed by a flying sequence of the Croatian Air Force’s Aerobatic Team “Wings of Storm”, by a MiG-21 flypast and by a Croatian Armed Forces’ Jazz Band performance.

Private Bruno Bulum: “I have today become a pilot, and it feels incredible! There are many factors contributing to a pilot’s success, the most important is to love what you do. You have to be in love with your job!

2^nd Lieutenant Martin Škrtić:”Why I joined the Air Force? I have always heard saying – it is a big challenge, a few people can do it, and I said to myself – why not try? I was so happy and smiling long after I took off on my first flight. I knew I chose the right profession and that I wanted to do it for the rest of my life”

Cadet Antonio Donadić: “This is just a beginning, a first step in our professional path in service in the Croatian Air Force to our homeland Croatia. We are proud of our success crowned today and are ready for any challenge during our flying careers”.

Croatian version:

Početak zahtjevnog, ali i najboljeg poziva na svijetu