Vári Gyula in the cockpit of a MiG-29
I was born on 6 May 1967 in Nagykőrös. I first came into contact with flying at the age of 15. I first learnt to fly gliders, then motorised aircraft. This interest turned into a “passion”, so there was no doubt that I would continue my studies at the György Kilián College of Aviation.
I graduated from the college in Košice, the György Kilián College of Aviation, in 1990. With my fresh degree in hand, I returned home thinking: ‘Give me a plane, they can’t possibly teach me anything new!’ They could. Back home, I had to embark on yet another never-ending course of study. I was posted to Szolnok. There, I acquired general military knowledge and studied English for a year.
From 1991, I was assigned to the first squadron at Kecskemét Airport, flying the MiG-21. First with the ‘Puma’ squadron, then with the ‘Dongó’ squadron. After that, I took part in several months of training in England.
In 1993, I underwent retraining in Russia on the MiG-29B and MiG-29UB models.
In 1994, I passed the British Council’s intermediate English language exam.
In 1995, I again undertook several months of training as a captain, this time studying leadership theory at Maxwell Air Force Base in the United States, as well as attending the Squadron Officer School for squadron commander training.
In 1996 I took an advanced language exam in English, then I was appointed as a demonstration pilot of the Hungarian Air Force. In addition to continuous learning, I have obtained 3 advanced language exams (Czech, Slovak, English) and I speak two other languages at an advanced level.
In 1997, I obtained a PPL and CPL commercial pilot license.
In 1998, at the Royal International Air Tattoo Flying Show in Fairford, England, I received the 'As the Crow Flies Trophy' award for the winner of the 'Absolute category'.
Fairford again. In addition to the award for the winner of the 'Absolute category' of the Royal International Air Tattoo, I was also awarded the award for the best presentation in the category of single and two-seater fighter aircraft.
MH 59. I am appointed as a training officer of the Training Department of the Operations and Training Headquarters of the Szentgyörgyi Dezső Air Base. From May, I have been the editor-in-chief of the online magazine www.jetfly.hu, which deals with military aviation.
Cottesmore, Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT 2001). At the hangar party at the end of the multi-day International Aviation Day, I was first able to receive the "Cannestra Trophy" offered by the Lockheed-Martin company, and then the "As the Crow Flies Trophy" for the winner of the "Absolute category".
L-29 "Delfin"; L-29R "Delfin"; L-39C "Albatros"; L-39 ZA "Albatros"; L-39V "Albatros"; MiG-21 F13; MiG-21 MF; MiG-21 UM; MiG-29 B; MiG-29 UB; Jak-52; Jak-18T; Zlin-142; Cessna 152; Cessna 172
I get a lot of letters, mostly from teenage boys who are looking for a handhold to soar through my example. Many times I cannot answer the questions, because just as it is impossible to decipher the secret of the Philosopher's Stone, it is equally difficult to give a symbolic key to a student who is about to graduate, with which he can enter the world of aviation.
Everyone has to walk this path on their own!
Vári Gyula
