It is known that Greece has an excellent composition of air force personnel, pilots who have successfully participated in all types of international combat exercises and excelled in them. However, among the men there is a young female pilot who is “afraid of the Turks.”
The combat power of the Hellenic Air Force was clearly demonstrated during the recent ATLC (Advanced Tactical Leadership Course) exercises held in the Emirates. The best pilots from such countries as the USA, Great Britain and Saudi Arabia participated in the exercises. In addition, Australia and India also participated as observers.
Our country participated with three Mirage 2000-5s as well as relevant support personnel. Among the pilots selected for the exercise was a lieutenant commander (I). This is 29-year-old Theodora Duru, a pilot who impressed everyone with her skills and efficiency in extremely difficult “aerobatics” missions. The Greek pilot stood out among the 250 participants who underwent multi-day training in various extreme scenarios and advanced air combat tactics.
Theodora is currently the most “combat-ready” female fighter pilot, as she has already participated in air battles with the Turkish Air Force several times, fixing several “shooting down enemy combat vehicles.” Her motivation to become a fighter pilot was her love of flying. As a baby, she watched the plane fly over her village of Malesina in Phthiotis and dreamed of “conquering the sky.”
Theodora’s colleagues describe her as “courageous and resilient”. The young woman has earned respect and appreciation for her abilities. Danger does not frighten her, because, according to her, she is accustomed to live in these conditions. “Risk is part of my profession, and we are called upon to deal with it every day,” she said in an interview with MEGA.
It flies regularly and in national airspace night observation flights, protecting all of us while we work or play, and confirms, despite the stereotypes that still exist in society, there is no discrimination between men and women in the Air Force.
The fighting woman, as usual, puts on her pilot uniform, helmet and mask, masterfully taking off from Tanagra, proudly carrying the Greek coat of arms on her tunic, and knows that at this time her whole family is very supportive.
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