Mette Grøtteland

Mette Grøtteland (born 1969) became the first female fighter pilot in the Royal Norwegian Air Force after qualifying to fly jet fighter aircraft in 1992.

Mette Grøtteland
Nickname(s)Jet-Mette
Born1969 (age 5152)
Sandnes, Norway
Allegiance Norway
Service/branch Royal Norwegian Air Force
Years of service1991–
RankCaptain
UnitNo. 332 Squadron RNoAF
No. 331 Squadron RNoAF
No. 330 Squadron RNoAF

Early life

Grøtteland was born in 1969 in Sandnes, Norway.[1]

Military service

In 1991, then a second lieutenant, Grøtteland was sent to the United States to undergo fighter training. Returning to Norway on 3 March 1992, she became the first Norwegian female fighter pilot.[2] She was nicknamed "Jet-Mette".[1][3]

In Norway, Grøtteland joined No. 332 Squadron RNoAF at Rygge Air Station and first flew Northrop F-5 fighter aircraft, before converting to flying General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters in the autumn of 1992. She transferred to No. 331 Squadron RNoAF at Bodø Air Station at the beginning of 1993.[4] By 2000 Grøtteland held the rank of captain, and was again based at Rygge Air Station.[5]

In 2006 she converted to flying helicopters and began her service as a Westland Sea King helicopter pilot in 2007, transferring to No. 330 Squadron RNoAF at Sola Air Station. At the time she was one of three female rescue helicopter pilots in Norway.[1]

References

  1. Goa, Ine Mæland (15 December 2007). "Dronningen av Sea King". Stavanger Aftenblad (in Norwegian). Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  2. Arheim 1994, p. 69
  3. Keys, Laurinda (30 April 1993). "Scandinavian Women Have Held Combat Jobs Since 1980s". Associated Press. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  4. Arheim 1994, pp. 69, 101
  5. Statens forvaltningstjeneste, Informasjonsforvaltning 2001, p. 9

Bibliography

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