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BamBam, German Air Force: Becoming a pilot was the hardest thing I had to do // Humans of NATO Days

LtCol. Michael “BamBam” Schaudienst from Tactical Air Force Wing 31 “Boelcke” of the German Air Force took to the skies at the NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days for a truly special display. With his final public show scheduled just a week later at the Malta Airshow, this was a rare chance to see him fly one of his last performances. In this Humans of NATO Days interview, he opens up about the fear and thrill of his first solo flight, the passion that kept him going through years of training, and the moments that still make him fall in love with flying every single time.

What motivated you to become a fighter pilot and how did your journey begin in the German Air Force?
What motivated me to become a fighter pilot was the movie Top Gun. It sounds corny, but I actually watched the movie, and after that I said: I want to become a fighter pilot. And how did I start? We all have to start. You have to apply, go through all the testing, and at some point, get approved. Then you start at the officer’s school, and after that you start pilot training.

How old were you when you watched the movie? What was the main thing that made you think: yes, I will be a pilot?
I think I’m not quite sure, but I probably was anywhere between 12 and 14, and I just loved it. I loved the movie. I loved the flying, I loved the scenes, I loved the views. That’s the first time you get an insight into the pilot life. I liked the jokes they made, but I also really liked the competition. To me it was like they all want to be the best of the best, and they are already so good. That really motivated me. The competition was definitely a big factor.

How did you feel the first time you sat in an airplane?
I was scared the first time. During training, even when I had my hands on the controls, I was already scared. And I think the scariest day of my life was when they told me I had to fly solo, all by myself, and do three or four landings. I really thought I was going to die. Chances were fifty-fifty. That was the scariest day of my life.

And how did you manage it?
It was okay. It was controlled crashing. It went definitely better than I expected, but it was not pretty. I survived it, apparently, but it was scary.

Where does your callsign BamBam come from, and is there any story behind it?
Behind every callsign there is always a story. But those stories usually belong to the pilots, because there is always something funny behind it. You usually tell that story with a beer, not in an interview. So yes, there is a story behind it, but I’m not going to share it here.

How do callsigns usually work? Where do you get them from?
When you are a pilot, they keep you humble the whole time. It is so hard to learn, and the people that teach you are so far ahead of you. In the beginning, they feel like gods, because of what they can do and what you cannot. So you make a lot of mistakes in the beginning, because it’s so difficult and you start from scratch. There are always super funny stories. After a while, we do a so-called roll call, where all pilots come together. There’s a little bit of drinking involved. You leave the room, and then people tell stories about you. At some point they have like ten or fifteen stories, and one sticks. They say: that’s the best and funniest story, and that’s how we’re going to name him. And then they call you by that name.

What does flying the Eurofighter Typhoon mean to you?
It used to be everything for me. It was my biggest goal in life, to become a pilot. It was also the most challenging thing I’ve done so far. The first time I flew it was one of the biggest moments of my life. I was super proud. But the second you achieve the goal, you’re like: checkmark, what’s next? In the beginning, you’re nervous, you always have to learn. By now, I can really enjoy it. I’ve seen a lot, I’ve done a lot, and I’m fairly comfortable. Now I just enjoy every flight, even the displays.

Is it hard to become a pilot?
For me, yes. It was probably the hardest thing I had to do.

What does your pre-show routine look like before a display flight?
Even months before I start flying the routine, I chair-fly it in my head. I sit somewhere, close my eyes, and try to feel exactly all the movements I would do in the aircraft. Speed, throttle, stick movements, working against the Gs, breathing — everything. I try to make it as realistic as possible, including emotions. Your brain doesn’t really know the difference between imagining it and actually doing it. I’ve probably done that around two thousand times, so it is engraved in my mind. So now I go through it once before the flight, and once again while taxiing, and then I start.

Which maneuver in your current display routine is the most challenging, and which one is your favorite?
The most challenging maneuver is slowing down for slow flight, because the Eurofighter does not want to slow down. I try to be as close as I can, which gives me very little time to slow down. That is the most difficult for me. My favorite is the takeoff, because I still love the acceleration of the Eurofighter. It’s unmatched. The display starts there, and I love hitting the afterburners and going.

Do you have a comparison with other jets?
I flew the Grob 120 Alpha, the T-6, the T-38, and I had a flight in an F-16 as a double-seater. Compared to all of these, it’s completely different.

It is the 25th edition of NATO Days & Czech Air Force Days. What is your impression of the event?
I really like it. It’s very well organized. We met a lot of lovely people, the Czech people are super nice. We had dinner in downtown Ostrava, and everyone was very open and welcoming.
We are really enjoying it. 

Do you have a highlight from your display flying career so far?
My highlight is meeting other people, other display pilots, and the bond we have. They are the only ones who really know what you’re going through, how it feels, and what you’re doing. I don’t think anybody else can comprehend it, because everybody thinks it’s just fun. And it is fun, but it’s also dangerous. You are so close to the ground, you are so fast. One mistake can kill you every single time. So if you have a bad day and you know you have a bad day, you did not sleep well, I think no one else can really relate to it.
I also love the engagement with the public, especially children. They want to take pictures, they ask questions. They make some funny jokes, they are interested in what you do. The aircraft is so loud and for them it’s new. Seeing their smiles always lifts me up. I love it.

Can you share a funny moment?
To be honest, I have unlimited funny moments in my career. I can share one from yesterday, actually. We were picked up from the hotel with a police escort — my first one ever. We were driving in a Škoda, and the driver followed the police. I asked him if he had done this before — he said no. I asked him how he felt, and he said: “I feel like James Bond.” That was really funny.

Do you have any hobbies people wouldn’t expect?
I love sports, going to the gym, riding bikes. I’m also interested in finance and stocks. What people wouldn’t expect is that I cry like a little baby during sad movies. Usually I am not emotional, but for some reason, sad movies always get me.

What would you say to someone who wants to become a pilot?
This doesn’t only apply to becoming a pilot, but to anything in life. If you feel a deep wish inside yourself, you have to follow it, you have to go for it. Even if you don’t make it, you have to try. I think that’s what life is about. You are going to make mistakes. Learn from your mistakes. But if you don’t follow your passion and the opportunities, you won’t be happy. Follow your heart, go for it, do everything you can. Do not have a plan B. Really go for it. 

Is there anything you would like to say to our visitors and followers?
I want to thank everybody for the interest and the support. If people didn’t come, we wouldn’t do any shows. The only reason we are here is because people take their time and money to come and watch us. Without them, we wouldn’t be here. So, I would like to thank everybody for the time they dedicated to coming here and watching us.