Mette Grøtteland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mette Grøtteland
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|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Jet-Mette |
| Born | 1969 (age 55–56) Sandnes, Norway |
| Allegiance |  Norway |
| Service/ |
 Royal Norwegian Air Force |
| Years of service | 1991– |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | No. 332 Squadron RNoAF No. 331 Squadron RNoAF No. 330 Squadron RNoAF |
Mette Grøtteland was born in 1969. She made history by becoming the first female fighter pilot in the Royal Norwegian Air Force. This happened in 1992 after she finished her training to fly jet fighter planes.
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Early Life and Training
Mette Grøtteland was born in 1969 in a city called Sandnes in Norway. In 1991, she was a second lieutenant in the military. She traveled to the United States to train as a fighter pilot.
Becoming a Fighter Pilot
Mette returned to Norway on March 3, 1992. On this day, she officially became Norway's first female fighter pilot. People started calling her "Jet-Mette" because of her amazing achievement.
Flying Different Aircraft
After her training, Mette Grøtteland joined No. 332 Squadron RNoAF. This squadron was based at Rygge Air Station. She first flew Northrop F-5 fighter jets.
Switching to F-16s
In the autumn of 1992, Mette learned to fly a new type of plane. She started flying the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon. This is a very famous and powerful fighter jet.
Moving Squadrons
At the start of 1993, Mette moved to a different group. She transferred to No. 331 Squadron RNoAF at Bodø Air Station. By the year 2000, Mette Grøtteland had become a Captain. She was back at Rygge Air Station again.
Becoming a Helicopter Pilot
In 2006, Mette decided to learn to fly helicopters. She began flying the Westland Sea King helicopter in 2007. She joined No. 330 Squadron RNoAF at Sola Air Station. At that time, she was one of only three women in Norway who flew rescue helicopters.
