Flying with the Baltic Bees Jet Team | Louis Skupien

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There are moments in life where everything aligns—opportunity, preparation, timing—and all that’s left is the choice to go for it. For me, this was one of those moments.

Last week, I travelled to Jurmala, Latvia, to work with one of Europe’s most elite civilian fighter jet display teams: the Baltic Bees. Known for their razor-sharp precision and adrenaline-fuelled performances in L-39 Albatros jets, the team invited me out to their base to take part in something few civilians ever experience.

Not just one flight.

Three.

Into the Sky

On Tuesday the 25th, I flew three missions with the team. Two of them were full formation flights—just feet apart from four jets at over 500mph. The third was a solo training sortie that gave me an even deeper insight into what it takes to master these aircraft.

I was strapped into the #1 lead jet, flying with Team Leader Artyom Soloduha, a man whose calm in the cockpit was only matched by his intensity in the air. Together, we led the entire team through a full airshow sequence—pulling up to 6 Gs, flipping inverted, carving through the sky in perfect sync with three other jets locked in beside us.

The closeness was mind-blowing. You look out the window and see another aircraft’s wing just inches away. Every move is coordinated. Every breath is timed. Every millimetre matters.

We even recreated scenes inspired by Top Gun: Maverick—jets lined up behind me as we charged through the skies, just like the film’s iconic low-level formation shots.

Seizing the Rare

This wasn’t just another flight. This was a one-in-a-million opportunity. The Baltic Bees don’t open their doors easily—especially not for full documentary access. But the team believed in my vision, trusted my work, and invited me in to tell their story from inside the cockpit.

We captured everything:

• Behind-the-scenes operations in the hangar

• Full pre-flight prep and mission briefings

• In-depth interviews with the team

• And of course, jaw-dropping in-flight footage using state-of-the-art camera equipment

The final documentary is currently in production and will be one of the most immersive aviation experiences I’ve ever created. From the moment you see those jets fire up, to the deafening roar of formation passes—it’s designed to put you right there in the sky with us.

Reflecting on the Experience

I’m not a pilot (yet), but I’ve made it my mission to immerse myself in the world of aviation—to fly, film, and share the stories that most people never get to see.

And that mission has taken me to some wild places. From formation flights with the Patriots Jet Team in California to filming a documentary on the F-22 Raptor with the US Air Force, each project has been about pushing limits—physically, mentally, creatively.

This one, though? It was different. It was personal.

It reminded me that the only way to truly grow is to chase the wild, scary, rare opportunities when they come. Because if you wait, they pass. And if you say yes? They change you.