Editing Ilan Ramon (section)

==Air Force career==
[[File:Colonel ilan ramon , israeli air force website.jpg|thumb|left|Ramon as a Colonel in the Israeli Air Force]]
[[File:IAF F-16A Netz 243 CIAF 2004.jpg|thumb|The [[F-16]] ''Netz #243'' flown by Ramon in [[Operation Opera]]. The green and black triangular emblem on the nose commemorates the attack.]]
Ramon was a [[Israel Defense Forces ranks|Colonel (''Aluf Mishne'')]] and a [[fighter aircraft|fighter pilot]] in the [[Israeli Air Force]], with thousands of hours of [[flight|flying]] experience. He began the fighter pilot's course at the [[Israeli Air Force Flight Academy]] in 1972, but was forced to suspend his studies after breaking his hand. Ramon served in an [[electronic warfare]] unit in the [[Sinai Peninsula|Sinai]] during the [[Yom Kippur War]], and afterwards, returned to the flight academy. He graduated from the fighter pilots' course in 1974. From 1974 to 1976, Ramon participated in [[A-4 Skyhawk]] Basic Training and Operations. From 1976 to 1980, he participated in training and operations for the [[Dassault Mirage III|Mirage IIIC]]. In 1980, as one of the IAF's establishment team of the first F-16 Squadron in Israel, Ramon attended the F-16 Training Course at [[Hill Air Force Base]], [[Utah]]. From 1981 to 1983, he served as the Deputy Squadron Commander B, F-16 Squadron.<ref name=nasabio/>

In 1981, Ramon was the youngest pilot taking part in [[Operation Opera]], Israel's strike against [[Iraq]]'s unfinished [[Osirak|Osiraq]] [[nuclear reactor]]. The facility was destroyed, killing ten Iraqi soldiers and one French researcher.<ref>{{cite news|last=Service |first=Haaretz |url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1114256.html |title=Astronaut Ilan Ramon's son dies in IAF crash, September 13, 2009 |publisher=Haaretz |date=February 1, 2003 |access-date=September 1, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/5020778.stm | work=BBC News | title=Factfile: How Osirak was bombed | date=June 5, 2006 | access-date=May 5, 2010}}</ref> Ramon also participated in the [[1982 Lebanon War]].

After attending the [[Tel Aviv University]], Ramon served as Deputy Squadron Commander A, [[119 Squadron (Israel)|119 Squadron]], flying the [[F-4 Phantom]] (1988–1990). In 1990, he attended the Squadron Commanders Course and between 1990 and 1992, commanded [[117 Squadron (Israel)|117 Squadron]], flying the [[F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16]]. From 1992 to 1994, Ramon was head of the Aircraft Branch in the Operations Requirement Department. In 1994, he was promoted to the rank of colonel and assigned as head of the Department of Operational Requirement for Weapon Development and Acquisition. Ramon stayed at this post until 1998.

Ramon accumulated over 3,000 flight hours on the A-4, Mirage IIIC, and F-4, and over 1,000 flight hours on the F-16.<ref name=nasabio>{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/ramon.pdf |title=ILAN RAMON (COLONEL, ISRAEL AIR FORCE), PAYLOAD SPECIALIST |publisher=NASA |access-date=May 15, 2021}}</ref>