About & Contact

About Achtung, Skyhawk!*

First and foremost a creative outlet for my life-long (and highly irrational) love of light aircraft, Achtung, Skyhawk! is intended to be a portal for all things weird & nerdy in GA, focusing primarily on Croatia – but not ignoring developments elsewhere in the region. Rather than operate as just another dime-a-dozen news source, I’ve long intended for this site to provide something of a personal, occasionally humorous, but still factual and hopefully interesting insight into just what is going on out there in the real un-PR-friendly GA world.

As such, the purely documentary reporting on day-to-day events that I had started with back in 2009 had quickly gone out the window, to be replaced instead by photo stories (using my own material as much as possible), rare aircraft dossiers and a broad range of operational and historical topics that I believe might be of interest to the GA enthusiast.

Additionally, my regular readers (if there are any 🤔) may have noticed that my posting frequency can vary quite a lot, from two-three articles a week to year long pauses between posts (an unflattering record set in 2024). Given what was said above, I’ve long ago decided to publish only when I have something of worth to publish, and when the material concerned meets my own standards of form and quality. Simply put, I unapologetically – even militantly – refuse to write solely for the sake of regularity and punctuality.

* perhaps somewhat unusual as they go, the name also requires a bit of explanation. In line with my intention that it be factually correct, intellectually engaging – but also easy, pleasant and interesting to read – I’d decided from the outset that the portal had to contain some form of good-natured humor, intended most of all to demystify and liven up the matter covered. To that end, I’ve decided to customize the title of the 1997 computer game “Achtung, Spitfire!” (or General Heinz Guderian’s 1936 book “Achtung, Panzer!”, whichever works better), adding a personal touch to catch the eye of the visitor and have a bit of fun at my own expense along the way… 🙂

The Author

My name is Boran Pivčić, and I was born & bred here in Zagreb, the capital of the aforementioned Croatia. I’m now 40, and have for all but a few of those years had a connection to aviation in one form another, firstly through the stereotypical “my parents worked in it” bit – and then later through my own GA and professional flying. Starting out in 2002 at age of 17 (when you could get a PPL but not a driving license 🤨), I’m currently an F/O on the CSeries at Croatia Airlines, following a very interesting 10-year stint on the mighty Q400 (Go Team Bombardier! 💪).

Dabbling with aviation photography since 2001, my first attempts at something serious were made with a point-and-shoot Olympus film camera, and shortly afterwards a slightly more advanced digital Fuji S5000 – the cumulative results of which were not at all encouraging. After some experimentation and much frustration, in 2003 I’d upgraded to my first proper camera – a Canon EOS 20D mid-range DSLR – which would in 2010 give way to a high-end Canon EOS 5D Mark II, and later in 2017 the Mark IV I’m still using now. Lenses used with the three include the Canon 17-40 f/4L wide angle (since replaced by the Canon 16-35 f/4L), the Canon 24-105 f/4L general purpose, and the Canon 70-200 f/4L and 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L telephoto units.

In addition to Achtung, Skyhawk!, I also maintain my own aviation photo gallery on Instagram, which – like this site – is intended to showcase by best photo and avnerd work over the past decade+. Both of these (questionable) skills had previously also come together in my role of photojournalist for local aviation magazine Aeronautika (since shut down), where I was the go-to guy for GA topics, the Paris Air Show… and, by being in the right place at the right time (albeit through NO effort on my part), the Eurofighter Typoon.

I think that covers all the relevant bases; so enjoy your visit here and happy browsing!

Photo & Text Copyrights & Usage Information

All of the photos featured on this site were taken by me unless otherwise indicated (usually under each photo, w/ links provided as necessary); the texts too are entirely my own work. The standard copyright stuff thus applies: the works posted here are for the user’s personal viewing and enjoyment only, and any wider distribution or commercial usage requires my prior permission in writing. Failing to acquire that invokes all the relevant legal actions.

Contact Information

Should you like to use any image presented here for commercial purposes – or would like to privately comment, commend, criticize, or inquire about any post or information presented therein – please feel free to contact me at achtungskyhawk(at)gmail.com.