Finnish Air Force
The
Finnish Air Force (
Finnish:
Ilmavoimat) is one of the braches of the
Finnish Defence Forces.
\n
\nSuomen Ilmavoimat\nMotto: Qualitas Potentia Nostra
"Quality is our strength". \n |
| Established | 6 March, 1918\n |
| Personnel | 2974\n |
| Commander-in-Chief | Lieutenant General Jouni Pystynen\n |
Organisation
The Air Force is organised into three commands, each of which operates a fighter squadron:
- Air Force Headquarter at Tikkakoski\n*Lapland Air Command (Fighter Squadron 11) at Rovaniemi\n*Karelia Air Command (Fighter Squadron 31) at Kuopio\n*Satakunta Air Command (Fighter Squadron 21) at Tampere\n*Support Squadron at Tikkakoski\n*C3 Systems School at Tikkakoski\n*Finnish Air Force C3I Materiel Command at Tikkakoski\n*Air Force Academy at Kauhava\n*Aircraft and Weapon Systems School at Halli\n*Flight Test Center of Air Force at Halli\n*Air Materiel Command at Tampere
\nThe three commands are part of the Defence Forces' Readiness formations.
Commanders
- Captain Carl Seber 28.04.1918 - 13.12.1918\n*Lieutenant Colonel Torsten Aminoff 14.12.1918 - 09.01.1919\n*Colonel Sixtus Hjelmmann 10.01.1919 - 25.10.1920\n*Major Aarne Somersalo 26.10.1920 - 02.02.1926\n*Colonel Väinö Vuori 02.02.1926 - 07.09.1932\n*Lieutenant General Jarl Lundqvist 08.09.1932 - 29.06.1945\n*Lieutenant General Frans Helminen 30.06.1945 - 30.11.1952\n*Lieutenant General Reino Artola 01.12.1952 - 05.12.1958\n*Major General Fjalar Seeve 06.12.1958 - 12.09.1964\n*Lieutenant General Reino Turkki 13.09.1964 - 04.12.1968\n*Lieutenant General Eero Salmela 07.02.1969 - 21.04.1975\n*Lieutenant General Rauno Meriö 22.04.1975 - 31.01.1987\n*Lieutenant General Pertti Jokinen 01.02.1987 - 31.01.1991\n*Lieutenant General Heikki Nikunen 01.02.1991 - 30.04.1995\n*Major General Matti Ahola 01.05.1995 - 31.08.1998\n*Lieutenant General Jouni Pystynen 01.09.1998 -
Equipment
- McDD F-18 C/D Hornet (HN), fighter interceptors (63)\n* BAE Hawk Mk51/51A (HW), trainers (51). The Hawks can also be fitted with AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and ground attack munitions.\n* Learjet 35A/S (LJ), used for transportation, surveillance, target towing and aerial photography. (3)\n* Valmet L-70 Vinka (VN), trainers (28)\n* Fokker F.27 (FF), transportation aircraft (2)\n* Valmet L-90 TP Redigo (RG), liaison aircraft (9)\n* Piper PA-31-350 Chieftain (PC), liaison aircraft (6)\n* Piper PA-28 Arrow (PA), liaison aircraft (7)
See also
List of air forces
External link
\n*Finnish Air Force\n*Pictures of Finnish Air Force aircraft at Airliners.net
\nCategory:Finnish Air Force
