Having scored a big zero low-level in Wales with Karl Drage on his only trip in the past, a couple of free days after a visit to Russia gave Paul Filmer the chance to catch the Finnish Air Force at RAF Valley with a deployment of Hawks.
Pilots from the Finnish Air Force’s 41st Fighter Squadron, based at Kauhava Air Base, had deployed to RAF Valley with their Hawk Mk51s in September 2013, to participate in Exercise Finnish Hawk alongside the resident Hawk T2s of IV(R) Squadron. The exercise saw pilots from Finland and the UK operating alongside each other to share their Qualified Flying Instructor knowledge and experience.
© Paul Filmer – www.globalaviationresource.com
During each day of the exercise, the RAF and Finnish Air Force Hawks flew air combat and simulated attack sorties over Wales and north-western England, during which the latter flew with their RAF colleagues in order to broaden their operational capabilities, sharing tactical, procedural and training expertise with one another.
© Paul Filmer – www.globalaviationresource.com
The Finns operate the Hawk Mk51 as a fast jet trainer, and their aircraft have upgraded cockpits and avionics to enable students to progress more smoothly to the F-18 Hornets operated by the Finnish Air Force.
© Paul Filmer – www.globalaviationresource.com
Eager to catch the Finnish Air Force operating low level, I set off the following day with John Higgins, and we both huffed and puffed up the hill, taking the longer, easier route, which still saw us both feeling knackered at the top. It wasn’t too long before the first aircraft came along, a 208(R) Hawk T1. Finally, my first aircraft in the hills! Then, it was the Finnish Air Force show.
© Paul Filmer – www.globalaviationresource.com
A couple of passes by a pair saw them drop lower and lower. Excellent stuff!
© Paul Filmer – www.globalaviationresource.com
Later on another pair shot through multiple times, before a Tornado GR4 arrived in dramatic fashion, which made me very happy indeed!
© Paul Filmer – www.globalaviationresource.com
The day ended with another Tornado, making it an enjoyable day with great banter, and nice aircraft to shoot.
Well, thank you for these shots. The Finns caused a stir in September, with several fellow Flickr users posting some really good shots. It is good now to have a narrative to go with some of those. Having been in Denmark immediately before they arrived over here, I had missed the fact and really regretted not popping over myself. But this article is a very welcome “consolation prize” – and the photographs are superb. Many thanks again.