Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Finnish Air Force
The Finnish Air Force (Finnish: Ilmavoimat) is one of the braches of the Finnish Defence Forces.
| Motto: Qualitas Potentia Nostra "Quality is our strength". | |
| Established | 6 March, 1918 |
| Personnel | 2974 |
| Commander-in-Chief | Brigadier General Heikki Lyytinen |
| Contents |
Organisation
The Air Force is organised into three commands, each of which operates a fighter squadron:
- Air Force Headquarter at Tikkakoski
- Lapland Air Command (Fighter Squadron 11) at Rovaniemi
- Karelia Air Command (Fighter Squadron 31) at Kuopio
- Satakunta Air Command (Fighter Squadron 21) at Tampere
- Support Squadron at Tikkakoski
- C3 Systems School at Tikkakoski
- Finnish Air Force C3I Materiel Command at Tikkakoski
- Air Force Academy at Kauhava
- Aircraft and Weapon Systems School at Halli
- Flight Test Center of Air Force at Halli
- Air Materiel Command at Tampere
The three commands are part of the Defence Forces' Readiness formations.
Commanders
- Captain Carl Seber 28.04.1918 - 13.12.1918
- Lieutenant Colonel Torsten Aminoff 14.12.1918 - 09.01.1919
- Colonel Sixtus Hjelmmann 10.01.1919 - 25.10.1920
- Major Aarne Somersalo 26.10.1920 - 02.02.1926
- Colonel Väinö Vuori 02.02.1926 - 07.09.1932
- Lieutenant General Jarl Lundqvist 08.09.1932 - 29.06.1945
- Lieutenant General Frans Helminen 30.06.1945 - 30.11.1952
- Lieutenant General Reino Artola 01.12.1952 - 05.12.1958
- Major General Fjalar Seeve 06.12.1958 - 12.09.1964
- Lieutenant General Reino Turkki 13.09.1964 - 04.12.1968
- Lieutenant General Eero Salmela 07.02.1969 - 21.04.1975
- Lieutenant General Rauno Meriö 22.04.1975 - 31.01.1987
- Lieutenant General Pertti Jokinen 01.02.1987 - 31.01.1991
- Lieutenant General Heikki Nikunen 01.02.1991 - 30.04.1995
- Major General Matti Ahola 01.05.1995 - 31.08.1998
- Lieutenant General Jouni Pystynen 01.09.1998 - 31.12.2004
- Brigadier General Heikki Lyytinen 1.1.2005 -
Equipment
- McDD F-18 C/D Hornet (HN), fighter interceptors (63)
- 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.
- Learjet 35A/S (LJ), used for transportation, surveillance, target towing and aerial photography. (3)
- Valmet L-70 Vinka (VN), trainers (28)
- Fokker F.27 (FF), transportation aircraft (2)
- Valmet L-90 TP Redigo (RG), liaison aircraft (9)
- Piper PA-31-350 Chieftain (PC), liaison aircraft (6)
- Piper PA-28 Arrow (PA), liaison aircraft (7)
See also
External link
10-26-2009 08:16:03
The contents of this article is licensed from www.wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License. Click here to see the transparent copy and copyright details
The contents of this article is licensed from www.wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License. Click here to see the transparent copy and copyright details