Kauhava Air Show, Finland August 2020
Discussion
Well a lack of much petrolhead fun this summer had a surprise ray of sunshine for me... The only international airshow is Europe this year happened to take place only 30 mins from my door, so i did what i gotta did and I went along with my camera and thought I'd share the results with you.
Finland seems to have resisted the worst of the epidemic, and despite a postponement from earlier in the summer, was still able to host an airshow this year. Located at the Kauhava airbase in South Ostrobothnia, the airshow is aimed to highlight the role that Kauhava used to play as the Finnish air forces training base, until its closure around 10 years ago. This means lots of training aircraft from past and present, and also a lot of fast jet action, making this the only place in Europe to host an international air show in 2020.
All photos are fresh out of the camera in an attempt to get them promptly for you to view, they are uncropped, un edited but hopefully will give you a flavour of the show.
Arrival of the Finnish national display team, The Midnight Hawks:
One of two ex Finnish Fouga Magisters still on the airshow circuit here:
First glimpse of the Saab Globaleye as it arrives for static display:
The Globaleye platform is being offered alongside the Gripen E model for the Hornet replacement program, known as HX.
Saab also bought spares and personnel in this 3000 airliner. A quick turnaround and she left the same afternoon.
The other of the Fouga pair landing in.
This is how we park multimillion kronar platforms in Pohjanmaa
Reflecting on a nice flight:
A slightly older sight in Finnish skies, the domestically produced VL Viima II
Finland also has a private display team called The Arctic Eagles. the operate a number of different types, landing here is their Christiansen Eagle
Continuing the vintage trainer theme, is this rather lovely Stieglitz:
A formation display team still flies graceful lines with a fourship of these ex Finnish Saab Safirs:
A first look for most of us at the latest from the Gripen stable, the E model. Saab are offering the E for the HX program.
Another angle of the E, a slightly larger and more capable Gripen.
Blasting into the circuit came two French Air Force Dassault Rafales, another HX contender.
The Special tail Rafale on landing:
I am always interested to see what support aircraft come along for the ride. They are rarely the center of attention, but always seem full of character and stories. I especially enjoyed this battered old French Transall:
Theres always time for a post flight selfie:
The last shot from the Thursday was another support aircraft late in, the Swedish C130. The Swedes operate some of the worlds oldest Hercs, and like the Transall, they've been there and they've seen that.
More pictures and story from the rest of the weekend to follow if you're interested!
Finland seems to have resisted the worst of the epidemic, and despite a postponement from earlier in the summer, was still able to host an airshow this year. Located at the Kauhava airbase in South Ostrobothnia, the airshow is aimed to highlight the role that Kauhava used to play as the Finnish air forces training base, until its closure around 10 years ago. This means lots of training aircraft from past and present, and also a lot of fast jet action, making this the only place in Europe to host an international air show in 2020.
All photos are fresh out of the camera in an attempt to get them promptly for you to view, they are uncropped, un edited but hopefully will give you a flavour of the show.
Arrival of the Finnish national display team, The Midnight Hawks:
One of two ex Finnish Fouga Magisters still on the airshow circuit here:
First glimpse of the Saab Globaleye as it arrives for static display:
The Globaleye platform is being offered alongside the Gripen E model for the Hornet replacement program, known as HX.
Saab also bought spares and personnel in this 3000 airliner. A quick turnaround and she left the same afternoon.
The other of the Fouga pair landing in.
This is how we park multimillion kronar platforms in Pohjanmaa
Reflecting on a nice flight:
A slightly older sight in Finnish skies, the domestically produced VL Viima II
Finland also has a private display team called The Arctic Eagles. the operate a number of different types, landing here is their Christiansen Eagle
Continuing the vintage trainer theme, is this rather lovely Stieglitz:
A formation display team still flies graceful lines with a fourship of these ex Finnish Saab Safirs:
A first look for most of us at the latest from the Gripen stable, the E model. Saab are offering the E for the HX program.
Another angle of the E, a slightly larger and more capable Gripen.
Blasting into the circuit came two French Air Force Dassault Rafales, another HX contender.
The Special tail Rafale on landing:
I am always interested to see what support aircraft come along for the ride. They are rarely the center of attention, but always seem full of character and stories. I especially enjoyed this battered old French Transall:
Theres always time for a post flight selfie:
The last shot from the Thursday was another support aircraft late in, the Swedish C130. The Swedes operate some of the worlds oldest Hercs, and like the Transall, they've been there and they've seen that.
More pictures and story from the rest of the weekend to follow if you're interested!
Continuing on from yesterdays post, Friday was more arrivals and the press day.
I arrived in the morning to find the Finnish Hornets being maintained and maneuvered into position. They are still a great looking aircraft.
I always enjoy shots that include some of the preperation and effort that goes into keeping these great aircraft flying
The first arrival i caught was the sole Eurofighter at the show, a Luftwaffe two seater.
The Finnish Border patrol always support local airshows very well. This Koala later made a display dropping water from an underslung scoop. There is also scheduled an appearance by the Border Guards Dornier Do228
The Swedish Saab Gripen C display jet arriving
And a Gripen D two seater heading out
Pleased to catch the practice display of the Rafale and to be in the right spot to get this burner takeoff, my shot of the weekend so far.
The twin SNECMAs tearing holes in the sky
and finally returning back to earth after a terrific show
The Saab Safir display team went up for a practice
Then came the headline act. Its been 5 years since I left the UK, and the news out of it has been nothing but bad in the meantime. But I have to admit, when those 10 red jets flew over, I felt something for Britain.
Getting to see the Reds through foreign eyes is an insight. To be honest, after having seen them 4 or 5 times a year for most of my life, i would use the slot to shop or eat. But it's nice to take a pause and watch them with fresh eyes. They're a great spectacle.
Coming in to the pan, line astern
All eyes on the reds
Welcome to Kauhava airshow!
More from the showdays to come!
I arrived in the morning to find the Finnish Hornets being maintained and maneuvered into position. They are still a great looking aircraft.
I always enjoy shots that include some of the preperation and effort that goes into keeping these great aircraft flying
The first arrival i caught was the sole Eurofighter at the show, a Luftwaffe two seater.
The Finnish Border patrol always support local airshows very well. This Koala later made a display dropping water from an underslung scoop. There is also scheduled an appearance by the Border Guards Dornier Do228
The Swedish Saab Gripen C display jet arriving
And a Gripen D two seater heading out
Pleased to catch the practice display of the Rafale and to be in the right spot to get this burner takeoff, my shot of the weekend so far.
The twin SNECMAs tearing holes in the sky
and finally returning back to earth after a terrific show
The Saab Safir display team went up for a practice
Then came the headline act. Its been 5 years since I left the UK, and the news out of it has been nothing but bad in the meantime. But I have to admit, when those 10 red jets flew over, I felt something for Britain.
Getting to see the Reds through foreign eyes is an insight. To be honest, after having seen them 4 or 5 times a year for most of my life, i would use the slot to shop or eat. But it's nice to take a pause and watch them with fresh eyes. They're a great spectacle.
Coming in to the pan, line astern
All eyes on the reds
Welcome to Kauhava airshow!
More from the showdays to come!
Jake899 said:
......Then came the headline act. Its been 5 years since I left the UK, and the news out of it has been nothing but bad in the meantime. But I have to admit, when those 10 red jets flew over, I felt something for Britain.
I ran out of fingers but I think there are 11 in your picture.I know they sometimes take a tenth aircraft when they are working well away from home but getting 11 fault free and airworthy was some task.
Steve
ETA Great pictures keep them coming.
So, on to Saturday and the first of the two public air show days. No press nonsense to distract, and although restricted a little bit in where we could view from, we were still able to have the camera skyward for the whole day, and also got the chance to walk the flightline for some closer to the action pictures. Theres a lot here, so apologies for such a big post!
Finland operate the Spanish Casa 295 as their transport aircraft, and this lovely big bird was one of the first arrivals into the static display park.
Then the NH90 from the Finnish army kicked of the main display acts, its becoming quite a commonly used platform but it looks just great in the Finnish colours.
Also it let off such a burst of flares that it was worthy of two pictures, first this
and then as the helicopter dives forward, the downwash of the rotor clears the smoke from the flares, helping to get a clear shot of the aircraft in amongst the burning phospherous.
Then a walk down the flight line to see the Blues doing their preflight checks on the red jets
The obvious but still nice shot of the row of Union Jack tails.
I promised you a shot of the Border Guards gorgeous Dornier Do228 yesterday, well here it is!
The other Border Guard asset on show, the Koala with the firefighting bucket
A re-enactor in front of the Finnish DC3
The special tail Hawk celebrating 40 years of Hawk operations
A great low pass from the spectacular polished DC3
The local Hornet display taking off opens the highlight of the whole event for me
Beautiful light on the underside as the Hornet pulls G to line up for...
Drop a deluge of flares as the plane pulls over the top
Flares aplenty, afterburner... what a great display
Next up the Swedish Gripen tries to match what the Hornet has laid down, and starts off well with a burner takeoff turn
Beautiful barrel roll
Afterburner shot
And the French putting up the Rafale for another great fast jet display
Pulling straight up into a loop right out of the takeoff. Very tight, very impressive.
Giving the photographers what they want with a sunlit topside pass
On to the formation displays, led by the formation takeoff of the Midnight Hawks
Stacked
Formation diamond barrel roll
Low pass
Impressing the locals
Arrival of the reds
Head on
This fantastic tornado maneuvre
Thanks for bearing with me, hope its not too boring!
Ill go back for the departures on Monday, so one more installment to come, if you want it!
Finland operate the Spanish Casa 295 as their transport aircraft, and this lovely big bird was one of the first arrivals into the static display park.
Then the NH90 from the Finnish army kicked of the main display acts, its becoming quite a commonly used platform but it looks just great in the Finnish colours.
Also it let off such a burst of flares that it was worthy of two pictures, first this
and then as the helicopter dives forward, the downwash of the rotor clears the smoke from the flares, helping to get a clear shot of the aircraft in amongst the burning phospherous.
Then a walk down the flight line to see the Blues doing their preflight checks on the red jets
The obvious but still nice shot of the row of Union Jack tails.
I promised you a shot of the Border Guards gorgeous Dornier Do228 yesterday, well here it is!
The other Border Guard asset on show, the Koala with the firefighting bucket
A re-enactor in front of the Finnish DC3
The special tail Hawk celebrating 40 years of Hawk operations
A great low pass from the spectacular polished DC3
The local Hornet display taking off opens the highlight of the whole event for me
Beautiful light on the underside as the Hornet pulls G to line up for...
Drop a deluge of flares as the plane pulls over the top
Flares aplenty, afterburner... what a great display
Next up the Swedish Gripen tries to match what the Hornet has laid down, and starts off well with a burner takeoff turn
Beautiful barrel roll
Afterburner shot
And the French putting up the Rafale for another great fast jet display
Pulling straight up into a loop right out of the takeoff. Very tight, very impressive.
Giving the photographers what they want with a sunlit topside pass
On to the formation displays, led by the formation takeoff of the Midnight Hawks
Stacked
Formation diamond barrel roll
Low pass
Impressing the locals
Arrival of the reds
Head on
This fantastic tornado maneuvre
Thanks for bearing with me, hope its not too boring!
Ill go back for the departures on Monday, so one more installment to come, if you want it!
Edited by Jake899 on Sunday 30th August 14:20
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